Single-event sports betting quashed in House of Commons

All bets are off for single-event sports betting in Canada.

The House of Commons killed a private member's bill on single-event sports betting, meaning Canadians will still have to place a bet on multiple sporting events if they want to gamble on sports.

• Single-event sports betting bill opposed by Federal Liberals

Bill C-221, known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act,was defeated by a 156-133 margin Wednesday night. It was tabled by Brian Masse, the NDP MP for Windsor West.

"Tonight organized crime is celebrating and popping a cork," Masse told CBC News. "Andthe Americans are laughing straight at us."

Masse saidhe's disappointed by the decision, claiming single-game sports betting will grow in Canada alongside organized crime.

He said the profits from legal gamblingwould have generated revenue for the federal government.Instead, that money estimated to beat least $10 billion a year willbelost to organized crimeand another $4 billion will be lost to offshore betting, he said.

The Liberal government voted against the bill. It was an about face for the party who supported a similar bill tabled about five years ago.

Masse said he did not receive specific or "logical" reasons from those who voted against his bill. He said the federal Liberals aren't offering support forany private member'sbills at the moment.

Now that the bill has been defeated, Masse isn't able to re-introduce it. He wouldn't say if he plans to do so after the next election, if he remains a sitting MP.