Call for a National Strategy to Address Gambling-Related Harms in Wake of Sports Betting Boom
July 02 2024 - 11:16AM
Recent gambling policy changes in Canada have led to increased
opportunities to legally bet on sports and gamble online, 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. Released today, Gambling Availability and
Advertising in Canada: A Call to Action looks at the impacts of
legal gambling in Canada since the approval of the Safe and
Regulated Sports Betting Act in 2021. The report recommends
developing a pan-Canadian strategy to address
gambling-related harms. This is a new report by Greo
Evidence Insights (Greo) and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use
and Addiction (CCSA).
This call to action is in response to the
significant increase in gambling advertising on billboards, social
media, at commercial breaks during sports broadcasts and during
sporting events. Increased gambling availability and advertising
are expected to contribute to increased gambling in Canada, thereby
posing a significant risk of harms among the general population,
particularly for youth, young adults and other vulnerable
populations.
The report also describes how the increased
availability of gambling and in gambling advertising are of great
concern because:
- The types of gambling being
made available and promoted (single-event sports betting
and live or in-play betting) are associated with a greater risk of
harm. For example, single-event sports betting increases
gambling intensity and gives an illusion
of control over the outcome as people believe their
knowledge of the game gives them a competitive edge.
- The volume of gambling
advertisements repeatedly pairing sports with betting
normalizes gambling, leading people to think of
betting as an integral part of being a sports fan.
- Increased availability of gambling
and in gambling advertising are happening at a time when many
people in Canada are more
vulnerable to problematic gambling and
gambling-related harms because of the lingering health impacts of
COVID-19 and a rise in the cost of living.
“Over the last few years, we have witnessed some
of the most significant changes in gambling policy since the
1970s,” explained Dr. Matthew Young, Chief Research Officer at
Greo, Senior Research Associate at the CCSA and Adjunct Professor
at Carleton University. “We have seen a massive increase in
gambling advertising and opportunities to gamble. We can no longer
watch sports with our kids or go online without being subjected to
an overwhelming amount of gambling advertising. Canada is at a
critical moment in how it manages gambling. A national strategy or
framework — similar to what we have for alcohol, tobacco and
cannabis — is critical to manage the expected increased in gambling
harm, especially among youth and other vulnerable people.”
The report recommends developing a national
strategy that will:
- Develop national
standards governing the promotion and availability of
gambling;
- Manage conflicts of
interest among gambling stakeholders;
- Address inadequate funding
for gambling harm prevention and reduction initiatives and
research;
- Monitor systematic changes
in gambling-related harm, including any
assessments of the social and economic costs of gambling; and
- Increase awareness of
gambling-related harms among health and social service
professionals and the public.
“Increased gambling among people living in
Canada will undoubtebly result in increased harms and therefore
increased societal costs. These include healthcare costs,
criminal-justice costs, child welfare costs, increased unemployment
and lost productivity costs because of gambling-related suicide,”
says Dr. Pam Kent, Director of Research and Emerging Trends at
CCSA. “We need to think about our approach and ensure that it
considers not only short-term government revenue and economic
activity but also the longer-term societal costs. That’s why we
need a national strategy.”
About Greo Evidence
InsightsGreo Evidence Insights is a not-for-profit
research and knowledge translation organization that works
internationally, primarily in fields of gambling, mental health and
other related public health issues. To learn more, visit
greo.ca.
About CCSACCSA was created by
Parliament to provide national leadership to address substance use
in Canada. A trusted counsel, we provide national guidance to
decision makers by harnessing the power of research, curating
knowledge and bringing together diverse perspectives.
CCSA activities and products are made possible
through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views of
CCSA do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada. To
learn more, visit ccsa.ca.
Media contacts
Mélissa JosephStrategic
Communications Advisor Canadian Centre on Substance Use and
Addiction613-235-4048 ext. 364MJoseph@ccsa.ca
Lee ArbonStrategic
Communications ManagerCanadian Centre on Substance Use and
Addiction613-266-5469 LArbon@ccsa.ca