September 22, 2024

Canadian Addiction Centre Calls on Government to Restrict Gambling Ads in Ontario

By Charlon Muscat

Leading figures in Canada’s sporting community issued a call for tighter restrictions on gambling advertisements, a stance revealed in their latest framework document.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is asking Ontario’s policymakers to dial back on gambling ads as a means to mitigate gambling-related harm and protect public health. Their latest guidelines in the Gambling Policy Framework suggest restricting access to games of chance, introducing obligatory preventive responsible gambling measures, and strengthening education to shield the community from potential risks.

As the hockey season reaches its peak, Canadians find themselves swamped with ads pushing online sports betting. Leading Canadian online casinos and minimum bet sportsbooks Canada craft their marketing strategies to highlight the excitement and potential rewards; this subconsciously opens the door for the youth and those with limited means to gamble, according to the CAMH.

Hence, Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital is pressing for parallel strict measures akin to the tight restrictions on cigarette advertising, which have proven effective in reducing tobacco use. Their call is urgent: without significant intervention, the simple pull of a gamble could lead to a spike in addiction rates.

An inquiry in Australia last year suggested a gradual removal of online gambling ads over three years. However, by November, the government decided against this, emphasizing the significant financial contributions these ads bring to various sports organizations and leagues.

In contrast, countries like Britain are thinking about tightening advertising regulations further. Last year, The Guardian declared it would stop accepting gambling ads on its websites, aiming to combat the relentless targeting of digital ads that can lead some individuals into a harmful and addictive gambling loop.

CAMH Says Non-Gamblers Should Not Be Encouraged to Play at Canadian Online Casinos

The recommendations issued by the CAMH to the Ontario government urge a reduction in the overall availability of gambling and the implementation of compulsory safety measures. Additionally, they advocate for better efforts in prevention and education and call for the creation of a comprehensive provincial gambling strategy.

One key recommendation from the Centre is that gambling advertisements should not be shown in media or at events where it’s likely that minors (those under 18) make up more than a quarter of the audience. The Framework document also advises against gambling ads that target non-gamblers of any age or those that highlight the emotional or psychological effects of gambling.

“If people really want this service of online gambling, it shouldn’t actually need to advertise very much anyway. If this is something people really want, they’ll find it,” said Dr Nigel Turner, an independent scientist at CAMH, in an interview.

He went on to discuss the redistribution of responsibility in the realm of gambling regulation, emphasizing that online casinos in Canada should bear a part of the accountability.

“A public-health approach puts at least some of the onus on the providers of the service.” As things stand in Ontario, the situation “puts the onus of behaving on the player and de-emphasizes the role the industry has,” Dr. Turner said.

CAMH Calls Follow Recent Release of Ontario Gambling Statistics

Recent statistics revealed that there are over 19 million active gamblers in Canada. Online gambling has seen a dramatic increase, with the industry’s revenue expected to reach US$4.19 billion by 2024, more than doubling the figure from 2020.

On the negative front, a concerning 73% of Canadians perceive an increase in gambling-related problems within their provinces, indicating a growing awareness of the issue’s severity.

However, what primarily triggered calls for stricter regulation is the alarming trend among younger demographics. According to research by The Globe and Mail, one-third of Ontario’s high school students (32%) gambled at least once in the previous year.

This startling statistic suggests a growing normalization of gambling among youth, posing significant risks for the development of unhealthy gambling habits early in life, with potential long-term implications for mental health and financial stability.

Bruce Kidd, a distinguished professor emeritus specializing in sport and public policy at the University of Toronto and initiator of a movement to eliminate sports betting advertising across Canada, highlights the adverse effects of widespread sports gambling advertisements. “It makes it a normal, accepted, everyday part of sport. It legitimizes it,” he explains.

Kidd argues that this trend not only normalizes gambling within sports but also alters the essence of sports in a manner that has globally been recognized as detrimental. “Once you’re promoting betting, you’re openly endorsing a whole change in the nature of sport in a way that worldwide has been shown to be harmful.”

Amid growing concerns over the impact of sports betting on mental health, experts are sounding the alarm on the increasing number of minors facing gambling-related issues. Megha Vatsya, a therapist at CAMH’s problem gambling and technology use treatment service, reports a significant uptick in young individuals grappling with the consequences of sports betting.

“We are seeing a lot of young folks, in their 20s and 30s in particular, who are engaging in sports betting. But we’re also seeing people seeking out support who are even younger than that, youth who are getting access despite it not being legal,” she highlighted, pointing to the urgent need for addressing underage gambling access and its implications.

The Canadian Gaming Association Responds

In response, Paul Burns, the president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, emphasized the industry’s commitment to safeguarding players.

Highlighting the pursuit of the “most effective tools and solutions,” Burns stated, “As an industry, we work with government regulators and the research community because we believe and we understand the shared responsibility we have to protect players.”

He pointed to recent policy changes, such as the prohibition of athletes and celebrities in gambling advertisements, as evidence of the industry’s efforts to mitigate risks for gamblers.

“The AGCO has from the outset said, ‘We’ll look at our standards on a continual basis and based on evidence and research we will take action as we think we need to,’ and they did,” Burns added.