The Canadian Lawyer Magazine reports
David Lametti, federal justice minister and attorney general, has announced the royal assent of Bill C-218, which allows Canadians to engage in sports wagering in a legal, regulated and safe environment either online or in physical facilities.
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sports betting) — also known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act — amends paragraph 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code to allow a provincial government, or a person or entity licensed by the province’s Lieutenant Governor in Council, to conduct and manage a lottery scheme within such province that involves betting on a race, fight, single sport event or athletic contest.
The bill seeks to provide provinces and territories with the discretion to handle single-event sport betting in their jurisdictions, except in relation to horse racing, which will be maintained by the federal government, said Lametti in a statement. Provinces and territories can then use these gambling revenues to finance programs and services promoting health care, education and other initiatives, as they already do with other lottery revenues.
Read the full article at https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/practice-areas/criminal/new-law-allows-provinces-to-manage-sports-betting-in-their-jurisdictions/358072
