Canada’s sports betting bill faces further delay

A decision has been made to prorogue Canada’s parliament until September 23, further delaying the bill that was first introduced in 2016.

US.- Four years on since an initial bill to legalise sports betting was first presented, a decision has been made to prorogue Canada’s parliament until September 23, further delaying chances of passing legislation.

The decision to prorogue parliament was made by the ruling Liberal Party, which wants to focus on dealing with the pandemic.

The current bill on sports betting, the Safe and Regulated Sports Act, was presented to parliament by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh in February with a range of sponsors.

The bill has the support of the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), whose CEO Paul Burns commented in February: “Amending the Criminal Code to legalise single-event sports wagering will provide provinces with the necessary tools to deliver a safe and legal option to Canadians, as well as the power to address important issues such as consumer protection while enabling economic benefits to flow to licensed gaming operators, communities and provincial governments.”

MP Brian Masse, Windsor West Ontario delegate and a long time advocate of legal sports betting, said he was disappointed with the delay to the bill, which observers fear will mean Canadians are likely to have to wait two years to be able to bet via a legal sportsbook.

He said: “We were promised in this past election that sports betting would be an easy one to get done and here we are a year later, more problems, more delays.”