Windsor West MP Brian Masse is bringing back the single-game sports betting bill, tabling it in Parliament today.
The bill brought forward by fellow New Democrat and former Windsor-Tecumseh MP Joe Comartin was held up in the Senate and died when the last federal election was called.
Masse is hoping a new government will mean better fortunes for the bill.
"It'll be interesting to see the reaction once we table the bill and we start to do the lobbying, so I'm hopeful [the Liberals] will support it like they did the first time as opposition members," says Masse.
The new bill would repeal a section of the Criminal Code which makes single-event sports betting illegal and allow provincial governments to make necessary changes.
Masse calls the bill important for tourism and jobs in Windsor, but also important in chipping away at the $10-billion in illegal betting he says goes to organized crime.
He argues allowing broadened betting will also improve gaming addictions programs instead of adding to the problem.
"Right now, I don't think these offshore betting accounts and organized crime [systems] are donating to gaming addictions, so this will provide an opportunity for the provinces to contribute to those issues," says Masse.
According to Masse, if the bill doesn't get passed, Windsor and Canada are at risk of getting left behind.
"The reality is the US is also moving into some of this market share and if we are left without that response, then we're going to lose an opportunity to be ahead of the game and ensure our local industries are doing well," says Masse.
Routine proceedings in the House of Commons are set to being at 3pm.
