The Canadian Gaming Association has welcomed the partnership signed earlier this week that is to see the National Hockey League (NHL) supply casino operator MGM Resorts International with proprietary in-game data for use by its sportsbooks.

Applauds ‘exciting new level of engagement’:

According to an official Thursday press release published by European Gaming Media and Events, the Toronto-based industry organization stated that the first-of-its-kind tie-up is set to benefit ice hockey fans across the United States by allowing them to experience ‘an exciting new level of engagement’ at arenas and casino sportbooks.

Invitation to join single-event drive:

The Canadian Gaming Association subsequently declared that it hopes the NHL will now join its campaign to bring ‘this same level of fan experience to Canada’ by lobbying for the repeal of paragraph 207(4)(b) of the nation’s Criminal Code to make single-event wagering available to aficionados across its homeland.

Parlay proportionality:

Paul Burns, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Canadian Gaming Association, detailed that parlay sportsbetting has been legal across Canada ‘for decades’ before proclaiming that he hopes the NHL will engage with the gaming industry to ‘make single-event sports wagering a reality for Canadian hockey fans’.

Burns’ statement read…

“This is an excellent example of the type of relationship the Canadian gaming industry is looking for with professional sports leagues. We know that Canadians enjoy single-event sportsbetting because they are wagering approximately $14 billion annually through illegal channels. We invite the NHL to work with our gaming industry to bring about the changes required to realize the full economic potential of single-event sports wagering in Canada and give Canadian fans the same experience as their United States counterparts.”