Background
How did we get to where we are today?
1. Legalization of single game betting - Private Members Bill – Bill C-218
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/single-game-betting-legalized-1.5999028
Article posted on April 22, 2021 on the CBC Sports website. Sports betting became legal in Canada in August, 2021 when the Federal Government passed a private member’s bill, introduced by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon—Grasswood), to amend the Canadian Criminal Code and legalize single-game sports betting.
2. Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act S.C. 2021, c.20 (Bill C-218)
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/annualstatutes/2021_20/page-1.html#h-1
The Government of Canada’s “Justice Laws Website” summarizes the Act as follows:
This enactment amends paragraph 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code to make it lawful for the government of a province, or a person or entity licensed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of that province, to conduct and manage a lottery scheme in the province that involves betting on a race — other than a horse-race — or fight, or on a single sport event or athletic contest.
3. April 3, 2023 Article by Canadian Press
The article summarizes the increases in demand, wagers, revenue, and competition among sports betting companies. Regarding advertising, the author of the article comments:
Ontario operators can't advertise or provide marketing materials outlining gambling inducements, bonuses and credits. However there are no limits regarding how much they can advertise overall, prompting many to enlist big-name athletes like Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Andre De Grasse as ambassadors and spend millions on advertising campaigns, much to the chagrin of the general public.