Bulletin 5, October 2

This Bulletin is published by the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling, a group of individuals interested in securing legislation to ban advertisements for gambling, just as has been done for tobacco and cannabis.

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In this Bulletin:

1. Bill S-269 Being Debated in Senate

2. AGCO Restricts Celebrities in Ads

3. Subscribe to the Bulletin

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1. Bill S-269 Being Debated in Senate

Senators Marty Deacon and Brent Cotter have both spoken to the bill they introduced to control advertising for gambling. Their speeches can be found here:

https://sencanada.ca/en/content/sen/chamber/441/debates/139db_2023-09-19-e#70

https://sencanada.ca/en/content/sen/chamber/441/debates/141db_2023-09-21-e?language=e#56

What’s required for second reading to be complete so the matter can be referred to committee, is for a Senate Conservative party member to speak to the bill and the sooner this can happen, the sooner the Senate can make a decision on the bill. We have asked three such senators to speak to the bill and to support it. Those senators are: Don Plett; Judith Seidman, and Yohan Martin.

Emails are:
don.plett@sen.parl.gc.ca;
Judith.seidman@sen.parl.gc.ca 
martin@sen.parl.gc.ca

Please write to each senator asking that they speak to the Bill and that they support it.

2. AGCO Restricts Celebrities in Ads

In a decision made at the end of August, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario states: “The amended standards will prohibit registered Ontario igaming operators from using athletes, whether active or retired, in igaming marketing and advertising, except for the exclusive purpose of advocating for responsible gambling practices. These amended standards also restrict the use of celebrities, role models, social media influencers, entertainers, cartoon figures, and symbols that ‘would likely be expected to appeal to minors’. This broadens and strengthens the existing standard that, prior to this change, prohibited the use of advertising and marketing content with a ‘primary appeal to minors’.

“Children and youth are heavily influenced by the athletes and celebrities they look up to,” said Tom Mungham, Registrar and CEO, AGCO. “We’re therefore increasing measures to protect Ontario’s youth by disallowing the use of these influential figures to promote online betting in Ontario.”

While this is a good first small step to addressing the gambling ads, there are two problems with the decision: it does not come into effect until the end of February next year – clearly accommodating hockey, basketball, and baseball playoffs for gambling ads; and celebrities can still be used to advertise `responsible gambling”, whatever that is.

We still have lots of work to do.

3. Subscribe to the Bulletin

We plan to communicate with supporters on a monthly basis, perhaps more often as the campaign gains momentum. There is no charge for the bulletin, and we will not share subscriber names. Finally, we need as much support as we can get, so please send this bulletin to your friends and colleagues. Subscribe at info@banadsforgambling.ca