January 26, 2025

Trudeau’s Resignation: The Good, Bad, and Ugly for Canadian Gambling

For Canadians, 2025 began with a political shock as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation. Trudeau’s decision comes from impending pressure from dismal public opinion polling, which has shown his popularity has plummeted and calls from some of his Liberal Party members for him to step down.

‘’This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it’s become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,’’
Trudeau acknowledged to reports.

These are unprecedented times for Canada, and with Parliament only meeting again in March 2025, much uncertainty remains around the future of Canada as a whole and the online casino Canada sector. Before his shock resignation, many inroads were made on Bill S-269, otherwise known as the National Framework on Advertising for Sports Betting Act.

With question marks and uncertainty around the Bill and for the sports betting Canada industry, we examine the good, bad, and ugly of Trudeau’s resignation and the impact on Canadian gambling regulations.

The good about Trudeau’s resignation

One of the main reasons for Trudeau’s resignation was his poor public opinion polling results, which have plummeted since his time in office. The cost-of-living crisis, rising food prices and other factors resulted in the country’s citizens losing faith in Trudeau and the Liberal Party.

It was clear that change was needed if the Liberal Party hoped to hold office for the foreseeable future. With his resignation as the Liberal leader, the party has time to find a successor to Trudeau and gain back the trust and popularity of the public.

Under Trudeau’s leadership, the National Framework on Advertising for Sports Betting Act was delayed, and a decision to implement the Bill was not forthcoming. The gambling industry could see improved consistency in its operations, as stakeholders have long awaited clear national guidelines that can replace the fragmented provincial systems currently in place.

It is hoped that under new leadership, Canada will have stricter regulations in place for at-risk individuals who are showing signs of gambling addiction, better legislation protecting players from ‘grey’ casinos with no proper licenses, and finally, the passing and implementation of Bill-S269.

The bad about Trudeau’s resignation

A major concern for the sports betting Canada sector and Canadian gambling regulations with Trudeau’s resignation is the closing of Parliament. In his resignation speech to reporters, Trudeau mentions that the Governor General has granted his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

As a result, all parliamentary business and proposed discussions on legislation are halted, including discussions on Bill-S269.

The lack of progress has left operators and players in limbo, with many relying on provincial regulations that vary in enforcement and scope. Without federal oversight, “grey” market operators may continue to thrive, leaving Canadian players vulnerable.

Bill S-269, or the National Framework on Advertising for Sports Betting Act, was proposed to develop a national framework for regulating sports betting advertising in Canada. Stricter regulations were desperately needed to protect underage and at-risk individuals from excessive gambling advertisements. Bill-S269 aimed to address these issues while also setting out standards for national prevention and diagnosis of gambling addiction.

However, despite the Bill being advanced by the Senate at the end of 2024, it was never taken up in the House. An impasse has been reached with the Liberals and Conservatives at loggerheads over certain documents regarding the proposed Act.

So, with Parliament virtually closed for the foreseeable future, and when it reconvenes in March 2025, there will be more pressing matters to address. Unfortunately, betting advertising and Bill-S269 could be on the back burner, which is a very bad thing for Canadian gambling regulations and sports betting Canada.

The ugly – A huge Canadian political shift

A huge shift in the Canadian political scene is expected over the forthcoming months, with uncertainty over the Liberal Party leadership and the country as a whole. While Trudeau mentioned that the Liberal Party would use the following months to appoint a new leader, there would be several calls from opposing parties for a general election, citing a motion of no-confidence.

For the gambling industry, this political uncertainty creates a challenging environment for businesses and investors alike. Legislative delays could hamper growth opportunities, and operators may have to adjust their strategies to follow evolving provincial rules rather than awaiting federal direction.

Unlike in previous years, where there was one unanimous favourite leader, the current leaders of the Liberal, Conservative, and New Democratic Party all have higher unfavourable ratings than favourability ratings. This raises concerns about Canada’s political future and its impact on various industries, including gambling.