The Canadian Senate took a significant step toward restricting sports betting promotions on Tuesday, as the Senate Transport and Communications Committee approved Bill S-211. The measure, passed during a brief 45-second hearing without debate, would require federal oversight of sports betting advertising nationwide, even as professional sports leagues, including the NHL and Canadian Football League, oppose it.
“The proliferation of sports betting advertising and other forms of gambling activities has become pervasive in Canadian society,” states the bill’s preamble. It cites research demonstrating that increased exposure to gambling ads leads to higher participation rates, highlighting the public health concerns tied to unchecked marketing.
Bill S-211: A National Framework
Formally titled An Act Respecting A National Framework On Sports Betting Advertising, Bill S-211 mandates that the federal cabinet “identify measures to regulate sports betting advertising in Canada with a view to restricting the use of such advertising.” The legislation mirrors a previous version that passed the Senate on November 4, 2024, but ultimately lapsed following the January 6, 2025 prorogation of Parliament.
Senator Marty Deacon (Ont.), who sponsors the bill, had previously voiced concern over the scale of gambling ads following the legalization of single-event sports betting in 2021. She said in debate: “It is foolish to gamble with the health and well-being of Canadians when we already know what the outcome will be.”
Deacon further criticized the lack of preventative measures: “It makes absolutely no sense to wait for these problems to arise and then react to them at which point tens of thousands of Canadians’ lives will have been devastated through problem gambling.” She added, “I had a hope that by making single game betting legal we’d see some work to address its harms as well. That has not happened. I did not anticipate the level of promotion that we’re seeing, potentially creating a generation of problem gamblers.”
Opposition and Public Concern
Despite major leagues opposing the legislation, including vocal resistance from the NHL and Canadian Football League, the bill reflects growing public unease about gambling-related harm. Since Canada legalized single-event wagering in 2021, advertisements promoting sports betting have become increasingly pervasive across broadcasts and digital media, prompting lawmakers and health advocates to push for regulation.
By requiring the federal cabinet to develop a national framework, the bill aims to standardize rules and restrictions around gambling promotion, potentially reducing the exposure that can contribute to problem gambling. Analysts note that the legislation’s approval by the Senate committee moves it closer to enactment, though its future passage will depend on further review and debate within Parliament.
Senator Deacon reintroduced the bill in June 2025, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the public health implications of gambling promotion before problems escalate. Her remarks underline the preventive intent of the legislation, focusing on early action rather than reactive measures.
If successfully implemented, Bill S-211 could set a precedent for national oversight of sports betting advertising, balancing the commercial interests of leagues and operators with societal concerns over gambling-related harm.
Source:
“Federal bill to restrict sports betting ads in Canada passed by Senate committee”, ca.news.yahoo.com, October 8, 2025
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