Canadian MPs angered at stalling of sports betting bill

Canada enters Super Bowl XLIX weekend with the publicised delay of Bill C-290, after both political parties had agreed (in 2014) for the single sports betting bill C-290 to be reviewed by the Canadian House of Commons in early 2015.

Bill C-290 would amend Canada’s criminal code with regards to sports betting, by allowing licensed gambling premises to allow wagers on approved single sporting events under monitoring from the Canada Gaming Association.

C-290 had received all party support in the Commons, with additional backing from police and legal representatives who claimed that the gambling bill would protect Canadian consumers from being targeted by criminal gangs.

The single sports betting bill has now been delayed for a total period of three years, since it was first drafted. The continued stalling and lack of progress has left many MPs exasperated

Windsor West MP Brian Masse, a firm and vocal advocate of C-290 told Canadian news sources

“It just shows how absurd our system is up here because when elected people, accountable to constituents, make a decision it should be respected,”

Ontario Liberal Party Member Charles Sousa backed Masse comments, stating that the delay to sports betting would hinder funding for social services.

“For the benefit of ensuring we have those funds for social services and capital projects that benefit the community. So I think they should have proceed,”

At present Canadian authorities allow betting wagering to be serviced via parlay bets / pools system, where the consumer has to predict numerous sporting outcomes in order to win money. The betting system has been deemed as inefficient and it does not match the requirements needed to engage modern betting consumers