Sports teams, leagues take wait-and-see approach to sports betting
By RAY SPITERI
Niagara Falls Review Staff Writer
July 5
Professional sports teams and leagues are taking note of a proposal to allow Las Vegas-style gambling in provincial casinos.
“We’ve talked about this internally, but we don’t see this issue affecting our organization or teams at all,” said John Lashway, senior vice-president of communications for Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment.
MLSE owns the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association, as well as Major League Soccer's Toronto FC.
Queen’s Park is asking Ottawa for its support to allow gamblers to wager on individual sports games in casinos and racetrack-slots, which is only legal in 150 Nevada gaming houses.
Last year, the province sent a letter to Niagara Falls MP and justice minister Rob Nicholson, urging the federal government to amend the Criminal Code of Canada and create “sportsbooks.”
These would permit people to wager the outcome of individual sports games as opposed to the multiple “parlay” betting that exists under Pro-Line, the government-run lottery.
It’s a plan the province believes will boost sagging casino revenues and give ailing border communities like Niagara Falls and Windsor a leg up on its counterparts in Western New York and Michigan, where sports betting is not allowed.
Major sports leagues have traditionally opposed sportsbooks, which is one reason why Las Vegas is not home to any major league teams.
But because Niagara and Windsor do not have big-league hockey, baseball, basketball or soccer teams, sportsbook supporters do not foresee problems with the leagues.
Jamie Dykstra, manager of communications for the Canadian Football League, said league commissioner Mark Cohon is aware of the Ontario government’s proposal, but has not had time to review it as he has been busy travelling across the country for various home openers.
“This is something the commissioner wants to discuss with the board of governors as it is an important issue,” said Dykstra. “I know he would want to have a discussion with his peers on the board before he comments on a position on it.”  |