Masse says Canada needs to tighten up sports betting laws
Former NDP MP Brian Masse has criticised the rollout of single-event sports betting in Canada, describing aspects of its implementation as “deplorable” five years after legalization.
Masse, who first introduced legislation to amend the Criminal Code of Canada in 2019, said the policy has strayed from its original intent of creating a controlled, public-interest gambling framework. The bill, later reintroduced by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh, passed with cross-party support in 2021.
Speaking to CBC News, Masse said provinces — particularly Ontario — have allowed private operators to dominate the market, fuelling aggressive advertising and rapid expansion.
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Ontario iGaming has licensed over 80 different gambling sites since it was enacted, and despite heavy restrictions on inducements, has continued to flourish in the Canadian province.
“It’s deplorable the way that some of the provinces have actually implemented it. They’ve allowed the private sector to basically own and operate,” Masse said.
“I don’t have regrets, but it’s sad to see some of the repercussions. We can still avoid them, too. The story isn’t done.”
“It really was about jobs at our casino, it was jobs at our entertainment industry, it was jobs in tourism.
“You could see the modernization taking place. And so we didn’t want organized crime to benefit. We wanted it to be accountable.”
Since launching in 2022, Ontario’s regulated gambling market has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry, with dozens of licensed operators competing for market share. However, studies have linked the surge in gambling promotion to increased harm, including a sharp rise in young men seeking help for gambling-related issues.
Masse called for tighter advertising restrictions and greater regulatory oversight across the Canadian gambling industry, which is set to expand in the coming months with Alberta indicating they would regulate the industry.
