Canadian Betting Bill Passes Second Reading
A bill which could bring about significant changes to Canada's betting landscape has successfully passed its second reading in Parliament.
MP Joe Comartin's private member's bill already passed one reading earlier on and this week managed to pass its second reading in Parliament. Its next hurdle before a final vote is a third reading when it goes to committee.
The Canadian sports betting bill allows for the legalization of wagering on single sports events in Canada, such as baseball or football, which would take place at racetracks and casinos, similar to the set up in Las Vegas in the United States.
Canada's Criminal Code currently makes allowances to wager on group games in casinos only, and Comartin's bill will see amendments made to the Code to allow for single sports events betting as well.
Joe Comartin said he was surprised about the lack of opposition to his Canadian betting bill so far. "There was no opposition at all," he said, adding that the bill went through the House of Commons with practically no debate, which is surprising since most bills usually take about a month to go through Parliament.
Canada Betting Bill Could Create Jobs
Comartin contends that the betting bill has the potential to create employment opportunities for many Canadians. "It's a job creator," he said of the bill. In addition, US tourists would visit casinos in places such as Windsor and Niagara Falls to bet on sporting events.
Cormartin's modeled his bill on Nevada, which is currently the only US state which allows wagering on single sporting events, which generates millions of dollars each year, especially around Super Bowl or March Madness times. Around 250,000 people visit Sin City each year to bet on the Super Bowl, with $87 million spent this year on the event alone.
Comartin also pointed out that millions of dollars are currently wagered each year by Canadians on single sporting events at offshore online gambling sites - money which, according to him, could benefit Canada's provinces instead.
The idea has already attracted the support of casinos across the country, with a trade union representative for Casino Windsor, Dave Cassidy stating: "This is going to be a boost for the casino in Windsor. We will attract more business."
The president of the same local chapter representing workers, Rick Laporte said that single sport event betting in Canada would bring "bring people over and bring customers over".
"Money would be spent on food and everything else," he said. "It mushrooms out."
