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Single-event sports betting officially launches in Canada

News

Single event sports betting is legal in Canada as of today (27 August), following Bill C-218’s passage into law last month. 

The bill was designed to repeal paragraph 207(4)(b) of Canada’s Criminal Code, under which consumers were only permitted to wager on at least three games or more. As a result, betting on a single match or event was prohibited.

With single-event betting now permitted, the British Colombia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has announced it will begin offering single-event sports bets as well as bets on racing and fighting via its PlayNow.com platform. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation had previously announced that it will also offer single-event bets from today.

BCLC has promised to prioritize player health through its responsible gambling safeguards present on PlayNow.com.

BCLC’s interim president and CEO Lynda Cavanaugh said: “This is a landmark moment for BCLC and our players.

“We’re excited to enhance our offerings on PlayNow.com, the only gambling website operating in B.C. where revenue goes back to British Columbians by supporting provincial initiatives like healthcare, education and community programs.”

Bill C-218, also known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, was first re-introduced into Candian parliament in November 2020. The bill then unanimously passed through the Senate in June by a vote of 57-20 before receiving Royal Assent a week later. 

In addition to BCLC’s product, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is also debuting its betting platform Proline+ today, after announcing plans for the launch to coincide with the introduction of single-event sports betting earlier this month.