Article
New stakes in the game
Bill C-13 and unlocking opportunities through sports betting reform in Canada
Canada’s gaming and entertainment sector is on the cusp of a significant transformation that could unlock new growth opportunities, reduce illegal betting activity, and generate new revenue for governments and organizations across the country.
In November 2020, the Canadian federal justice minister introduced Bill C-13: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (single event sport betting). If passed, the bill would end a decades-old prohibition on single-game, single-event, and live proposition (“prop”) betting—a prohibition that has funnelled billions of dollars into illicit markets.
Consumer sentiment and other jurisdictions’ experiences suggest that the legalization of single-event sports betting could drive significant growth across the industry. But to take advantage of this opportunity—an opportunity Deloitte estimates could be close to C$28 billion within five years of legalization—key stakeholders across the Canadian sports betting ecosystem must make important decisions. These choices will play a pivotal role in shaping how legalized single-event sports betting is implemented in Canada, which, in turn, will impact the economic benefit for many industries and federal and provincial governments.
Read New stakes in the game to learn more about the potential opportunities and impacts of legalization, lessons from other jurisdictions, key considerations for stakeholders across the betting ecosystem, and the next steps we propose.
For more information, please contact Jeff Harris, Leslie Peterson, or Gavin McTavish directly.
Key contacts
