The federal government on Thursday introduced legislation that would allow provinces and territories to license bookmakers to take online or in-person wagers. (The Logic)

Talking point: Members of Parliament from ridings with major casinos and other gaming establishments—particularly Windsor, Ont. New Democrat Brian Masse—have long advocated for the change, and the bill likely has more than enough support to become law. That’s a boost for firms like Toronto-based theScore, which has been acquiring gaming licences in the U.S. as more states legalize sports betting. The company puts the Canadian market at up to US$5.4 billion annually, while the Canadian Gaming Association estimates residents’ illegal and offshore wagers add up to $14 billion a year; the scale of that activity was an argument in the organization’s legalization lobbying effort. Domestic bookmakers will have competition, however. Boston-headquartered DraftKings, which grew as a daily fantasy platform before moving into sports betting, is looking to enter the Ontario market, government affairs vice-president Griffin Finan said in a statement after the province signalled in this month’s budget its plans to allow online gambling.