Bulletin 4, August 15
This Bulletin is published by the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling, a group of individuals interested in securing legislation to ban advertisements for gambling, just as has been done for tobacco and cannabis.
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In this Bulletin:
1. White Paper on the Impacts of Gambling Ads
2. Working with MPs and Senators
3. Subscribe to the Bulletin
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1. White Paper on the Impacts of Gambling Ads
The White Paper which we have prepared summarizes the best scientific evidence on the impact of gambling ads, and it discusses the four-stage strategy being adopted in Australia to ban ads within three years – a model which Canada might well adopt.
Here’s the Executive summary:
In 2021 Parliament legalized sports betting in Canada and enabled provinces and territories to ‘control and manage’ gambling on sports. Ontario established the first such regime on April 4, 2022, and registered 40 betting companies. Since then, there has been an explosion of advertising for gambling—on television, radio and social media, in venues and on players’ uniforms—and a tremendous growth of sports betting. In its first year of operation, iGaming in Ontario reported 1.6 million active bettors.
Gambling can lead to significant harm, including runaway debt, stress to families, low self- esteem, anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Statistics Canada has estimated that 1.6 % of adult gamblers are at moderate to high risk of gambling disorders—more than 300,000 Canadians. Problem gambling is a mental health issue, and has been defined as an addictive disorder.
Underage gambling is common in Canada, too, and is increasing with the spread of advertising for gambling. Ads make people much more susceptible to gamble, particularly since betting can be done so easily and quickly online. Research shows that the restriction of ads can prevent or minimize the harms from gambling, especially among youth and other vulnerable groups.
The Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling calls for the prohibition of ads for gambling in the same way that ads for tobacco and cannabis have been restricted.
A growing number of countries are adopting this solution. Australia is in the process of adopting a four-step process, which will ban gambling advertisements within three years.
The full report (PDF) can be downloaded on the Resources section of our website..
2. Working with Members of Parliament and Senators
We have been contacted by MPs who share our concerns about the impacts of gambling ads. They make it clear that when legislation allowing sports betting was passed in 2021 almost no consideration was given to the prevalence of advertising or the harm that it would cause – it was assumed the legislation would do nothing more than ensure that gambling companies would be taken out of a `grey zone’ and brought within a regime of regulation.
MPs who have contacted us come from all political parties represented in the House of Commons. We have embarked on a process to see if we can get them together this summer into a multi-party caucus which will work to have legislation introduced by the government into the House this Fall.
At the same time, we would like the private members’ Bill introduced in the Senate in June - Bill S-269, An Act respecting a national framework on Advertising for Sports Betting – to be debated and passed. If you are familiar with any senator, we request that you contact that person for support, and forward the White Paper to them. Senator contact information can be found at sencanada.ca
3. Subscribe to the Bulletin, make a donation.
We plan to communicate with supporters on a monthly basis, perhaps more often as the campaign gains momentum. There is no charge for the bulletin, and we will not share subscriber names. Finally, we need as much support as we can get, so please send this bulletin to your friends and colleagues. Subscribe at info@banadsforgambling.ca
We invite you to support our work by making a financial contribution.
Please use the Donate button on our web site.
Please donate to help us meet our goal.