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Purpose and scope

• Bill S-211 would require the Minister of Canadian Heritage to develop a national framework on sports betting advertising and require the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to review its related regulations and policies.
• The framework would address advertising restrictions and standards for preventing and diagnosing harmful gambling and addiction, and supporting affected people. The bill does not itself impose specific advertising restrictions.

National framework

• The framework must identify measures to restrict sports betting advertising, including by limiting the number, scope or location of ads, or limiting or banning celebrities’ and athletes’ participation in promotion.
• It must also identify measures to promote research and information-sharing among governments on prevention and diagnosis involving minors engaged in harmful gambling, and support for affected people.
• The Minister must consult federal ministers, provincial and territorial representatives, stakeholders, Indigenous communities and organizations, provincial gaming regulators, and people and organizations associated with sports and ethics.

Reports and deadlines

• Within one year after the Act comes into force, the Minister must prepare a report setting out the framework and an implementation strategy. The report must be tabled in each House within its first 15 sitting days after completion and published online within 10 days after tabling.
• Within five years after the framework report is tabled, the Minister must table an implementation report. It must evaluate implemented measures and explain why any others were not implemented, including any implementation timeline.

CRTC review

• The CRTC must assess whether its regulations and policies adequately and effectively reduce harms associated with the proliferation of sports betting advertising.
• It must give its conclusions and recommendations to the Minister within one year of royal assent. The Minister must table the report in each House within its first 15 sitting days after receiving it.

Who is affected and existing law

• The bill concerns sports betting advertisers and promoters, including celebrities and athletes, as well as people affected by harmful gambling, including minors. It also places duties on the Minister and the CRTC.
• The preamble notes that the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, in force since August 27, 2021, made certain single-event sports betting lawful under provincial authority. This bill calls for a framework and reviews; the provided text does not amend that Act or specify new spending.