Fate of Canada’s sports betting bill to be known on Sept 21

Canadian lawmakers are set to put to a vote this month a bill amending the national criminal code that will allow for single-game wagering.

Deliberations on whether to send a piece of legislation called C-221 (Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act) to the Committee on Justice and Human Rights for further deliberation, or to reject the bill has been set on September 22, according to Legal Sports Report, citing anonymous sources.

C-221, which was introduced by MP Brian Masse earlier this year, provides that the “enactment repeals paragraph 207(4)‍(b) of the Criminal Code to make it lawful for the government of a province, or a person or entity licensed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of that province, to conduct and manage a lottery scheme in the province that involves betting on a race or fight or on a single sport event or athletic contest.”

It was submitted as a private member’s bill, meaning it was not introduced by a cabinet minister and was separate from the government’s legislative agenda. According to the report, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration was cool toward the bill.