MP Brian Masse resurrects sports betting bill in House of Commons

Windsor West NDP MP Brian Masse reintroduced a sports betting bill in Parliament Wednesday.

The bill, called "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sports betting)," proposes allowing provinces and territories the option to allow wagering on "any race or fight, or on a single sports event or athletic contest."

Currently, wagerers must bet on — and correctly predict the outcome of — at least two games, but usually three, in order to win.

Retired NDP MP Joe Comartin first introduced  Bill C-290 back in 2011. It passed the House with all-party approval and arrived in the Senate in March 2012, and ended up one stage short of Royal Assent by June 2013.

The bill died when the 42nd general election was called last year and the process is now starting over.

The original Bill C-290 was an act designed to amend the Criminal Code and "allow for wagering on the outcome of a single sporting event, which is currently illegal in Canada."

Masse has previously said more money could be put toward gambling addiction toward gambling addiction treatment programs if single-sport betting is legalized.