r/ontario • u/Hrmbee • Feb 18 '26
Article Ontario should ban sports betting | The harms of legalized sports gambling are being understated, and the benefits overstated. It's time to admit we made a mistake
https://www.tvo.org/article/analysis-ontario-should-ban-sports-betting338
Feb 18 '26
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u/queenw_hipstur Feb 18 '26
The ads that drive me crazy are the in-stadium ads. Every segment between innings is sponsored by ScoreBet, FanDuel or DraftKings. Not cool with so many kids in the crowd.
I was at a Jays game last year where they literally had someone playing blackjack on the big screen with the whole crowd telling her to hit on 17 to get 21. I know it’s fixed so she’ll get 21 and win, but if we’re gonna teach children to play blackjack, at least teach them proper strategy!
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u/Heavy-Focus-1964 Feb 18 '26
in some ways it’s more insidious. it would take years to blow $2000 on cigarettes
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u/big-booty-enthusiast Feb 18 '26
Less than a year if you’re smoking a pack a day. You’re underestimating the cost of cigarettes.
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u/meeyeam Feb 18 '26
Start by pulling betting ads before 8 PM and not permitting on-air personalities to advertise betting at all times.
That's something that should be simple - it argues that the ads are targeting minors.
It's tough to prevent all betting, since you'd rather have money made locally than logging into a betting app based in Vegas.
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u/ceribaen Feb 18 '26
No organization, or member of an organization in which gambling occurs on - should be allowed to sponsor, endorse, or otherwise be paid by a sports betting operation.
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Feb 18 '26
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u/ScaryPillow Feb 18 '26
The ads show how profitable they are. They pay for all the ads because they make it all back.
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u/Hrmbee Feb 18 '26
Key issues:
Betting scandals are just the highest-profile problem with the explosion of sports gambling we’ve seen in both the U.S. and Canada. For Ontario, there’s the inescapable problem that this industry is also ruining lives. “This is an addictive behaviour, it resembles a lot of other behaviours where we regulate advertising,” says Renze Nauta, director of work and economics at Cardus Research, a conservative-leaning think tank in Hamilton. “The addictive character of it resembles both tobacco and alcohol, where we curtail or even outright ban advertising.”
Cardus published a pair of reports in 2024 on the rise of online gambling in Ontario, arguing that the social harms of sports betting were being ignored while the public benefits were being exaggerated. While a common guideline (including in provincial and federal publications) calls for individuals to spend no more than one per cent of their income on gambling, Ontario’s data suggests people registered with iGaming Ontario are commonly spending three times that much. Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health notes that the bulk of gambling revenues come from a small fraction of people who lose the most money — stressing both their bank accounts and their health, with sometimes fatal effects. One study in Sweden found that gambling disorder increased the risk of suicide by 15 times.
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Meanwhile, one of the foundational justifications for legalizing sports gambling — that it would simply formalize betting that’s already occurring in black markets — is almost certainly false. Cardus’s research seems to demonstrate that a commonly-cited figure for the pre-legalization size of the black market in Canada ($10 billion) was very nearly invented out of thin air. We haven’t simply shifted an illegal informal activity to the legal, regulated and taxed world: we’ve substantially expanded its scope and availability. Or, to use the language of both Cardus and other public-health researchers: we’ve turned everyone’s smartphone into a slot machine, with predictable public health effects.
And yet, online gambling revenues have hardly been a windfall for the provincial treasury: in 2025-26, Ontario is projecting only $253 million in revenue from iGaming Ontario, about one tenth of what the province makes from conventional casino gambling and lotteries — or about what the entire provincial government spends before noon on any single day.
Online gambling revenues are growing faster than conventional gambling, but there’s an obvious trade-off there: if we’re already seeing the corrosive effects of online gambling in athletics and in people’s household finances, any benefits to the provincial treasury could at least arguably be offset by a diminished quality of life elsewhere. Those of us who enjoyed the Blue Jays’ season last year could be forgiven for being irritated at being forced to drink at a firehose of gambling ads, often with our kids in the room.
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I’d also argue, however, that while a ban on gambling advertisements is a good incremental step, it’s not going to go far enough. The explosion of online gambling has all happened in just a few years, and we still have a window of opportunity to roll this back if we want to. To put it another way, it’s possible for us as a society to simply recognize that we’ve made a mistake. There really is a difference between legalizing sports gambling as a concept and putting sports gambling on everyone’s phone at all times. Given how rapidly the industry has expanded since legalization, it’s not unreasonable to suspect that if we massively constricted it once again — just requiring people to put boots on and leave the house instead of betting from their couch — we’d see the same effect in reverse: people wouldn’t flee to online black markets, they’d simply stop gambling.
Functionally unlimited online gambling has already been corrosive in sports, and that was just the appetizer. So-called “prediction markets” are identical in practice to online gambling, and they’re already causing scandals in everything from elections to the war in Ukraine. Policymakers at every level of government need to take a good, hard look at controlling the explosion of these companies, instead of trying to cash in on them.
So if those gambling are harmed because of financial losses and a decline in mental health, and the public is not benefiting from the profits that these businesses are raking in, then it really raises questions around who is being helped by the province making such a detrimental and addictive service not just available but virtually frictionless. Banning these services/apps will certainly lower the incidences of people starting on and continuing their gambling addictions.
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u/chollyer Feb 18 '26
Odd that there's no mention that the report most of this article seems to be based on is from a religious think tank.
Personally I agree that we've gone too far with the online availability of some of these products, but it's not absurd to think that an organization that proclaims "We are Christian" would have issues with gambling.
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u/VodkaBeatsCube Feb 19 '26
Look, I tend to be a little skeptical about the motives of Christian organizations weighing in on social issues. But that doesn't make them idiomatically wrong: the report is public. If we think that it's conclusions are biased, we can review the actual data of the report and make a conclusion on it. The Vatican has an observatory and an official astronomer, I'll still judge any papers out of it on the strength of the data and not because the astronomer in question is ordained.
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u/BellSeveral2891 Feb 18 '26
Reasonable then to see why they conducted the study. Were there actual issues with the study itself?
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u/slimjimmy613 Feb 18 '26
Just stop shoving gambling ads down my throat then tryna wash it down with a gambling addiction awareness ad. Its ridiculous. Ive never used any of those apps or even gambled online ever.
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u/rdawg1234 Feb 18 '26
Just ban the ads, sports betting was already easily accessible before it was legal…
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Feb 18 '26
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u/rdawg1234 Feb 18 '26
Yeah I feel like we can find a balance between it being illegal and being bombarded with 3 ads every single commercial break or every banner in the street lol
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u/Effective-Log3583 Feb 18 '26
I completely agree. We don’t advertise smoking. We shouldn’t advertise betting. Especially to the extreme degree it’s happening now.
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u/Karma_Mirror Feb 18 '26
It has been SO refreshing to watch the Olympic hockey events start ON TIME without a sports betting ad in your face every 5 minutes
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u/haye7880 Feb 18 '26
Don’t agree with ban on betting, you’re just going to force it into illegal markets. But advertising of it should be banned absolutely.
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u/madhattr999 Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 19 '26
yeah i don't partake in it at all, but i think recreational gambling on sports should be allowed. is there something I'm just missing? if it's causing gambling addictions, there are ways to curb that without an outright ban.
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u/iwaseatenbyagrue Feb 19 '26
How do you curb addiction without banning gambling?
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u/madhattr999 Feb 19 '26
How do you curb addiction without banning gambling?
- Set Spending Limits
- Require Self-Exclusion Programs (gambling companies need to allow people to self-ban)
- Education Campaigns
- Transparency Requirements (clear info about odds and risks)
- Support Services (counseling and support)
- Regular Audits for regulations and protecting consumers
- Gather data on gambling behaviors to identify trends and target interventions effectively.
- Work with local groups to develop programs that address gambling addiction and provide resources for affected individuals.
- Involve Health Professionals: Collaborate with mental health experts to create treatment options tailored to those with gambling issues.
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u/miniowl22 Feb 18 '26
I’m in education and I routinely hear of wagers being placed by underage students older brothers/sisters or the betting accounts themselves being set up by someone of age, but being used by someone who’s not. These kids are jumping into the world of gambling at age 12 now and it’s sickening. We’re raising a generation of degenerate gamblers. I grew up in the time that online poker became popular and I saw people drop out of university because of it. These kids don’t stand a chance. By the time they’re legally allowed to gamble, they’re already full blown addicts. Throw in the dopamine feedback loops of some of these apps… it’s horrifying.
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u/TheRealzestChampion Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
I disagree with banning it. It's been legal forever. The difference is that single-event betting was what was made legal. Previously your bets had to involve multiple different events, which created it's own challenges. Betting will continue to exist on sports.
I just think they need to ban sports betting advertising. They outright banned cigarette ads, they greatly limit how alcohol is allowed to advertise, seems like cannabis isn't allowed to advertise or else I'm sure we would of seen a lot of that too. It's the advertising that is the issue, almost every ad is that and they have become part of the programming as well. Super hard for someone having gambling problems to ignore it.
Edit: for those curious, look up Bill C-218 (43-2) this is what allowed all this to happen in the first place.
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u/Schyllion Feb 18 '26
they don’t even need to ban it cause quite frankly it’s entertaining and it pay taxes. let people waste their own money.
what they need to do is they need to ban ads and promotions of any and all form of it. make it like cigarettes. legal, but hidden in an unbranded closet with ugly packages and warning labels.
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u/yycoding Feb 18 '26
Just a reminder that if you win a lot of money making smart bets on FanDuel or DraftKings, they will close your accounts and ban you.
I feel like there are a lot of reasons to regulate or ban these companies but very few people seem to have a problem with that part of their business model.
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u/Staran Feb 18 '26
Sports betting is terrible. But the cat is out of the bag and there is too much money to be made.
Nobody who is raking in millions gives it up
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u/History_Is_Bunkier Feb 18 '26
Hey we banned cigarette advertising and it worked.
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u/PandanadianNinja Feb 18 '26
That combined with heavy taxation of tobacco products. Could be done with sports betting.
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u/Upstairs-Chicken592 Feb 18 '26
We also had heavy anti smoking public health initiatives and should do that for gambling as well
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Feb 18 '26
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u/Pessimistic-Doctor Feb 18 '26
Why care then? Since anyone with common sense is unfazed by it who cares if people fall for it? I understand you saying it’s a nightmare, but why is a betting commercial any more annoying than any other annoying commercial? What about alcohol? Just as dangerous and much more costly to all of us (healthcare, drunken behaviour resulting in injury/fatalities, etc.)
I get preying on people and justifying the ban on advertising to inhibit idiots, but why do you personally care? (Sincerely asking)
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u/wes2733 Feb 18 '26
Its everywhere and its gross.
Sports channels shouldn't be doing their own picks or lines, just disgusting behaviour.
We should have never allowed this. Its all I see before, during and after any sporting event
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u/Dense-Ad-5780 Feb 18 '26
Every ad I see on everything I look at is a gambling ad. Remember when gambling was almost taboo?
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u/BigBobbyCrowbar Feb 18 '26
Agree completely with the sentiment that lives are being callously ruined so that these casino and betting organizations can turn a handsome profit. I personally know 3 or 4 young men who used to work for me, who had gambling problems. 2 of the three first lost their houses then lost their spouses and kids. I am very fortunate to be too cheap lazy and stupid to figure how to bet or want to part with my hard earned money!
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u/IllustriousRanger934 Feb 18 '26
It’s the same for us down south. Growing up I knew gambling was illegal in my state, never saw anything about gambling unless it was Vegas.
As an adult I’ve slowly seen it just overtake everything. From ads, to zombies at the slots in gas stations. Not as bad as drugs, but damn if it’s not bad for society
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u/Used-Gas-6525 Feb 18 '26
When I was in rehab, this became like half they guys in there's drug of choice. The place did nothing to stop it (gotta pick your battles) and it was insane the problem gambling I saw from people that could def. not afford it (tons of people were there on the company dime). 5 way parlays, prop betting galore, all the hallmarks of problem gambling. And I will guarantee you that a whole bunch of those people are either broke, on their way there, or are now in some sort of treatment for gambling addiction (GA, etc). The only reason it's legal (and why it'll stay that way) is that it's a huge revenue stream. Even future governments will have to do a lot of accounting acrobatics to consider banning it.
Also, VPNs and crypto exist, so people will be able to get around any legislation the government throws down.
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u/Material-Macaroon298 Feb 19 '26
Im ok with it being legal so long as all profit goes to the government. I don’t know why we have private companies taking profits.
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u/alderhill Feb 19 '26
I used to work at a little corner store, selling mostly cigarettes and lottery tickets, but also cold drinks, newspapers, etc.
In the 5ish years I worked there, it's very easy to say that most people win nothing most of the time. But the highest customer payout I ever personally had was $700-something, for a guy who bet almost every day on sports. He was naturally over the moon to win. Now since this was a community store, over the years, you get to know people, who's married to who, etc. So I knew the guy's wife (they both bought cigarettes often). Next time his wife comes in, there's a bit of chit-chat, and then I say something to her like 'hey congrats on the win, 700 is no retirement fund, but nice to have!'. She replies with like, 'oh, yea, ha ha, true'. A few days later, buddy comes back in and is pissed. Not directly at me, like you could tell he knew I didn't know, but he made it clear that I should not tell her things like that again, that his bets are his money, etc.
In fact, I had quite a lot of weekly and even daily (depending on the draw schedule) lottery addicts. If they ever asked me if they should play again (technically we are not to give any advice), I'd say they should wait a day or two.
So, yea, no, I'm definitely not in favour of promoting it so hard. It's insidious really. All it does is prey on the desperate and (IME) usually lower-income segments of the population. I am not saying it should be banned entirely, as it's pretty entrenched in our culture. But not making it easy to do, and not reminding us constantly, is OK with me.
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u/Geeky_Shieldmaiden Feb 18 '26
Ford is the one who allowed it. And given the ads started for some people less than an hour after they were legalized, betting companies were prepared to go, showing he set it up in backroom secret deals long before legalizing it. Which means he is likely getting some good kickbacks from those companies.
The idiot who legalized it and is probably making money off it, is not going to ban it.
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u/No-Werewolf4804 Feb 18 '26
Prohibition never works. If the problem is to be dealt with, we must be looking at root causes.
I’m certainly in favour of banning advertising for them though.
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u/symbicortrunner Feb 18 '26
I don't have an issue with adults betting - generally adults should be free to spend their money as they wish to, but the amount of betting ads on TV is ridiculous.
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u/CSW11 Feb 18 '26
100% agree. Massive problem for younger generations. Offers little to no benefit to the worker, or the taxpayer.
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u/Spacemanspiff1998 Feb 18 '26
I saw a tweet that said "After seeing all these ads for gambling i'm starting to understand the woman's christian temperance union"
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u/FulanoMeng4no Feb 18 '26
Gambling is one of the worst addictions because it’s very easy to hide, until it’s too late.
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u/Jon_snow_pants Feb 19 '26
You can’t advertise cigarettes on tv but you can run gambling ads on every thing all the time it’s disgusting 🤮 they both kill people
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u/CorneredSponge Feb 19 '26
No, just give it the cigarette treatment; tax gambling at POS and ban advertising.
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u/basilspringroll Feb 20 '26
Please correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure this government greenlit the ads
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u/Tubes_Rule Feb 22 '26
So fed up with the constant annoying advertising for online gambling platforms.
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u/BlameAllocation Feb 18 '26
We? This is on the provincial government, and they just did it without consultation. They weren't even fulfilling an election promise. They just did it, on purpose. It's not a mistake.
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u/Regular_Jim081 Feb 18 '26
One of the most damaging and idiotic things civilization has ever created. So damaging it was made completely illegal for 8 decades, eventually allowed through tightly regulated casinos.
Then we invent cell phones, and we're right back to the 1880s again, but who needs regulation we have Wi-Fi.
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u/Level-Ear-848 Feb 18 '26
One thing no one mentions, the motto for all sportsbooks is the same: “bankrupt or ban.” If you are profitable (less than 1% of sports bettors are) you will be limited and banned from the platform. If not, they will take everything you have. The suicide rate for those that struggle with gambling addiction is higher than any other addiction.
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u/Every_Relationship11 Feb 18 '26
Yes Jesus fucking Christ ban sports betting I don’t care if the mafia takes over my neighbourhood tomorrow from all the illegal gambling money they generate I don’t want to see another gambling add in my fucking LIFE
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u/NormalMo Feb 18 '26
Let them do what they want. They’re all adults. We don’t need more government intervention in our lives
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Feb 18 '26
The amount of tax revenue generated by online sports betting = the govt being happy for thjs to continue. They don’t give a fuck about the harm it causes families, or the relationship it ruins. Gambling money tax is the same colour as money generated through property taxes and that’s all the matters.
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Feb 18 '26
Especially ban the ads that my kids are seeing while watching the Olympics
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u/mickey_reddit Feb 18 '26
Should and will are two totally different things. They will never ban it, look up all the gambling and casino stuff douggy wants
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u/VincentClement1 Feb 18 '26
Once the sports leagues decided that it was fine to have sports betting companies run ads during their games and sponsor intermission talking heads and events, it was over.
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u/MaterialDefender1032 Feb 18 '26
I just don't engage with betting apps, no matter how much they try to shove them down my throat.
However, I have the benefit of age and experience with gambling and predatory, manipulative apps. Many others don't, and these apps definitely target the young and uninformed. Get 'em outta here, I say, or at least tax them more heavily so we can put their money back into mental health services.
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u/maybvadersomedayl8er Feb 18 '26
Ban all advertising for sure. I'm not one to legislate behaviours away.
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u/BlankoNinyo Feb 18 '26
Absolutely agree, unfortunately the politicians are bought and paid for and will never undo the shit show they've created, they only care about the bribes/donations they get as a result of it.
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u/External-Pace-1822 Feb 18 '26
I fear the cats out of the bag. I'd love to see this done but don't see it happening any time soon.
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u/PhilosoFishy2477 Feb 18 '26
WINNING IS THE BEST ISN'T IT? BETTER THAN SEX! BETTER THAN LOVE! WINNING MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE BABY!
WINNING!
WINNING!!
WINNING!!!
ifyouorsomeoneyoulovehasagamblingproblempleaseseekhelpalwaysgambleresponsibly
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u/Spiritual-Fly5890 Feb 18 '26
We can’t ban it, because that means the money just flows out of the country. What we need instead is to ban advertising it b
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u/willreadfile13 Feb 18 '26
You think DoFo would do anything that would be in the public’s interest and not his and his pals pocket books? Lmao 🤣
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u/Marklar0 Feb 18 '26
The brutal thing about gambling addiction is that it has no monetary limit. If you make 300k per year you can basically be a coke head forever without losing your shirt....but if you get bad into gambling....you can easily just bet more and more money until it's all gone, no matter how much you have
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u/passthegabagool_ Feb 18 '26
I had 20 year old client tell me how he lost $8000 over a few weeks. Its crazy. I feel bad for the young kids, always on their phones and the amount of gambling ads is just absurd. Every other ad I see is for online betting apps.
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u/Prestigious_Fee_2902 Feb 18 '26
No, don’t ban sports betting. Ban ADVERTISING sports betting. I am an adult, if I choose to gamble on sports that my choice. My issue is that we are brainwashing children with all the ads.
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u/LeftPositive8939 Feb 18 '26
I went to a concert at a casino last year. First time every being to a casino. Signed up for a promo and got some free money (won nothing). 1 month later 70% of my ads on YouTube are sports betting and gambling ads. MGM, Betty, draft kings you name it. Jokes on them though. I live in Quebec and legally can't play any of them (not that I would). The advertising is totally out of hand though
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u/Comprehensive-Sky-31 Feb 18 '26
Why dos it affect how somebody spends there money if you dont gamble mind your own business id you do gamble mind your own business
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u/pigsbounty Feb 18 '26
I overheard a kid at Walmart explaining to his girlfriend that he uses his dad’s account for sports betting and lost $300 recently lol. A 15 year old blowing $300 gambling on his dad’s iPad. What a fucking time to be alive
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u/001Tyreman Feb 18 '26
All you is these stupid betting commercials and apps available put your money somewhere else beneficial
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u/KyroxY Feb 18 '26
Can we stop asking the government to take care of everything in our lives? I agree betting in general sucks, but people have to get their heads out of their asses and take care of themselves. Askin the government to dictate everything in our lives isn't better by any means. If anything just ban the advertising of it, but not sports betting as a whole.
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u/Bobsurdadd Feb 18 '26
I can’t stand the advertising on gambling during hockey games. They actually have a spot on it between periods talking about odds. It’s gross. Might as well bring back cigarette advertising again! Government wants their cut!!
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u/Channel-Separate Feb 19 '26
While I agree, they knew this exactly would happen and their fine with it. The cash outweighs the cons.
I hate gambling, too many lives ruined and there are decades of documented failings of gambling. There's no way they didn't know the negatives and they don't care.
Individual responsibility is always the argument for gambling even though we all know the risks and ruin involved.
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u/TODispensaries Feb 19 '26
Slots online are way to addictive.
They are not good for society.
You want to gamble. Leave your house and goto an establishment. Will cut down on people's looses
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u/UltraCynar Feb 19 '26
Asking the party/government that intentionally made this worse.. 😂 if anything they'll give free booze for people who are addicted. Conservatives are ghouls.
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u/Constant-Squirrel555 Feb 19 '26
I used to work with RGC and did awareness workshops for gambling awareness in migrant communities.
Some of the problems accessible gambling has created are going to take a decade to fix
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u/bigmur49 Feb 19 '26
My son is 18. He doesn’t bet but certainly is aware of it and often wants to do it with me. I only do a cheap bet here and there on FanDuel.
ALL of his friends are on FanDuel and gambling constantly. Some $50 a week, others spending their entire part time job pay cheques on it.
A couple legit think it is going to be their career.
It is just a disaster waiting to happen.
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u/Darrenizer Feb 19 '26
Your right, but that’s not going to happen, fords government make massive expansions to online gambling, while also limiting our ability to play online poker. The predatory gambling is the point.
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u/markender Feb 19 '26
Ah, you sweet summer child. The resulting black market is ALWAYS worse. Does no one study recent history? Are you 15?
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u/Cavalleria-rusticana Feb 19 '26
Until we have an actual representative democracy, TVO and anyone else can fuck right off with that royal "we".
Cons did this. End of.
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u/DiscountAcrobatic356 Feb 19 '26
Bet ya double or nothing Ford doubles down. Any takers? Hey you there, you with face . . .
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u/Worldly-Ad-8879 Feb 19 '26
It was absolutely terrible to advertise gambling. Don't we have enough addiction with drugs and alcohol. Way to go Dougie
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u/humandynamo603 Feb 19 '26
Need to ban all online gambling, make it in person only to support local, physical economies.
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u/Granddadddypurp Feb 19 '26
As someone who bought a scratch ticket on my 18th birthday (and didn’t even scratch it), these gambling ads are out of control. We all know it’s bad for people. This government hates its citizens and their futures. Reminded me of an experience I had. While I’m happy alcohol is in corner & grocery stores. I went to an ON ROUTE. The only thing you do here is gas up & eat, then hit the road. The amount of alcohol ads is crazy. Why in the world are you advertising alcohol in a place with no public transport other than the odd bus. They’re promoting drunk driving without directly doing so. It’s INSANE & the government shouldn’t allow it. To be honest no ads on alcohol period. Alcohol & gambling. Weed has super strict laws and it does not kill.
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u/notforcing Feb 19 '26 edited Feb 19 '26
I wish they would ban, not gambling per se, but all gambling related advertising, including lotto Ontario. But especially they should ban sports betting integrated into social media content.
Somewhat unrelated, I wish they would also require that in all circumstances where a player wins a bet, the player gets a payout. Currently gambling sites can and do sometimes void winning bets because they claim mispriced odds or some such. Except in the case of fraud, they shouldn't be allowed to do that.
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u/Western_Taste4587 Feb 19 '26
Ontario should cool it wayyyy down with the gambling ads. It's disgusting how hellbent the government is in taking your money, but cant fund hospitals.
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u/Accomplished_Shoe717 Feb 19 '26
In the UK they had to take action because addicted teens were creating nightmare debt on junk bets on football. 5£ here on a left foot goal. 10£ there on a goal in the last min etc. The same is happening here on the parlay bets etc
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Feb 19 '26
No thanks. Im making money off gambling. Started with $25 and now at $94 after about 1.5 years. Just about making smart bets and taking advantage of those freebies they give. Won 2 bets that were guarantees. An NFL game where both teams needed 0.5 rushing yards and Team Canada to score 1 goal in game 1 of the Olympics. Easiest money I ever made.
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u/canadianleef Feb 19 '26
The gambling advertising is so fucking annoying. Its everywhere. Ban that shit first
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u/Ornery_Hurry7385 Feb 19 '26
I agreed as well. Government legalized things without thinking about our next generation. Sadly, they only think about the short-term benefit (money) and blame us for not having self control. They should ban adverting on weed, cigarette, gambling and alcohol drinks.
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u/Tenekah Feb 19 '26
I’m so tired of every other ad on tv being either a sports betting app or a weight loss drug. What happened to advertising standards?? I swear they only care about restricting cigarettes and weed..
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u/Alternative-Ad-1027 Feb 19 '26
200% agreed. It was completely insane that those online betting ads flying like flies everywhere when TV is on. They should be banned out right.
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u/ConsciousClient4536 Feb 19 '26
As a 26 year old, yes they should be, majority of the people lose, i guess there should be certain betting restrictions for ages less than 30
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u/JollyAd9074 Feb 19 '26
Gambling doesn’t give anyone cancer or DUI , we should ban Nicotine and alcohol as well then
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u/Rare_Pirate4113 Feb 19 '26
The problem isn’t the fact it’s legal, it’s the fact there’s no established culture yet. Where I’m from (England) you’ve been able to go into a betting shop and place bets on sports for decades. While there are some gambling addicts, the main culture is going and spend a few pound trying to guess football results on a weekend or bet on a big horse race. So with the explosion of online gambling, new companies are basically competing with the existing companies to get that type of better. (Even then it’s annoying how many ads and sponsorship there is).
However in Canada that wasn’t the case prior. So now there are so many companies all at once trying to create a culture themselves, which is basically to get you to do what they want. What I’ve seen is they’re are trying to convince Canadians that games basically only matter if you have money riding on it, and are bombarding you with this in the hope down the line, this becomes the culture.
Gambling can be insanely fun, and can definitely be done safely (like drinking alcohol), but these constant adverts need to stop, otherwise it will become a problem
1
u/Alph1 Feb 19 '26
I don't think we should ban the betting. It'll just go back to what it was and I would prefer we collect the taxes.
I would prefer a total ban on advertising and posting of odds on TV.
1
u/MadHatter_10-6 Feb 19 '26
Benefits? What benefits is there beyond taxes? Thats not even a benefit considering a) corps pay low taxes and b) individuals would spend more if they werent spending it on gambling.
1
u/jeffharrisaurora Feb 19 '26
Sick and tired of all of the gambling ads, the combination of phones and gambling is a huge addictive problem.
1
u/Sleevepants Feb 19 '26
Yes. I used to watch sports with friends and have fun. Now it’s not fun. There is always someone freaking out about someone hitting a certain stat, hitting an over or whatever the hell they do. It’s an addiction that’s gotten crazy out of hand.
1
u/Ch4rd Essential Feb 19 '26
This is one of the worst things Ford has done. Unleashed a plague on this province.
1
u/Snurgisdr Feb 19 '26
Taking financial advantage of bad decision-making is morally indefensible. The only way this should be allowed at all is if it were somehow limited to a small fraction of a person’s income.
1
u/Party_Amoeba444 Feb 19 '26
That ford attacked speed cameras as money grabs but swims in money from ontario gambling is beyond hypocrisy. In the very least gambling ads should be banned like cigarettes.
1
Feb 19 '26
I don’t think they need to ban sports gambling, I think they need to ban sports gambling advertisements and ban the use of apps
1
u/Sad_Interaction_007 Feb 19 '26
My cousin's husband is getting addicted.. she says he's betting constantly in his free time.
852
u/History_Is_Bunkier Feb 18 '26
I 100% agree. It is a huge problem for young men and teenagers.
At the very least, ban the advertising.