To no one’s surprise the Canadian Parliament and Senate entered its summer recess, without reviewing the proposed single sports betting bill C290.
The bill which aimed to amend Canada’s criminal code with regards to sports betting, would allow single sports wagers to be accepted in licensed gambling premises failed to gain its Senate review despite optimism at the start of 2015 for its long awaited approval.
The bill which had been approved by all parties since 2012, would see continual delays in its progress when it reached the Senate. C290’s numerous advocates have criticised the Senate’s actions, noting that it had deliberately backtracked the bill’s progress during an election year.
Furthermore pro sports betting commentators would state that they could not recall the senate ever blocking a law supported and approved unanimously by the House of Commons.
The Senate will not regroup until after the General Election set for October, it is highly unlikely that the bill will be priority for what is likely to be a newly reformed Senate.
Although critical of the Senate’s lack of progress, it remains unclear whether sports betting advocates will looks to re-start their campaign for C290 progress. Since its approval in 2012, the market landscape for Canadian sports betting has changed and many media commentators have noted that the bill’s framework may be out of context with modern consumers.
Furthermore many have noted that a re-draft of the bill should aim to modernise Canadian sports betting framework beyond single sports betting mechanisms, which could see Canada gain the sport of US pro leagues on the progression of legalised sports betting