Canadian Heritage committee advances amended sports betting advertising bill
Regulation2 min read
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage approved amendments to Bill S-211 on 3 November, advancing it towards a final House review. The proposed law would require the federal minister to develop a national framework on sports betting advertising; it has not yet received final approval.
The Canadian Heritage committee signed off on Nov. 3 on an amended bill that creates a nationwide structure for sports betting advertising. Bill S-211 now goes back to the full House of Commons for a last discussion and then a final vote. The Senate passed Bill S-211 in October 2025, and the House still has the report stage, a third reading and a last vote ahead.
On Nov. 3, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage heard testimony from the CRTC and Health Canada. Members then went through the act one clause at a time, weighing amendments.
The bill gives the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture the job of drawing up a national sports betting advertising framework. One aim is to find possible measures for regulating sports betting advertising nationally. Another is to set national standards on preventing and diagnosing harmful gambling and addiction, along with support for people affected. At this stage, the bill gives little specific guidance on regulating advertising for provincially managed online sports betting at the federal level. The only detail offered is that measures could restrict the number, scope or location of such advertising, or restrict or ban the use of celebrities and athletes.
Conservative MP Andrew Lawton said: "This is a bill that creates a report, it’s not a ban on sports betting advertising".
The bill is supported by politicians from various parties and by mental health and addiction organisations. It has received pushback from the Canadian Gaming Association and the Alberta government.