Bleak prospects for Canadian sports betting bill

In Canada, MP Joe Comartin’s bill seeking to open up Canadian sports betting by allowing single game wagering may have sailed through the Commons but the Senate has virtually killed it off through delays and general dithering.

This week the senator pushing bill C-290 in the Senate, Bob Runciman, appeared to be resigned to the initiative running out of time in the current session after facing delays and determined opposition in the Upper House.

The bill was passed and sent to the Senate by the Commons over a year ago, where it has remained stalled amid strong lobbying opposition from the sports leagues.

Runciman told local media reporters that with the summer break coming up in the near future, time was running out for the bill, and it could  be removed from the order paper.

It is rare for the Senate to throw out legislation that has already passed successfully through the Commons, but in this case no vote has, or is likely to be, taken as the ploy of running out of time has been used.

Even if it is removed from the order paper, C-290 is likely to be back in a future session, reintroduced by Runciman or other politicians who are determined not to let it die.

For example, NDP MP Brian Masse continues to work hard to keep the bill alive, and has committed himself to its reintroduction if it fails in the current session.

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