Amended Bill S-211 Sent Back to the House
The Sports Betting Advertising Bill S-211 has left the Commons Heritage committee with amendments. These include a longer deadline, looser consultation duties, and no in-game advertising ban. The senate still has to accept these changes.
The 3 November meeting was sponsored by Senator Marty Deacon and Liberal MP Bardish Chagger and looked at officials' evidence and a clause by clause review of the bill. The amended text or minutes of the meeting had not yet been published at the time of writing this article.
National Framework, Not a Ban on Sports Betting Advertising
The version of the Bill that was passed by the Senate in October 2025 requires the Minister of Canadian Heritage to develop a national framework. It requires identifying measures with a view to restricting the use of advertising including limits on the number, scope, or location of adverts as well as limits or a ban on celebrity and athlete participation. It also required setting national standards on preventing and diagnosing harmful gambling.
A report is due within one year of the bill coming into force and the report being implemented within five years after that.
The Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has to review its own rules and report within a year of royal assent.
It was anticipated that a complete ban on all sports betting advertising might happen, but no such ban has been included.
What Has Changed
Amendments have been made to the bill that include the report moving from one year to two and publication from 10 to 15 days after tabling.
Other amendments include:
- Minister no longer means the Minister of Canadian Heritage. It means member of members of the King's Privy Council for Canada.
- National standards becomes clinical guidelines.
- Must consult becomes may consult.
- Six named ministers becomes anyone the Minister wishes.
The proposed in-game ban by Conservative MP Andrew Lawton failed after Liberal MP Fares Al Soud said that it would "reduce the flexibility" of the framework.
A Canadian Heritage director general, Amy Awad, said that omitting the in-game ban would not rule it out and that "broad language allows for anything to be put in".
Where Everyone Stands
The House passed the second reading 291 to 28 on the 22nd of April. It was backed by the Liberals, the NDP, and most of the Conservatives.
The Bloc Québécois objects on provincial jurisdiction.
The Canadian Gaming Association says that the bill would encroach on provincial jurisdiction for Canada online casinos and sportsbooks, and that Ontario and Alberta have formally communicated their opposition.
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters said the bill assumes a regulatory gap without showing one.
Think tank Cardus looked for a full ban on sports betting advertising or one during live broadcasts.
RG reported that 12 mental health groups and 28 addiction researchers sought for national action.
Final Vote for Bill S-211
The amended Bill S-211 still faces the report stage and a third reading. The Senate has passed different text and under House procedure a bill needs every stage in both Houses before royal assent. This means that the Senate will need to accept the changes.
There are 23 house sittings left before the 11 December adjournment. RG also noted that a similar bill, S-269, which was passed in the Senate in 2024 never went any further.
Royal assent would only commence a two year deadline on a report. It wouldn't mean a rule.
The reported changes on Bill S-211 might make it easier to pass, but this doesn't mean it's a win.
Everything will depend on the framework that has yet to be written.
