Call to Pass Canadian Gambling Bill C-290
Bill C-290 has been around for some time, since it was first introduced in February 2011. The bill was introduced by Joe Comartin as a Private Member's Bill into the House of Commons.
The Canadian gambling bill has been designed to remove a section of the Criminal Code in Canada, section 207(4)(b). The removal of this part of the Criminal Code, which does not allow provinces to permit betting that is made on 'any race or fight, or on a single sports event or athletic contest.'
Initially, the bill moved quickly through the first part of the legislative process, going directly through its reading in the House of Commons in 2012. However, when the bill reached the Senate of Canada, it lost all speed, and the bill is still being debated.
Offshore Gaming Funds Flowing Out of Canada
The Chief Executive Officer from the Canadian Gaming Association, Bill Rutsey, had the following to say: "Bill C-290 has been in the Senate of Canada for 469 days and during this extended period of time
Canadians have gambled nearly $18 billion through illegal offshore online sportsbooks or local bookmaking operations controlled by organised crime."
To highlight this, the Canadian Gaming Association added a counter to a website dedicated to having this online gambling bill passed. The counter is there to show how much money has been wagered, illegally, on online betting sites that are located outside of Canada.
The online gambling bill has gained much support from a number of both regional and provincial chambers of commerce, and other organisations and officials spread over eight provinces.
Canadian Gaming Association CEO Says Time to Pass Canadian Gambling Bill
Bill Rutsey continued: "We are not giving up the fight to offer regulated single event sports wagering. C290NOW.ca is getting good traction and the counter has been added to drive home the point [that] Canada can't afford to say no to Bill C-290."
On a more personal level, Rutsey sent this message home to the lawmakers: "So Senators, get off your duffs and put the focus on something other than you for a minute. Pass this bill, protect Canadians and give our border communities a reason to celebrate."
The President and Chief Executive Officer of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Michael Graydon, commented on the issues and noted that he fully supports the bill. Graydon said that he feels that "Canadians should be allowed to make fair wagers in safe, secure and regulated environments."
He noted that currently, there are large amounts of funds that are being wagered offshore, and that Canadian communities would benefit if these funds remained inside Canada's boarders.
