Experts from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) have called on the federal government to develop a nationwide strategy to address gambling harms.

In a new report co-authored with Greo Evidence Insights, the CCSA argues that the proliferation of legal gambling options in Ontario and the anticipated expansion of regulated gaming across Canada necessitates a more robust preventative strategy.

“Canada is at a critical moment in how it manages gambling," said Dr. Matthew Young, Chief Research Officer at Greo and Senior Research Associate at the CCSA.

While gambling regulation is currently managed by provincial crown corporations, the CCSA report urges that player protection and risk prevention become federal issues.

Proposed National Initiatives

The CCSA advocates for a national body to:

Set national standards for the promotion and provision of gambling products.

Increase funding for harm prevention and reduction initiatives, as well as research across provinces.

Systematically monitor gambling harms to track social and economic costs.

Avoid conflicts of interest from provincial or industry-formed proposals or initiatives.

Enhance awareness and understanding of gambling harms among health and social service professionals, and the public nationwide.

“A national strategy or framework—similar to what we have for alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis—is critical to manage the expected increase in gambling harm, especially among youth and other vulnerable populations,” said Young.

The report also suggests that the strategy could include enforcement measures, such as coordinating efforts across provinces to block unlicensed operators or mandating safer gambling measures through federal regulation.

Key Concerns Highlighted

The CCSA's report outlines the need for a national gambling harm prevention strategy. It notes the lack of national or provincial/territorial monitoring and surveillance of gambling-related harm, especially with the legalization of single-event sports betting and the opening of Ontario's market to commercial operators. Early evidence indicates that increased participation in online gaming and betting is associated with higher gambling harms among both the general population and vulnerable groups.

The report highlights that new or more popular types of wagering, such as single-event sports betting and in-play betting, are linked to greater risk of harm. It also points to Ontario's lucrative market, where $35.5 billion was wagered in the first year of regulated online gaming. This surge in betting is attributed not only to the movement from illegal to legal online gambling but also to a significant increase in gambling among people who previously did not gamble.

The CCSA contextualizes these findings by noting that the expansion of legal gambling coincides with Canadians being more vulnerable to gambling harm due to the rising cost-of-living crisis and the prolonged after-effects of the pandemic. However, the report lacks substantial data or evidence to support some of these concerns.

Advertising Issues

A key recommendation of the report is addressing the high volume of gambling advertising. The CCSA argues that the increase in gambling ads and the intertwining of sports and betting “normalize” gambling.

“We have seen a massive increase in gambling advertising and opportunities to gamble,” Young added. “We can no longer watch sports with our kids or go online without being subjected to an overwhelming amount of gambling advertising.”

The report also raises concerns that gambling apps and sites operating in Ontario’s regulated commercial iGaming market are visible in provinces where they do not have a license to operate. This issue was a major topic at the Canadian Gaming Summit in Toronto last month.

The debate around advertising continues as senators discuss Bill S-269, the National Framework on Advertising for Sports Betting Act. The bill, which had its second Senate reading in May, was recently reviewed by the Standing Committee on Transport and Communications. If passed, it would require the development of a national framework for sports betting advertising.