Opposition To Sports Wagering Bill

Federal Liberals have stated that they will vote against Bill C-221, a piece of single-event sports wagering legislation that received second reading on Tuesday (April 19).

The private member’s bill – which is also known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act – was introduced by NDP MP Brian Masse, who represents Windsor West.

Sean Casey, the Liberal MP for Charlottetown and the parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice and attorney general, said on Tuesday that "the government will be opposing the bill," according to an article by the CBC.

Current laws allow provinces to offer parlay wagering on some professional sporting events. The parlays must feature at least three sporting contests. The CBC article explains that the previous piece of single-game sports wagering legislation (Bill C-290) had received ‘all-party’ support from the Liberals before they came into power. The bill languished in the Senate for three years before ultimately dying.

The CBC has quoted Masse as saying that Casey "actually spoke in favour of the bill previously, the last time it went through, under Joe Comartin, and now is speaking against the bill, which is an unusual move."

Officials with the Woodbine Entertainment Group have made it clear over the years that they are interested in being able to offer single-event sports wagering at their facilities if the law allows them to.

Additionally, Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa seemed to support the passage of Bill C-290 in January of 2015 when he said the that passage of the bill was “something that the community is asking for." He went on to say at the time that “much monies that would otherwise be held here in Ontario for the purposes of investing in hospitals and education is not staying here as a result of this (the bill not being passed).”

(With files from the CBC)