The Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) has welcomed an announcement from Windsor West parliamentary candidate Sandra Pupatello that she is to champion its campaign to legalize single-game sportsbetting throughout Canada.

The CGA used an official Thursday press release to call for cross-party support for its crusade while detailing that Pupatello is due to stand as the Liberal Party candidate for the southern Ontario constituency as part of the nation’s October 21 federal elections. The trade group declared that it agreed with a comment from the 57-year-old former provincial representative that there was ‘no reason to hold back on this initiative’ that would allow punters to place single-game wagers on sports as diverse as professional ice hockey and baseball.

Lucrative leisure:

Paul Burns, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Association, used the press release to explain that sportsbetting is already popular across the length and breadth of Canada with punters in the giant nation annually wagering approximately $7.53 billion. He detailed that this amount regularly encompasses some $3.01 billion in bets that have been placed with offshore websites although only about $377.08 million is staked every year via legal provincially-licensed operators.

According to Burns…

“We are thrilled to have Sandra Pupatello‘s support and call on all parties to fight for the simple amendment that provinces requested ten years ago that would benefit places like Windsor. This change would give provinces the tools to deliver a safe and legal option to Canadians while helping economic benefits, such as jobs, flow to communities and provincial governments.”

Employment opportunities:

The Canadian Gaming Association proclaimed that gaming ‘touches almost every corner of our country’ and is responsible for around 182,500 jobs with average annual salaries of about $49,100. It furthermore pronounced that the industry regularly contributes approximately $6.88 billion to various charitable, provincial, community and aboriginal good causes every year but that inaction over single-game wagering is threatening these benefits ‘especially in border communities like Windsor.’

Burns added…

“Let us not lose sight of how one small change can drive enormous benefits to the Canadian gaming industry, Canadian communities as well as Canadians who just want to be able to bet on the outcome of the Stanley Cup, NBA Finals or World Series. The Canadian Gaming Association has been advocating for single-event sports wagering for a decade. With all-party support and assistance from our federal government, its time has come.”