Commissioner Randy Ambrosie wants you to be able to place a single-game bet on CFL action.
Ambrosie signed a joint statement along with four major pro sports leagues that operate in Canada to urge the government to take ‘prompt action’ and legalize single-game sports betting.
The full statement from Postmedia reporter Dave Waddell:
“The National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, and the Canadian Football League support an amendment to Canada’s federal laws that would authorize provinces to offer betting on single sporting events.”
“Sports betting gives fans another exciting way to engage with the sports they love. Because a legal and regulated sports betting market in Canada would be beneficial to sports and their fans, we urge prompt action to make this a reality.”
“Sports betting already happens illegally in Canada; creating a legal framework would shift consumers from illicit, unregulated markets to a legal and safe marketplace. Regulating single-game betting would allow for strong consumer protections as well as safeguards to further protect the integrity of sports.”
Ambrosie along with Gary Bettman, Adam Silver, Rob Manfred and Don Garber approved and inked the message. According to Waddell, copies were sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Attorney General of Canada and Justice Minister Dave Lametti. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and other key government leaders have also received copies from their federal counterparts.
“This doesn’t need to go through the normal private members’ bill process. The government can do this with an order of council like they did with the new gun control laws a month ago,” Conservative MP Kevin Waugh said.
“They need this more than ever. To get all five of them to sign that piece of paper is amazing. We’ll be putting pressure on the government to get this done before Parliament finishes June 17.”
