Canada is set to see considerable changes in the country’s gaming industry. With the introduction of a new bill to decriminalize single-event sports betting in Canada, gambling enthusiasts are looking forward to enjoying more options. Similarly, the government of Ontario reiterated and even expanded upon its plan to put up a modernized online gaming market in the province.
With these new legal measures, online gamers in Canada can add single-event sports betting to the free play slots, dice, roulette, and card games to their options when playing at online platforms.
Bill C-13
The new measure Canada intends to pass is called Bill C-13, and it aims to legalize single-event sports betting in the country. To date, this bill is the fourth attempt in the country to lift the wagering restriction on single-event sports.
It is still in the introduction stage and yet to go through the legislative process. However, there are indications that it will be passed into law like the three similar bills before it. The bill has so far gained broad support not only from the gaming industry but also from professional sports leagues.
If successful, the bill will finally remove the prohibition under Canada’s Criminal Code on single sporting events. The Canadian Gaming Association says that this prohibition costs the Canadian economy some C$14 billion annually.
Canada still allows some form of sports betting, but not the type that is likely to generate more federal income. At present, Canadians can wager on sporting events in a parlay fashion, which means they have to bet on the results of multiple games at once.
Ontario gaming changes
As indicated in Ontario’s 2020 budget bill, the province is set to introduce legislation for the establishment of an online market that focuses on iGaming or internet-based gaming. This proposed bill aims to make gaming competitive in Ontario as well as to protect consumers.
The core idea of the planned legislation is to provide authority to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to conduct and regulate online gaming activities. AGCO is the regulator of legal gaming offerings in the province. This means that AGCO will be tasked with the management of the relationships between private online gaming entities and the government.
There are no clear details of the proposed online gaming bill for Ontario yet. However, based on the information in the 2020 budget, one of the primary goals is to create a framework for legalized online gaming that is more open to third-party providers. AGCO and the government of Ontario are reportedly doing consultations with key stakeholders on how to go about with the planned iGaming market.
If Ontario successfully changes its online gaming landscape, it will be a major development for online gaming enthusiasts not only for the province but for the whole of Canada. Nearly 4 out of 10 people in Canada reside in Ontario. It is likely that other provinces will follow suit if Ontario successfully amends laws to accommodate online gaming.
