The proposal of introducing single-game betting in Canada is gaining more and more followers every day. The official legalization of the bill seems inevitable now, with the approval of the proposal of almost the whole gaming industry in Canada. Ontario Racing has been the latest regulator to join the party with its latest announcement.
The horse racing leader outlined its desire to support the introduction of Bill C-13 which will allow Canadians to place bets on a single event without having to wager on at least to more. It is believed that the legalization will allow the country to open up a great variety of betting options and step up its gambling level a notch.
New Age in Gambling
The horse racing leader is responsible for 50,000 job positions in the province thanks to its properties, and on February 19, 2021, the live harness leader announced its backing for the single-event betting legalization. A few months ago, in November 2020, another racing operator has voiced its support for the cause with Woodbine Entertainment coming along as an ally for the said gaming expansion.
Chair of Ontario Racing John Hayes commented on the matter by saying that the company shares Woodbine Entertainment’s stance on the legalization and it is for the proposed changes in sports betting. Mr. Hayes also included that he is hopeful that the live-harness industry will be protected since it has a major part in the local, provincial, and state levels of the economy.
Last week the country saw the approval of the bill for single-game betting in the House of Commons. Which is still a subject of assessment by the Senate. However, if approved on all levels, both of Ontario’s horse racing leaders remain optimistic that the bill will also adopt language through the legislative process in order to keep the long-term future of the industry safe.
Mr. Hayes included that the regulator’s intention is to cooperate with Woodbine Entertainment and the government in order to ensure that the horse people and their families will not be negatively affected by the change. He also added that the horse racing industry must remain an active and respected member in the newly proposed single-game wagering.
Initial Concerns
The horse leading regulators of Ontario initially were not so supportive of the proposed single-betting legalization. The proposal raised some questions in the horse industry after Conservative MP Kevin Waugh submitted the bill. Industry regulators were first worried that the suggested change could have a negative effect on the already established and proven cooperation between horse racing and the gaming sector.
Alberta Gives the Nod
Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis was also in favor of the proposed changes of the Criminal Code of Conduct regarding sports betting that will allow Canadians to finally place single bets on tickets. According to the Alberta operator, this change will be able to revolutionize the gaming industry in the country by bringing brand new betting offerings and competitive markets.
Source: “More Support For Single Event Sports Wagering”, Standardbred Canada, February 19, 2021
