Single-game sports betting is set to become legal in Canada after Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, was officially passed in the Senate of Canada on Tuesday.
The private member's bill - sponsored by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon-Grasswood) - passed without amendment, by a vote of 57 to 20 (five abstentions). Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government will decide on a date when the legalization of single-game sports betting will take effect.
The UPDATE you’ve been waiting for: Bill #C218 has officially passed in the Senate & will become law in the coming days. I’m honoured to have worked to make single-event sports betting legal in Canada. #cdnpoli #nlpoli @KevinWaugh_CPC @SenateCA
— Senator David Wells (@wellsdavid) June 22, 2021
The bill signals a major shift in Canada: single-game sports betting has been legal in the country but only via parlay wagers. Canadians will now have the ability to bet on single-game matches across sports (excluding horse racing), with the government set to collect taxes on estimated billions of dollars currently being wagered illegally.
Waugh issued a statement Tuesday evening celebrating the passage of the bill, calling it "a victory for Canadian sport, sport fans, and businesses." He added:
Following this legislation becoming law, provincial governments will be responsible for implementing regulations and wagering operators in their jurisdictions. I call on provincial governments to act as quickly as possible to get the necessary regulations and licenses in place so that all Canadians can begin to place their wagers.
Tap here to sign up and receive updates on when theScore's sportsbook, theScore Bet, will go live in Ontario.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.