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Effects of the Pandemic on the Sports and Betting Industries in Canada

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The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to an intense reduction in sporting activities in Canada. The case is similar to most countries worldwide. Sporting activities need close contact between players, which is impossible with the pandemic.

Professional sports leagues have been on the short end of the stick. Professional teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vancouver Canucks have had their schedules disrupted by COVID-19 protocols.

On the 22nd of March 2020, the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees announced that they would not send their teams to Tokyo. It was in their best interest to avoid a compromising situation that could have led to severe infections.

Reduced Attendance and Cancellation of Sporting Events

The pandemic hasn’t spared fans either. Since the onset of the pandemic, a majority of the Canadian population hasn’t attended sporting events in person. Many sports have had to innovate by finding ways to reach people on virtual platforms.

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Virtual solutions are not the best because the thrill of physical attendance is lacking. The few sporting events that allow attendance have cut down the number of people allowed in a sports venue in a significant way.

Canadian teams had to cancel all seasons from the 13th of March 2020 onwards. These include:

  • The National Hockey League
  • Hockey Canada
  • The Canadian Junior Hockey League
  • The Canadian Hockey League
  • The National Lacrosse League

International events such as the 2020 World Women’s Curling Championship were also not spared. Sports like golf experienced increased activity since there isn’t much player contact and interaction.

Intense Loss of Jobs

The sports industry is among other recreational sectors that experienced the immense loss of employees. Though involuntary, sporting venues had to let go of workers. Venue closures and cancellation of events are significant reasons for job loss.

The government also chose to focus on more dire sectors of the economy. Thus, funding became unavailable for the sports sector for a notable period.

The situation improved through the 2021 budget. The Canadian government committed $1.9 million to boost the arts and sports industries. The funding was to go towards recovery and helping to create middle-class jobs in the sector.

Impact of COVID-19 on Sports Betting

Unlike the United States, where sports betting is legal, some Canadian provinces still have misgivings. That aside, a source from betting.ca stated that sports betting in Canada also felt the negative impacts of the pandemic. With live games on hold, sportsbook makers had to look for alternatives to keep their customers at bay. Virtual sports betting became the in thing since live betting was impossible.

Despite the sports betting industry facing major challenges, Canadians are experiencing a slight return to normalcy. Single-event sports betting recently received a stamp of approval after approval of the C-218 bill.

Reports suggest that there is potential for the sports betting market in Canada. Single-event sports betting is potentially at US$4 billion. Soon, many sports betting operators will enter the Canadian market leading to intense growth of the economy.

COVID-19 taught many industries to improvise, and the Canadian sports betting industry was no different.

The Future of Sports Betting Post-Pandemic

Although many provinces are yet to approve of single-event sports betting, the future is bright. The Canadian government is looking to put in place an agency to watch the sports betting industry. There are some concerns about the bill. Amendments will touch on:

  • Prohibiting match-fixing
  • Modifications to the Criminal Code (to incorporate First Nations lottery considerations)

The legalization of single-event sports betting is a monumental move. It has the power to transform the entire Canadian sports industry only if it remains open, transparent, and has considerations on responsible betting.

What is the Way Forward for the Canadian Sports Industry Post-Pandemic?

The sports world was the first to experience the negative impacts of the pandemic. Sports authorities in Canada have closed and reopened venues several times. Although the pandemic seems unpredictable, there are measures in place to get the industry back to where it was.

Many aspects of the economy depend on the success of the Canadian sports industry. Many professional players from Canada had to join international teams to stay afloat. Without a doubt, some events are making their way back to the sports scene.

We hope that everything goes back to normal so that we get back to ticketing and registering huge fan numbers at sports venues.

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Canucks place goalie Thatcher Demko on long-term injured list – CBC.ca

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The Vancouver Canucks have placed all-star goalie Thatcher Demko on the long-term injured reserve list retroactively.

“It’s just cap related,” coach Rick Tocchet said after practice Wednesday. “We get some cap relief, that’s all it is.” 

The 28-year-old netminder has been considered week to week since being sidelined with a lower-body injury midway through Vancouver’s 5-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on March 9.

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That injury designation hasn’t changed, Tocchet said.

Demko boasts a 34-18-2 record this season, with a .917 save percentage, a 2.47 goals-against average and five shutouts.

Casey DeSmith has taken over the starting job for Vancouver, going 3-2-1 since Demko’s injury. He has a .899 save percentage on the season with a 2.73 goals-against average and one shutout. 

The earliest Demko could be back in the Canucks’ lineup is April 6 against the Kings in Los Angeles.

He’s expected to be a key piece as Vancouver (45-19-8) prepares for its first playoff appearance since the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign. 

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin also announced Wednesday that the club has called up forward Arshdeep Bains from the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League. 

“I’d like to see where [Bains is] at,” Tocchet said, noting he isn’t sure whether the 23-year-old winger will slot into the lineup when the Canucks host the Dallas Stars on Thursday. 

WATCH | Bains makes NHL debut

Surrey, B.C.’s Arshdeep Bains makes Canucks debut

1 month ago

Duration 2:20

Arshdeep Bains from Surrey, B.C., has made his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche. As CBC’s Joel Ballard reports, it’s been a hard-fought journey for the hometown kid to the big leagues.

Bains played five games for the NHL team in February before being sent back to Abbotsford. 

“He went down, he’s done a couple of things that we like, and he’s got some speed,” Tocchet said. 

Vancouver may get another forward back in the lineup Thursday. 

Dakota Joshua practised in a full-contact jersey on Wednesday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury in Vancouver’s 4-2 win over the Blackhawks in Chicago on Feb. 13. 

The physical winger, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has a career-high 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) this season.

Sitting out injured “hasn’t been fun,” Joshua said.

“It feels like forever,” he said. “But at this point, that’s behind me and I’m moving forward.”

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Senators score 5 in 1st, cruise past Sabres – NHL.com

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“I thought that we were ready to go,” Ottawa coach Jacques Martin said. “We got some pucks at the net, we got people at the net. Took advantage of our opportunities and, I think, built a nice lead. And then I thought, in the third period, we continued again. Our goaltending was good. Made some key saves. But I thought we shut them down in the third period good.”

Shane Pinto had a goal and three assists, and Brady Tkachuk, Boris Katchouk, Jakob Chychrun and Drake Batherson each had a goal and an assist for the Senators (31-36-4), who have won three in a row. Korpisalo made 34 saves.

“If you want to win, you need balance,” Pinto said. “And we had that tonight and it’s going to be big for the back-to-back tomorrow (against the Chicago Blackhawks) to have that same thing. So, going to need all the guys on board.”

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JJ Peterka and Connor Clifton scored for the Sabres (34-34-5), who have lost four of six. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen allowed four goals on nine shots before he was replaced by Devon Levi, who made 31 saves in relief.

“We wanted, I guess, to play as individuals,” Clifton said. “I’m disappointed we let ‘Upie’ down, he’s the heart and soul of this team. He’s kept us in so many games, and just to not show up and play that careless style, give them freebies all over the place. … Yeah, obviously, the first 20 really dictated the rest of the game.”

Artem Zub gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead at 2:37 of the first period. He stuffed in a loose puck on the goal line after Katchouk’s shot was redirected by Mark Kastelic between Luukkonen’s pads.

Katchouk made it 2-0 at 4:56, tipping Parker Kelly’s shot from the top of the right face-off circle past Luukkonen.

“It’s keeping the consistency with good effort, right habits,” Katchouk said. “The small things matter so much in this game. And obviously, it worked out tonight with the tip. But kudos to my linemates. ‘Kels’ and ‘Kassy,’ they worked hard to get the puck as well. Those two battle hard every night as well. We feed off each other, and it’s good to play with them.”

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Vasilevskiy stops 23 as surging Lightning beat Bruins – Sportsnet.ca

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