Senator Backs Canadian Sports Betting Bill
Senator Bob Runciman gave a fiery performance on the floor of the Senate Chamber last week when he came out in support of the Canadian bill which would legalize single event sports betting.
The senator slammed professional sports associations who have spearheaded a campaign in opposition of the bill, dismissing their claims that it could lead to match fixing in sports in Canada and beyond.
Sports associations such as the NFL and the NHL claim that allowing Canadians to bet on single events, in opposed to the minimum of two games presently allowed, could be first step in introducing athletes and officials to the temptation of match fixing.
They claim that allowing this type of betting would not only threaten the integrity of sports but also lead to increased levels of problem gambling.
Betting Doesn't Threaten Sports Integrity
Senator Runciman said in his speech that professional sports is certainly not without its controversies, even though single event betting is not allowed. He cited the use of steroids recently discovered in Major League Baseball, as well as the selection of convicted bookmaker to head the Tampa Bay Lightning coach team. He also mentioned the case of the National Football League employing an incompetent replacement official.
"It seems to be," said Runciman in his speech, "that these leagues are doing a pretty good job of threatening the integrity of sports all by themselves."
As for the argument by sports leagues that single event betting could lead to increased numbers of problem gamblers in Canada, Senator Runciman also had an answer. According to him, Canadians already spend literally billions of dollars wagering on single events at unregulated online casinos every year. He said that should the bill pass through, it would regulate the industry, making more funds available to help combat and treat problem gambling.
Support for Single Event Betting
While Senator Runciman's speech certainly breathed some new life into the Canadian single event betting bill, which passed easily through the House of Chambers earlier this year, it remains to be seen whether it is enough to see it pass through the Senate.
According to political analysts, over 80% of the Liberal MPs oppose the bill, while only half the Tory senators want to see single event sports betting a reality in Canada.
The Canadian sports betting bill will not automatically allow this type of betting in the country. It will simply change the Penal Code to make single event betting legal if a particular province votes for its introduction in its jurisdiction.
