Former Canadian MP Calls for Tighter Regulation of Sports Betting
A former Canadian MP instrumental in legalizing single-event sports betting has spoken out about the industry, saying its implementation was not what he had imagined and that tighter regulations are needed.
Brian Masse introduced a private member’s bill in 2019 to lift the ban on single-event sports betting, and this was later reintroduced by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh and passed in 2021. Five years on, speaking to CBS News, Masse said the rollout has not matched his expectations, particularly in provinces that opened the market to private operators.
“It’s deplorable the way that some of the provinces have actually implemented it,” he said. “They’ve allowed the private sector to basically own and operate. I don’t have regrets, but it’s sad to see some of the repercussions.”
According to Masse, the original push for legalization was partly driven by economic concerns as casinos in Ontario were competing with those in nearby Detroit. After US states, including Michigan, legalized single-event betting, Canadian operators faced a disadvantage.
But studies post-legalization point to increased gambling exposure. Ontario sports betting opened to private companies, has 47 licensed gambling brands, and, according to a 2024 analysis, gambling messages accounted for up to 21% of Ontario sports broadcasts. A further study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal also found a 300% increase in young men contacting a provincial mental health helpline for gambling-related issues.
A bill to regulate sports betting ads, S-211, has since been introduced, but is still under consideration by lawmakers.
AGCO moves to suspend PointsBet over Jontay Porter scandal
As lawmakers call for tighter regulations on the industry, Ontario’s gambling regulator proposed a five-day suspension in February for sportsbook operator PointsBet Canada, citing failures to detect and report suspicious betting around the NBA’s Jontay Porter scandal.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) said the proposed suspension relates to a systemic failure in monitoring and reporting of unusual betting patterns linked to a 2024 bet-rigging scheme investigated in the United States.
In early 2024, operators were asked to confirm whether bets had been offered on Porter and whether any suspicious activity had been identified. PointsBet initially reported that it had not offered such bets.
Following a US Department of Justice indictment in October 2025, operators were asked to confirm any suspicious betting activity that had occurred. The AGCO said PointsBet later acknowledged it had offered betting on Porter, and a review identified suspicious wagering indicators that should have been reported.
The Chief Executive of AGCO, Dr. Karin Schnarr, said operators must have systems in place to detect and report such activity.
PointsBet Canada added that the issue was caused by human error and that it disclosed the correct data once identified and cooperated with the investigation. The company said it is reviewing its options, including a possible appeal against the suspension.
