Ontario Finance Minister urges sports betting legalisation

The politician is asking for an amendment to the Criminal Code that would legalise single-event sports betting.

Canada.- Vic Fedeli, Finance Minister of Ontario, sent a letter to federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau last week in order to ask him for an amendment that would pave the way for single-event sports betting in Canada.

The amendment to the Criminal Code of Canada would translate into a political and economic win for both the province and the federal government if implemented. Fedeli believes that a change would benefit the country, as it would create jobs, protect consumers, increase gaming tax revenue and attract American tourists to local casinos.

“It’s time to legalise single-event sports wagering in Canada and we’re committed to working with the federal government to make it happen,” wrote Fedeli on social media.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford supported this measure and also asked for the legalisation of single events, such as the World Cup, on social media: “Gaming can make a significant contribution to our economy. Our government wants to allow the people of Ontario to legally bet on single events like tonight’s @MapleLeafs game. @NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman thinks so too,” he said.

Toronto Sun reported that Jerry Dias, national president of Unifor and Dave Cassidy, president of Unifor Local 444 in Windsor said: “It costs the federal government no money; it protects consumers by channelling current unregulated gaming into a regulated environment; it channels revenue, currently leaving the country, into the provincial governments and towards government programs; most importantly, it protects jobs and creates jobs. Michigan and New York are moving forward.”