Canadians Frustrated Over Superbowl Betting Restrictions

The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) is complaining that once again a Superbowl came and went with no action on proposed legislation, known as Bill C-290, which would allow single game sports betting.

The bill has been sitting in the Senate for almost two years without any progress being made. As a result Canadian casinos and bookies have missed out on a great opportunity to increase revenues and attract punters.

It is illegal to bet on single games in Canadian casinos which results in millions of players betting at online casinos based offshore. It is thought that Canadians bet $14 billion on online sports betting every year and that the Canadian economy has missed out on $26 billion since Bill C-290 arrived in the Senate.

The President of the CGA, Bill Rutsey, believes that criminal elements are benefiting from the outdated sports betting laws, “as I’ve warned before, inaction by the Senators only serves to fuel organized crime and offshore bookmakers, because they are the ones who profit from unlawful single-event wagering.”

At present if Canadians wish to bet on the Superbowl they must also bet on two other games in the NHL, the NBA or sports leagues overseas.