Canada’s single-event sports betting bill passes vote

The bill would allow Canadians to wager on individual sports events.

Canada.- A bill to legalise single-event sports betting has passed its second reading, with 303 votes in favour and 14 against.

Bill C-218, also known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, will now enter into the last stage of hearings at the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

If passed, the bill would allow Canadians to wager on individual sports events by revoking paragraph 207(4)(b) of Canada’s Criminal Code, which states that bets can only be placed on three games or more.

Kevin Waugh, a Conservative lawmaker in favour of the bill, said: “By passing Bill C-218, we can ensure that going forward, profits from sports wagering are put back into our communities, into health care, education, problem gambling programs, youth sports and other important services rather than the pockets of offshore companies or even criminals.”

The bill also has the backing of two Canadian regulators, the British Colombia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC)