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Liberals to Present Bill on Single-Game Sports Betting

Brexit Deal ‘Down to Political Will’ From UK, Says Irish PM

The prime minister of Ireland—where the impact of a Brexit deal will be felt most keenly within the European Union—says he hopes the outline of a free-trade deal between the UK and the EU will emerge by the end of the week. The fate of the deal rests on UK political will, he said. Talks started up again on Monday, albeit online, with the EU’s chief negotiator saying that “fundamental divergences remain.” In just six weeks the UK will sever ties with the trading bloc, regardless of whether a deal has been struck or not. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he had received a sense of progress from both negotiating teams. “I would be hopeful that, by the end of this week, that we could see the outlines of a…

Liberals to Present Bill on Single-Game Sports Betting

OTTAWA鈥擳he Liberal government says it will bring in a bill on one-game sports betting, five years after a previous attempt died in the Senate.

The legislation on the House of Commons notice paper would amend Criminal Code provisions around gambling on single games of football, hockey and other sports, an activity that is currently illegal.

The bill could mirror previous parliamentary attempts to reclaim for casinos some of the $14 billion that the Canadian Gaming Association estimates is lost annually to the black market and foreign gambling websites.

In 2012, then-NDP MP for Windsor-Tecumseh Joe Comartin tabled a private member鈥檚 bill to allow single-game betting that zipped through the House of Commons with all-party support, but foundered in the Senate and died when an election was called in 2015.

Liberal MP Irek Kusmierczyk鈥擶indsor-Tecumseh鈥檚 current representative鈥攕ays in a Facebook post that the bill is about protecting 2,500 casino jobs in his region and strengthening the Caesars Windsor casino.

Las Vegas-style betting on single-game sports would open the books to gamblers eager to put down cash on individual games rather than just Pro-Line-style betting, where consumers wager on fixed odds around two or more games, depending on the province.

The legislation is expected to draw in part on a bill tabled earlier this year by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh to repeal the ban on single-event sports betting and pave the way for provinces to regulate the pastime.

The Canadian Gaming Association said Wednesday it is pleased Ottawa has recognized the “urgent need” to decriminalize single-game gambling.

“Amending the Criminal Code to legalize single-event sports wagering will provide provinces with the necessary tools to deliver a safe and legal option to Canadians while enabling economic benefits to flow to licensed gaming operators, communities and provincial governments,” the association said in a release.

“We can鈥檛 emphasize enough how this small change to the Criminal Code will help communities recover from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 shutdown.”

Focus News: Liberals to Present Bill on Single-Game Sports Betting

Kirkup to Step up as the Youngest Leader of WA Liberals

The 33-year-old Member of Parliament Zak Kirkup will become the youngest West Australian Liberal leader in 20 years as his rival pulled out shortly before the party room meeting. Kirkup’s opponent, former cabinet minister Dean Nalder, announced his withdrawal in a statement released on Tuesday, saying it was clear that the numbers were not on his side, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. “It has become apparent that I don’t have the majority support of my parliamentary colleagues and therefore will clear a path for the new leader,” Nalder told AAP. “I have been humbled at the level of support from my electorate and the wider community.” Kirkup’s victory means the Liberal party would welcome its youngest leader since Matt Birney’s short-lived reign in the mid-2000s. “I think anyone should judge a…