With another Super Bowl weekend come and gone, the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) issued a news release ahead of time to remind Canadians that more than $150 million in illegal wagering would take place thanks to the ongoing inaction of the Senate to pass Bill C-290.
The release, available at www.canadiangaming.ca, was widely distributed throughout the country and had prominent coverage in tier-one and local market publications such as CBC.ca, CBC Radio, The Globe and Mail, Windsor Star, Global News, Newstalk 1010 and the Toronto Star.
Support from provincial governments was swift. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said a change to sports betting rules would benefit the gaming industry, and Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa publicly urged the Senate to legalize single-event sports wagering, calling it “something that the community is asking for”. MP Brian Masse (NDP—Windsor-West) has also been speaking out nationally to pressure the Senate to stage a vote on Bill C-290.
Bill C-290, a private member’s bill, would allow gamblers to bet on one game at a time, such as the Super Bowl, and supporters across Canada agree that three years is too long for the Senate to ignore the wishes of Parliament.
“We could have had hotels active and buzzing (that) weekend,” said Mr. Masse.
The CGA is inviting Canadians to contact their local senator to express their displeasure at not being allowed to place a single-event sports wager. Visit C290NOW.ca, a website developed specifically to address the debate regarding Bill C-290, which includes a counter that captures the amount of money illegally leaving the country as well as a way to contact Canadian senators.