Score Media and Gaming Inc, parent of sports betting firm theScore, has added its backing to a joint call made last week by the commissioners of five major professional sports leagues for the Canadian federal government to allow single-event sports wagering in the country. 

In the joint statement sent to several key members of the Canadian government, Adam Silver from the National Basketball Association (NBA), Gary Bettman from the National Hockey League (NHL), Rob Manfred from Major League Baseball (MLB), Don Garber from Major League Soccer (MLS), and Randy Ambrosie from the Canadian Football League (CFL) called on the country’s federal laws to be updated to authorize provinces to offer betting on single sporting events.

John Levy, Founder and CEO of theScore has previously voiced support for proposals by the Ontario provincial government to legalize online gambling in the province, as well as calls to legalize single event sports wagering at the federal level. The company has also been an active participant in the province’s stakeholder consultation process. 

Levy said: “We strongly support the league commissioners’ calls to promptly amend Canada’s outdated federal laws to provide a safe, regulated, and competitive sports betting environment for fans in this country.

“Sports betting is a major part of the fan experience and already takes place in Canada through the unlicensed grey market with offshore operators. For the past two years, the United States has demonstrated the kind of tangible consumer and tax benefits related to regulated sports betting that could be similarly impactful in Canada.”

He added: “We’re often asked by our Canadian users how they can bet through theScore, a sports media platform they already know and trust, versus the current list of unregulated offshore providers. When the opportunity to do that arises, theScore will be ready to offer Canadians a truly best-in-class mobile sports betting experience with theScore Bet.”