Single sports betting bill passes in Senate
A long-awaited bill to legalize single sports betting passed in the Senate Tuesday.
The bill passed by a vote of 57-20 with five abstentions. It still needs a few procedural matters before it becomes law, but has been carried in the chamber where it has historically stalled out.
“It’s been a while and I’m very grateful,” Windsor West MP Brian Masse says.
The move to legalize single game sports better is significant, according Masse.
“Billions of dollars away from organized crime and offshore accounts and put that towards responsible and also administrative regulated betting that actually bring some revenue into the country,” he says.
The federal government first tabled the new legislation for single-event sport betting back in November and it passed a final reading in the House of Commons in April.
The legislation has a long history with Windsor. It was first introduced to the House of Commons about 10 years ago by former Windsor MP Joe Comartin before being taken over by Masse.
The bill was then transferred to and introduced by former sports journalist Conservative MP Kevin Waugh (Saskatook-Grasswood).
In the past, the bill started as just an NDP bill, but built cross party support over time, Masse says.
“Because we had unfair competition in the U.S. so this is as much about protection our current footprint than it is about anything else,” he says.
He also credits the change of mindset from professional sports leagues and technology.
“You can do this right now on your phone and the mere fact that criminal organizations were benefiting from this certainly led to a lot of different discussions to change it eventually,” Masse says. “I think all those things combined are part of the reasons.”
Unifor Local 444 president Dave Cassidy hopes the legalization of single game sports betting will create more jobs in the area.
“The reality is this is about jobs. It potentially could be 100-150 just at Caesars Windsor alone,” Cassidy says.
He has already spoken to Kevin Laforet of Caesars Windsor.
“And I see hopefully by the end of the year that we will have a sports book in Caesars Windsor. People will be able to go in there and enjoy the sports book,” Cassidy says.
“Hopefully the casino wants to do what Niagara Falls is doing,” Masse says. “They’re putting millions of dollars into a sports platform.”
After Royal Assent, the criminal code will be changed to allow betting on a single sport.
- With files from CTV Windsor's Angelo Aversa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.