Most of the top leagues involved
A number of major professional sports leagues have banded together to push for the legalization of single-event sports betting in Canada.
Five league commissioners, four from U.S.-based leagues and one from a Canadian league, issued a joint statement on June 8: Adam Silver (NBA), Gary Bettman (NHL), Rob Manfred (MLB), Don Garber (MLS), and Randy Ambrosie (CFL). It was sent to the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Justice Minister and Attorney General Dave Lametti, and Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
Details of the joint statement
The statement calls for an amendment to Canada federal law to allow the provinces to offer single-event sports betting. Currently, parlay betting – wagers that combine the outcomes of at least two games into a single bet – is the only form of legal sports betting in the country.
legal and regulated sports betting market in Canada would be beneficial to sports and their fans”
The joint statement read: “Because a legal and regulated sports betting market in Canada would be beneficial to sports and their fans, we urge prompt action to make this a reality.”
Member of Parliament Brian Masse (Windsor West) has been pushing for single-event sports betting for some time and welcomed this statement from the sports leagues. Speaking to the Windsor Star, he said that this statement will certainly be noticed by those who operate in the black market, as well as the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“It’s a vindication of what needed to be done a decade ago. It shows Canada is now an outlier in regards to single-event sports betting,” Masse said.
A long journey to legalization
The United States Supreme Court overturned a ban on sports betting in May 2018 despite long-time public opposition from the major sport leagues. Many states have since legalized the pastime, cashing in on tax revenues and licensing fees. The leagues have also changed their tune on gambling advertising, many signing partnership deals with gaming operators.
There have been numerous attempts over the years to make the single-event betting change in Canada. Most recently, Brian Masse and Member of Parliament Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon-Grasswood) co-sponsored a betting bill in Ottawa in February 2020. Waugh estimated that CA$14bn (US$10.3bn) is wagered every year with black market and offshore gambling operations.