Letter to MPs regarding the Private Member’s Bill
June 24, 2023
Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling
Dear Member,
Bill S-269, An Act respecting a national framework on Advertising for Sports Betting, was introduced into the Senate on June 20. The bill would require the federal government to develop a framework that would identify measures to regulate and restrict the use of advertising for single-event sports betting. It would also set national standards for the prevention and diagnosis of problem gambling.
As your constituent, I strongly support this bill and urge you to do the same. I ask that you contact other members of your party’s caucus to indicate your support and urge them to agree that this bill or a comparable bill should be quickly introduced in the House of Commons when it reconvenes in the Fall so that it is quickly passed.
I agree with the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling (www.banadsforgambling.ca ) that legislation should be passed to ban ads for gambling, just as ads for tobacco and cannabis have been prohibited by federal legislation. This bill is a first step to securing such legislation.
Please let me know whether you support this bill and what you plan to do to see it implemented.
Thank you
Name, Email, Postal code
Letter to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
April 23, 2023
Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling
April 26, 2023
The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, PC, MP Minister of Canadian Heritage
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
hon.pablo.rodriguez@pch.gc.ca
Dear Minister:
Re: Countering the negative effects of sports gambling ads
On behalf of the Campaign, we urge you – pursuant to your powers and responsibilities under the Broadcasting Act – to direct the Canadian Radio- Television and Telecommunications Commission to initiate a public hearing to investigate public harm resulting from the proliferation of sports gambling ads on Canadian media, as well as develop policies and regulations to mitigate the harm they cause.
We also urge you to address the issue of sports gambling ads on social media.
As you know, harms from gambling include financial problems, stress to families, youth and children, mental health issues including addiction and even suicide – among other documented economic and social issues that negatively affect Canadians.
Gambling ads – in both content and frequency – are particularly enticing to adolescents and other vulnerable persons, especially those struggling with gambling addiction. Furthermore, the exhortation to gamble demeans the spirit of sport.
An Ipsos survey published on January 18 identified that “marketing for betting platforms has hit a fever pitch, from banner ads and billboards to primetime TV”. The survey concluded that “the sheer volume of advertising could have a negative cumulative effect” and that 48% of Canadians agree that “the volume of advertising is excessive and needs to be cut back”.
An accompanying ‘social listening analysis’ by Ipsos found that “negative posts about sports betting advertising on social media had surged by 820% between July and October 2022”.
If you would like a meeting to discuss this recommendation, we would be pleased to oblige, but initially we would be satisfied with an appropriate direction to the Commission at an early date.
Sincerely,
Alan Broadbent, Robin Campbell, Peter Donnelly, Joel Finlay, Gretchen Kerr, Bruce Kidd, John Macfarlane, Ian Morrison, Wayne Olson, John Sewell, Karl Subban
On behalf of the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling
cc: The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, PC, MP Prime Minister of Canada
cc: The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, PC, MP
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
cc: The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, PC, MP Minister of Innovation, Science & Industry
cc: The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, PC, MP Minister of Health
cc: The Honourable Karina Gould, PC, MP
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
cc: The Honourable Marci Ien, PC, MP
Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth
cc: The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, PC, MP Minister of Sport