Local leaders put feds on the clock for new sports-betting laws

Windsor must move quickly now to spur legalization of single-event sports betting or be left behind by Michigan, leaders from business, labour and every political stripe agreed Monday at a roundtable intended bring the long-simmering issue to a hard boil.

Michigan sits on the verge of passing it own law allowing both online betting and sports betting — a move that could leave Windsor-essex and particularly Caesars Windsor at a disadvantage.

Representatives from Unifor Local 444, representing casino workers, the Windsor-essex Regional Chamber of Commerce and industry and political representatives attended a roundtable Monday at Caesars Windsor to pound out a strategy to apply pressure on the federal government to allow single-event sports betting. Everyone agreed that Windsor must move quickly or be left behind and fighting to catch up to its American counterpart.

“Border states in the U.S. will soon begin to take business away, threatening jobs in Canadian communities while we continue to sit on the sidelines,” said Paul Burns, CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association.

Canada could risk losing customers to Michigan casinos if Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs the bill into law. Michigan is set to become the 18th state to legalize some form of sports betting.

Organizing the event were Windsor MPS Brian Masse (NDP, Windsor West) and Irek Kusmierczyk (Liberal, Windsor—tecumseh). Masse said the failure to allow single-event sports betting is a great example of a missed opportunity for Windsor, but added there are still many reasons for pushing forward with legalization. Because sports betting was largely not allowed in U.S. states except for Nevada for many years, Windsor had a potential advantage that went untapped.

“There’s no doubt that the opportunity isn’t what it was,” said Masse, “But it can be made into a significant one for our region.”

With a new Liberal minority government, local MPS — Windsor-essex now has representatives from the NDP, Liberals and Conservatives — view this as a fresh opportunity to push a bill through the House of Commons and the Senate. Masse has previously made two unsuccessful attempts to legalize single-event sports betting. Masse’s last attempt was about four years ago after the Trudeau government took office in Ottawa.

Caesars Windsor regional president Kevin Laforet said it is “unfortunate” Canada has not moved to swiftly pass its own bill.

“We had a chance where we could have had a competitive advantage and now we’ll be playing catch-up,” said Laforet.

Unifor Local 444 president Dave Cassidy said 100 to 150 jobs could be created locally if single-event sports betting is legalized.

Monday’s meeting produced a “multi-party alignment,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.

“You have alignment with the city, alignment amongst a lot of different players, including the chamber, saying we believe this is an important issue and we’re going to take it to Ottawa,” he said.

Border states in the U.S. will soon begin to take business away, threatening jobs in Canadian communities while we continue to sit on the sidelines.