Ontario bishops seek radical overhaul to iGaming laws

Article by : Charles Perrin Jan 8, 2024

• 
• 

Ontario faith leaders are stepping up their efforts to try and overhaul the iGaming laws, displaying united opposition to gambling adverts on TV, radio, and social media.

In association with the Anglican Church of Canada, Ontario bishops have condemned the spread of casino and sports betting ads, insisting more needs to be done to tackle problem gambling in Canada.

Recent figures put forward by Statistics Canada indicate that 1.6% of adult bettors are at a moderate to high risk of being susceptible to gambling-related disorders, and a white paper has circulated drawing attention to this endemic.

Although Ontario made a splash in its first year offering regulated iGaming when it launched in 2022, the bishops are making serious pushbacks.

One of the main sticking points has been the spread of gambling ads on multiple platforms, and the bishops are unequivocal in their thoughts on the matter.

A statement released by the bishops read: “Government policy has recognized that tobacco should not be advertised. This is true of other commodities.

“We urge you to recognize that the well-being of people can be deeply affected by addiction to gambling which is now brought into the living room and on the laptops, smartphones, and tablets through this business model.”

The bishops have been unhesitant in clamoring for curbs on iGaming advertising. They have urged Anglicans in Ontario to read the gambling white paper, write to their provincial lawmakers, ask for the “disestablishment of iGaming”, and spend their time focussing on “praying for the local community”.

iGaming Ontario is the regulatory body presiding over casino and sports betting in the province, insisting it has tried to promote responsible gambling and putting safeguards in place.

Indeed, the agency is committed to spending a proportion of its gaming revenue on advertising and education platforms, and in August, a ban was enacted to curb the use of celebrities and sports stars in ads.

Despite the disapproval expressed by the bishops, Ontarians have become enamored with legal iGaming.

The level of iGaming activity in Ontario has continued to grow. In the quarter ending to September 30, Ontario’s regulated casino platforms handled more than $10.6billion in bets and won roughly $400million.

This debate could rumble on for some time, and while there is no immediate threat of iGaming being removed entirely from the Ontario landscape, it is a case of who will blink first in a battle of wills.