The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce is joining forces with other chambers in Quebec and Atlantic Canada to support single sport betting.
The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce represents over 100 chambers in the four Atlantic provinces and Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec represents 150 chambers in Quebec and 1,200 of the largest Québec corporations.
The chambers are sending a joint letter to call for the adoption of Bill C-290, which would delete specific provisions of the Criminal Code that make it illegal to bet on “any race or fight, or on a single sports event or athletic contest.”
Then each province would be able to decide whether or not, and under what conditions, wagering on single sporting events will be allowed to occur.
“The chamber coalition supporting Bill C-290 continues to grow across the country,” says Matt Marchand, president and CEO of the Windsor-Essex chamber . “Additionally, two-thirds of Canadian tax payers support legalizing sports betting according to a recent Ipsos Reid poll.”
Bill C-290 received support from all parties in the House of Commons on March 2, 2012 and has been waiting the approval of the Senate since.
The bill would contribute to the creation of additional jobs at provincially-operated/regulated casinos, attracting U.S. citizens to Canadian casinos, and reducing organized crime associated with single event betting, according to the chambers.
Atlantic chamber president Pierre Cadieux says it is estimated that nothing less than $14 billion of Canadian offshore and illegal betting goes under taxation radar every year.
“In an era where governments are clamping down on tax evaders and cheats it would seem a no-brainer that to move forward to legalize this type of betting would be a win-win for the Canadian gaming industry as well as for the Canadian tax payer,'' says Cadieux.
The Windsor-Essex chamber along with the Ontario chamber and Greater Niagara chamber sent a previous letter on Nov. 21, 2012, asking senators to support Bill C-290.
