SPORTS BETTING
Canada – theScore Chairman hails ‘historic’ passage of single event sports betting legislation
By Lewis - 25 June 2021
theScore has issued a statement on the Senate of Canada’s passing of Bill C-218, an Act to amend the Criminal Code, which will legalise single event sports betting in Canada. Bill C-218 is now eligible to receive Royal Assent and be proclaimed into force.
“The Senate’s passing of Bill C-218 earlier today is an historic moment for Canada as it will legalize single event sports betting,” said theScore Chairman and CEO, John Levy. “We thank MP Kevin Waugh and Senators David Wells and Brent Cotter for championing this Bill, which garnered strong all-party support through both the House of Commons and Senate.
“The passing of this important legislation allows theScore, along with our fellow stakeholders, to collectively usher in a robust industry that will drive business, technology innovation, employment and economic growth while providing a safe and trusted environment in which Canadians can wager on sports.
“The forthcoming legalisation of single event sports betting presents a substantial growth opportunity for our integrated media and betting business. theScore is Canada’s leading digital sports media brand and we are eager to bring our award-winning mobile sportsbook, theScore Bet, to fans on our home turf.
“We have been actively preparing for the expansion of online sports betting and iGaming in our home province of Ontario, which is expected to commence later this year, and we are very favourably positioned to succeed given our mobile betting experience and vast active user base.
“Further, we are excited to broaden our relationship with the millions of loyal fans who already know, trust and engage with theScore app across Canada. Canadians will now be able to reap the numerous benefits resulting from a comprehensive, regulated sports betting framework that protects consumers, creates jobs and generates critical tax revenue.
“The passing of this legislation is momentous, and we are confident that Canada will embrace legal sports betting and become a leader in this rapidly developing and cutting-edge industry. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the provinces to ensure the establishment of a safe marketplace that provides a suite of reliable and trusted options for consumers.”
