News In Brief

US voices objection to Canada on betting scheme

Washington has officially protested to Ottawa over Canadian government plans to use major league baseball scores in a sports betting pool. A spokesman for the Canadian External Affairs Ministry said Thursday no reply has been sent yet.

Ottawa, hoping to raise about $300 million to finance the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, plans to launch a sports betting pool in which wagers would be placed on the point spread between professional sports teams.

The scheme, expected to cover baseball, hockey, and Canadian football, has already been sharply criticized by Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who intends to sue the Canadian government to prevent betting on major-league games.