Canadian senators raise concerns over a single-game sports betting bill

Some senators say the single-game sports betting bill needs an amendment to tackle match-fixing.

Canada.- Some senators have called for an amendment to Canada’s proposed bill to legalise single-game sports betting in the country.

Former Ottawa police chief Vernon White has proposed an amendment intended to prohibit the fixing of a sporting event.

If the amendment is approved, Bill C-28 would be sent back to the House of Commons for another vote. This would delay its approval, and it would not be legalised before 23 June 2021, when the House and Senate are scheduled to conclude their work for the summer.

White, an independent who sits with the Canadian Senators Group, said that he is not against single-event sports betting in Canada, but that an amendment is needed to make it unlawful to participate in match-fixing.

The Senator said: “My primary concern is that we have not corrected that. And it’s an easy amendment”.

He has the support of Senator Brent Cotter, who said the Senate’s banking committee is likely to consider his proposed amendment.

He said: “If it doesn’t succeed there, my guess is that it might get considered back in the Senate, on the chamber floor at third reading.”