28-Dec-06. Gambling duo prove there’s no tax on luck. Globe and Mail, A1.

In the 1990’s, Brian and Terry Leblanc of Aylmer, Quebec managed a full-time betting operation which included wagering up to $300,000 a week on games such as the Pro-Line sports lottery. Their strategy involved betting huge amounts on events with incredibly long events and they often won big. In 2000, the Canada Revenue Agency took notice and sent them a notice of re-assessment for the years 1996 to 1999, saying their gambling was a business and subject to tax. The case ended up at the Tax Court of Canada and, last week, Mr. Justice Donald Bowman ruled in favour of the Leblancs.