Legislation to legalize gambling on single games of hockey, football and other sports will advance to Canada’s Senate, following a third debate and vote in the House of Commons.
Bill C-218 seeks to amend the Criminal Code to give provinces and territories permission to regulate online and in-person bets on the outcome of a single hockey game, for example. Most legal sports bets in Canada must include at least two events, known as parlay wagering. Currently, horse races are the only single sporting event that can be bet on legally.
The result has been an estimated $14 billion per year in wagers from Canadians going to offshore firms like Bet365.com and homegrown illegal bookmakers, according to the Canadian Gaming Association.