The Canadian Gaming Association Is Not Proactively Promoting the Adoption of Bill C-290

March 12, 2014

Bill C-290 is the long stalled revision to Canadian gambling law that would see Canadian citizens be able to legally place wagers on single events using online sports betting sites. We have spoken about Bill C-290 several times in the past, we have seen it wax and wane, but with now real resolution to online gambling law in sight. However, now we are beginning to think that Canadian online gambling law may indeed change, and that single event sports betting will become legal, simply because the Canadian Gaming Association is now proactively promoting Bill C-290 and the changes it would make to online gambling law in Canada.

Sports betting is an area of Canadian online gambling law that it is logical should be changed ahead of any more sweeping changes. It is such a simple update to existing gambling law in the country, that there really can be no reason for it not to be passed.

The Canadian Gaming Association is now calling for the reform of these outdated sports betting laws in Canada, and specifically pointing at Bill C-290 as a simple way that the Canadian government can solve the problem. Bill C-290 has been kicking around for over a year, and it has yet to be fully considered by the Canadian government as a logical chance to sports betting gambling law, something that the Canadian Gaming Association wants to change.

Senators have tried to block Bill C-290 and stated that changes to online gambling law are not in the best interests of Canada. However, they never seem to be able to explain exactly why it would be so bad for Canada. Let’s face it, right now the government is receiving now gambling tax revenue, a ludicrous situation, whilst Canadian online gamblers spend their cash at offshore casino sites.

Sports presenters in Canada already give odds on sporting events publically, and this helps sports betting fans in Canada who are using an offshore online gambling site to place wagers on these events. The fact that the media in Canada is providing a service compatible with sports betting, yet the Canadian government still insists it should remain illegal, is just plan strange. So let’s hope that as a new advocate of Bill C-290, the Canadian Gaming Association can move this outdated gambling law into the present, and open up single event sports betting for Canadian online gamblers.