Update On Sports Betting Bill

One month ago, Premier Kathleen Wynne pledged that horse racing and the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corp. would once again partner and that racing would have access to new revenue streams. Is single-event sports betting with sportsbooks located at racetracks a possibility?

Trot Insider recently spoke to Senator Bob Runciman on Bill C-290, a private members' bill that would legalize wagering on single professional sports matches.

"In late November, early December I kicked off the debate, it went through committee and we're at third reading. Since we went back in February I think we've had maybe four Senators speak to us, four or five, and they've all been opposed to it so far. I know there are members who support it but it certainly strikes me that the bill is going to have a tough time passing the Senate."

Runciman estimates that there are about 20 more Senators that have expressed an interest in speaking on the bill, and because it's a Private Members' Bill other government business takes priority.

"It's hard to predict when the debate will conclude and we're going to have a vote," continued Runciman. "It may not even occur -- that's a growing suspicion on my part, that we may not even end up having a vote. They will recess for the Summer and the government is going to prorogue, and the bill would die on the order paper if that happens."

Canada's Senate sits until close to the end of June. If the government rises, that's a different scenario from prorogation as business will simply carry on when it resumes. If the government does prorogue, much like with what happened in Ontario in 2012, this bill would die and have to be re-introduced.

"The likelihood is that if it was re-introduced, it would be done through a government bill and would have a much better chance of succeeding than a Private Members' Bill."

As the sponsor of the Bill, Runciman is hopeful that it comes to a vote before the Summer and would like to see sportsbooks integrated with racetracks and casinos much like what is being proposed in New Jersey.

"They have legislation there to go to single-event sport betting as well, they're being fought in the courts by the major league sports organizations but I think what they plan to do is put [sportsbooks] into casinos and into their racetracks," stated Runciman. "And it makes sense from my perspective that we should do that in Ontario but the Bill has to pass first."