Legislation
Canada – Canada’s sports association call for breakthrough in betting on single sporting events
By Phil - 15 June 2020
In a joint statement sent to several key members of the Canadian government, Adam Silver from the National Basketball Association (NBA), Gary Bettman from the National Hockey League (NHL), Rob Manfred from Major League Baseball (MLB), Don Garber from Major League Soccer (MLS), and Randy Ambrosie from the Canadian Football League (CFL) called on the country’s federal laws to be updated to authorise provinces to offer betting on single sporting events.
It stated: “The National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the Canadian Football League support an
amendment to Canada’s federal laws that would authorize provinces to offer betting on single sporting events. Sports betting gives fans another exciting way to engage with the sports they love. Because a legal and regulated sports betting market in Canada would be beneficial to sports and their fans, we urge prompt action to make this a reality. Sports betting already happens illegally in Canada; creating a legal framework would shift consumers from illicit, unregulated markets to a legal and safe marketplace. Regulating single-game betting would allow for strong consumer protections as well as safeguards to further protect the integrity of sports.”
theScore Founder and CEO John Levy has previously voiced support for proposals by the Ontario provincial government to legalise online gambling in the province, as well as calls to legalize single event sports wagering at the federal level. The Company has also been an active participant in the province’s stakeholder consultation process.
“We strongly support the league commissioners’ calls to promptly amend Canada’s outdated federal laws to provide a safe, regulated, and competitive sports betting environment for fans in this country,” said Levy. “Sports betting is a major part of the fan experience and already takes place in Canada through the unlicensed grey market with offshore operators. For the past two years, the United States has demonstrated the kind of tangible consumer and tax benefits related to regulated sports betting that could be similarly impactful in Canada.”
In September 2019 theScore made history by becoming the first sports media company in North America to create and launch a mobile sportsbook. Currently taking wagers in New Jersey and set to expand into both Indiana and Colorado in the coming months, subject to receiving all licenses and approvals, theScore Bet has been uniquely integrated with theScore’s highly-popular sports news and scores app to deliver a holistic media and gaming experience.
“We’re often asked by our Canadian users how they can bet through theScore, a sports media platform they already know and trust, versus the current list of unregulated offshore providers,” said Levy. “When the opportunity to do that arises, theScore will be ready to offer Canadians a truly best-in-class mobile sports betting experience with theScore Bet.”
