The Canadian government has formed an International Workgroup on Integrity in Sport aimed at addressing issues that it says threaten the safety of athletes and integrity of sport. Sports betting is among them.

Carla Qualtrough, the federal Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, chaired the first meeting of the workgroup last week, which consists of Australia, Canada (chair), Finland, France, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

In a statement provided to Canadian Gaming Business, a spokesperson for the communications branch of Canadian Heritage said at the first meeting, workgroup member countries agreed on their shared commitment to safe sport, approved terms of reference for the workgroup and committed to developing a list of key action items and priorities.

The international workgroup will allow the Canadian government to share expertise, challenges and best practices with its international partners to advance international efforts in promoting and protecting integrity in sport, as well as further develop and strengthen domestic policies and programs.

“All participants expect and deserve sport systems that are safe, inclusive, welcoming and fair,” said Qualtrough in a release. “[This] inaugural meeting reflects Canada’s leadership in advancing integrity in sport domestically and internationally. Together, the International Workgroup on Integrity in Sport will address existing and emerging issues while sharing best practices and lessons learned on human rights protection in sport.”

Canada highlights sports betting as potential threat

The first meeting came after Canada recently published its Sport Integrity Framework, intended to support the Canadian sport system by identifying national issues, providing a hub of information for athletes, participants and organizations and serving as a guide to address new issues as they arise.

The topics that the framework says pose a threat include sports betting, competition manipulation and risks to fair play, as well as doping, discrimination, poor governance, corruption, concussions and risks to fair play.

“Illegal activities related to sports betting, such as competition manipulation, pose a real risk to athletes and Canadians and can erode public confidence in the integrity of sport,” the government spokesperson to CGB. “The Government of Canada is engaged in identifying and addressing issues related to sports betting in Canada, including examining policy approaches, working with funding recipients and stakeholders, and collaborating with provincial and territorial partners on this important issue.”

The International Workgroup on Integrity in Sport will continue to collaborate in 2025 and the Sport Integrity Framework will be updated as additional resources become available or when new issues are identified.