A Canadian senator is hoping to enact legislation against sports betting ads after an editorial published this week discussed the dangers of these advertisements, according to CBC.
Key Takeaways
- Bill S-211 was reintroduced following the federal election.
- The editorial states 4% of high school students exhibited problem gambling behaviors even before gambling was legalized.
- Ontario’s attempt to control sports betting ads didn’t have the intended effect.
Deacon was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 2018. She represents the Waterloo region of Ontario and has been an outspoken proponent of advertising regulations within Canada's sports betting industry.
Bill S-211, which was originally introduced in 2023, would prohibit sports betting commercials during broadcasts likely to be viewed by minors.
Deacon resubmitted the bill in May after the federal election caused it to lose momentum.
“It's an addictive behavior,” she said during a Tuesday interview on The Morning Edition. “It's a great health concern.”
Canada legalized sports betting in 2021. Its provinces have introduced a variety of regulations, although there are no overarching rules regarding advertising standards for sportsbook companies.
Deacon hopes her bill will be brought before the Senate in full within the next month.
"We need a common approach, a national standard similar to alcohol, similar to tobacco ads, that is not patchwork. And that's why the government has to take the lead on this," Deacon said.
Gambling effects on youths
Deacon’s most recent push for advertising regulation comes on the back of the release of the editorial, written by the CMAJ medical editor and physician Dr. Shannon Charlebois and pediatrician Dr. Shawn Kelly.
Kelly typically works with victims of substance abuse but also deals with all victims of addiction, including gambling.
Problem gambling behaviors can create serious financial problems for many adults, though Kelly said issues can arise even before individuals are independent.
“The typical story that I see in the clinic is a 13- or 14-year-old boy who has borrowed dad's credit card, or mom's credit card, engaged in some online wagering and lost a significant amount of money,” he told CBC on Monday.
The editorial also discussed the prevalence of problematic behaviors even before gambling was formally introduced. It said that a 2019 survey of 14,142 Ontario students from Grades 7-12 showed 4% of high school subjects reported low to moderately severe gambling disorders, and 2% reported behavior classified as a gambling addiction.
The article concluded by linking youth gambling to theft and assault, sometimes with deadly weapons. It therefore placed an emphasis on protecting youths from succumbing to problem gambling behaviors.
Preventative measures
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario took a step toward addressing sports betting advertisements in 2024 by banning athletes and celebrities from featuring in commercials.
Sportsbooks quickly circumvented the regulation by having athletes promote “responsible gambling” features within their apps.
Charlebois said Deacon’s bill would help protect those who are “biologically predisposed to enjoy risk-taking."
