New Bill to Legalize Single Game Sports Betting in Canada

Great News for Sports Bettors in Canada!

There promises to be an exciting change to the single-game betting law in Canada, as it has been revealed that Federal Justice Minister, David Lametti will be introducing new laws to Canada sports betting that will allow single-event betting in Canada.  It is a change that many in Canada believe will ensure that they are able to compete with the offshore and US betting sites that already offer this service. The new sports betting law in Canada will be a huge change for the gambling industry, as it will rescind a part of the gambling laws that have been in operation since the prohibition era.

Why Is Canada Changing The Law Now?

The answer to why Canada is changing the law on the single-game sports betting is straightforward enough for gamblers around the world to understand. It is mainly down to the fact that the Canadian sportsbooks can’t compete with the services that are being offered by offshore sites such as Bet365 and Betway. Both of these sites don’t have to follow the same strict rules that in operation in Canada, as they are licensed and operating offshore.   This is a change that casinos in areas such as Niagara Falls and Windsor have been asking for, as they claim that it will give a massive boost to the gambling industry in the country. One of the most important figures behind the change in the law has been MP Irek Kusmierczyk.  He revealed in a Facebook post after the announcement that the changing in the gambling law has been one of his primary goals since taking office. He announced that the new changes would have an immediate positive impact on Caesars Windsor, as well as horse racing tracks such as the one based at Woodbine in Toronto.

What Is Single-Game Sports Betting?

At present, single-game sports betting isn’t available in Canada, as the only sports bets that can be made with non-offshore sites are parlays or accumulators. These longer-formed bets combine multiple selections into one huge bet, where all selections must be right in order to claim the winnings. However, the change will enable customers to bet on a single outcome of a sporting fixture. This could mean that gamblers will be able to bet on teams that will run out winners in games played in the NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS.  

It isn’t hard to see why this change will have such a profound impact on the gambling industry in Canada, as Canadians already spend over $500 million every year on parlay bets. However, gamblers that prefer to bet on other online sports betting markets are forced to join an offshore site to find the market that they want to bet on.  The money that is then spent on that site is taken away from the Canadian industry and given to another country. The change will have a massive impact on the Canadian industry, which is in desperate need of a boom after a tough year that has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Will The Change Have A Big Impact?

There is certainly a feeling amongst Canadian industry experts that the change in the law will at least give Canadian sportsbooks a fighting chance when it comes to competing with the huge global offshore sites. One expert admitted that it would give the sportsbooks based in Canada the chance to win customers back after losing them to offshore sites. It has been a difficult year for the industry in Canada, as casinos and racecourses around the country have been forced to close down due to safety measures in place.

However, this change in the long-standing law does indicate that there could be light at the end of the tunnel for the casinos and bookmakers. The interest is certainly there in Canada, as it was revealed that $14 million is spent by Canadian gamblers on sporting events throughout the year. $10 million of that money is spent through the black market, while the remainder is spent through offshore online outlets.

The change in the law will almost certainly see the numbers of Canadian gamblers betting illegally drop, as there will finally be the opportunity to make the same bets with Canadian bookmakers. It can’t be understated how big the change in the law could be for the Canadian bookmakers, and there could be an immediate rise in revenue as soon as the change in the law has passed. An example of that can be seen in New Jersey, where the change in the law saw a massive boost of $4.5 million in revenue in 2019 alone.