SUPREME COURT GRANTS INTERVENOR STATUS AND SINGLE-EVENT SPORTS BETTING GETS SUPPORT IN FEDERAL ELECTION
The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) has had a busy week. Yesterday, we learned that the Supreme Court of Canada has granted the association’s motion to intervene in the Atlantic Lottery Corporation Inc. v. Babstock. The CGA will intervene in support of the appellants, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) and its video lottery machine and software suppliers. The CGA is represented by McCarthy Tetrault LLP.
The Atlantic Lottery appeal involves a class action which alleges that ALC must disgorge the profits it has earned from its video lottery terminals on the theory that they violate the prohibition on three-card monte of the Criminal Code and are not exempted by its conduct and manage power.
We are pleased the association will be able to support our industry, as the CGA’s standing will ensure that the perspective of the Canadian gaming community is represented, and we can ask the Supreme Court to adopt a principled framework that benefits the industry as a whole.
Single-Event Sports Betting Becomes Issue in Federal Election
We also issued a news release to call for all party support to make single-event sports betting a reality. We welcomed the commitment from Windsor West Liberal candidate Sandra Pupatello to amend the Criminal Code to enable single-event sports betting, agreeing with her comment that “there is no reason to hold back on this initiative.”
The CGA is thrilled to have Ms. Pupatello’s support and called on all parties to fight for the simple amendment that provinces requested 10 years ago that would benefit places like Windsor. This change would give provinces the tools to deliver a safe and legal option to Canadians while helping economic benefits, such as jobs, flow to communities and provincial governments.
The CGA has been advocating for single-event sports wagering for a decade. With all party support and assistance from our federal government, its time has come.