Ontario's Sports Betting Boom: A Public Health Crisis in the Making

A recent report by Cardus highlights that the legalization of single-event sports betting in Ontario has become a public health concern requiring urgent government intervention. The average monthly spending on sports betting in Ontario is now reaching $283 per account, which is over 3% of the average household income. Experts caution that spending more than 1% of revenue on gambling is linked to financial, mental, and social issues.

Cardus President Brian Dijkema warns that sports betting is so prevalent it can turn smartphones into virtual slot machines during games. Cardus urges Ontario to ban sports betting ads, prohibit in-game betting, and improve responsible gambling messages.

Data shows that the legalization of sports betting in Ontario has not delivered the anticipated benefits. In 2022-2023, IGaming Ontario generated $74 million in revenue from $7 billion in wagers, while private companies earned $294 million.

Dijkema concluded, "While legalizing single-event bets has benefited private companies, it has not helped public finances and likely hasn't reduced illegal betting."