From iGaming Business
In Canada, a trio of chamber of commerce organizations have joined forces in order to lobby for the legalization of single event sportsbetting under the proposed Bill C-290 legislation currently before the nation’s Senate.
Introduced into the House of Commons as a Private Member’s Bill in February of 2011 by Joe Comartin, a member of the left-leaning New Democratic Party and the representative for the Windsor-Tecumseh electoral district, Bill C-290 would, if passed, delete section 207(4)(b) of the nation’s Criminal Code prohibiting provinces from permitting wagering on ‘any race or fight, or on a single sports event or athletic contest’.
The proposed legislation unanimously passed through a House of Commons reading in 2012 with the Senate of Canada currently in the process of debating the measure via a second reading.
According to a report from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and the Federation des Chambres de Commerce du Quebec have now partnered by sending letters in support of Bill C-290 to Senators and stressing that the passage of the legislation is important for the economy.
“We have a competitive marketplace for casinos,” said Matt Marchand, President for the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“By having single sportsbetting and tax-free winnings, that really puts Caesars Windsor in a very strong position in the marketplace. We need to leverage that position. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a Super Bowl weekend or a major sports event weekend here in Windsor-Essex? Have them stay at the hotel for a couple days and get out and enjoy the amenities Windsor-Essex has to offer.
“This is a national issue. The message to the Senate is there is a strong appetite for this bill. It has all-party support. The business community supports it. The labour community supports it.”
Marchand stated that passing Bill C-290 would be ‘good for our economy’ particularly in Windsor where 3,500 people work at Caesars Windsor while unemployment hovers around nine percent.
