Canadian Sportsbetting bannedIf you've recently tuned into Canadian sports, you might've noticed an influx of sports betting commercials starring icons like Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid, or Georges St-Pierre. Legal for sports betting since 2021, Canada lacks ad restrictions, leading to a noticeable surge in gambling promotions, particularly in Ontario.
A significant figure in Canadian sports, Marty Deacon has coached for Team Canada across Olympic, Pan American, and Commonwealth events since 1994. Deacon has voiced concerns that the current advertising approach in the betting industry, often spotlighting athletes and celebrities, is dangerously enticing and potentially habit-forming for the younger generation. This prompted her to propose a Bill S-269 framework aimed at setting national guidelines on how sports betting is advertised. Deacon is also a vocal supporter of the motion to have single-event sports betting legalized, which was passed in Canada in 2021.
A group spearheading the movement against these ads includes Canadians concerned about the detrimental impact on youth and adults struggling with gambling addiction, forming the mantle of the Gambling Advertising Ban Campaign.
Spearheaded by John Sewell, Toronto's former mayor, and Karl Subban, ex-NHL player P.K. Subban’s father and a board member of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, the initiative requests that similar restrictions be applied to gambling advertisements as seen with alcohol and marijuana. A recent study reveals that a striking 48% of Canadians believe Ontario’s sports betting ads are overly abundant. A concerning count of over 300,000 Canadians reportedly face moderate to severe risks of gambling-related disorders, as per Statistics Canada's research last year.
In Ontario, iGaming ads linked to sports and celebrities may face a ban, as pointed out by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Should new guidelines take effect, any gambling advertisements using athletes, past or present, will be banned. Additionally, ads featuring cartoon characters, social media personalities, or role models aimed at youth will be outlawed. These measures would refine the province's existing standards for online gambling promotions. Since Ontario paved the way by forming a regulated iGaming industry, there are over 1.6 million online gamer accounts in play, managed by companies collaborating with iGaming Ontario (iGo). Presently, 40 operators have these partnerships, with 31 offering sports betting services. As of April 4, iGo announced that the province’s inaugural year of legalized online gambling saw over $35.6 billion wagered and $1.4 billion in gaming revenue. These figures also encompass online poker games between individuals and
other forms of internet betting. However, iGo's data doesn't break down the exact percentage of wagers strictly made on sports. casino games With two decades in the iGaming world, Ann, a Norwegian-Canadian writer residing in Malta, crafts articles concentrating on casino and betting products for esteemed digital outlets.
Last Updated: August 24, 2023
