Windsor-Tecumseh NDP candidate, Cheryl Hardcastle, left, Windsor West NDP Brian Masse and Essex NDP Tracey Ramsey, right, speak in favour of single-game sports betting, October 9, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)Windsor-Tecumseh NDP candidate, Cheryl Hardcastle, left, Windsor West NDP Brian Masse and Essex NDP Tracey Ramsey, right, speak in favour of single-game sports betting, October 9, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Chatham

Single-Game Betting Debate Heats Up (Poll)

Regional NDP candidates are going all-in on a plan to push single-game sports betting, raising eyebrows at an area politician who opposes it.

The bill would create jobs, reduce underground betting and boost tourism in the region, Windsor West NDP Brian Masse says.

"It's happening in the backrooms, backyards and the basements across this country," he says. "This is a simple strategy to deal with a serious issue for our communities."

Essex NDP candidate Tracey Ramsey and Windsor-Tecumseh NDP Cheryl Hardcastle joined Masse at a news conference Friday.

Ramsey insists revenue generated from single-game sports betting can be used healthcare, education and gambling addiction assistance.

Essex Conservative Jeff Watson, left, NDP Tracey Ramsey and Liberal Audrey Festeryga, right, speak at a debate, September 30, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau) Essex Conservative Jeff Watson, left, NDP Tracey Ramsey and Liberal Audrey Festeryga, right, speak at a debate, September 30, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)

But Essex Conservative candidate Jeff Watson says the bill is too much of a gamble.

"It increases the risk of people to bet everything that they have as something as simple as the coin toss of a Superbowl match," Watson says.

Legalizing marijuana appears to be on the same playing field as single-game sports betting.

"I would see it no different than if the NDP reversed their position and came out in favour of legalizing marijuana -- regulate it, have taxes for it, maybe even put it into programs to deal with people's addition," Watson says. "The far more sensible position on these issues is don't put people at risk in the first place."

A greater risk would be losing jobs in a region with the highest unemployment rate in Canada, according to Local 444 chairperson of Caesars Windsor Dana Dunphy.

"It is about our future. It is about stability. It's about viability. It's about creating decent-paying jobs," Dunphy says.

The single-game sports betting bill sat in the Senate for three years and died when the election was called.

Now is the time to seize the opportunity, Masse says, especially with a low Canadian dollar. If re-elected, he promises to introduce the bill again.

"Hopefully it'll be really quick," he says, adding that the U.S. is moving quickly on single-game sports betting.

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