Bulletin No. 9, April 2, 2024
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. Gambling Policy Framework by CAMH
2. Introducing Women to be Gamblers
3. Enticing Kids to Gamble
4. Where We Are Now
5. Subscribe to the Bulletin
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1. Gambling Policy Framework by CAMH
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto issued its Gambling Policy Framework on March 26. It proposes that the Ontario government (the major funder of CAMH) commit to a public health approach, that is, placing the responsibility for harm prevention on the gambling industry rather than the current focus on the people who gamble.
It recommends that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario require gambling products to minimize the most problematic features, such as establish lower bet stakes or maximum stakes and ban losses disguised as wins. The government should require gamblers to establish loss limits, say how much money and time they will spend and build in pauses and breaks in play.
CAMH also recommends that the federal government should set limits on advertising, not just on celebrities touting for gambling companies, but banning ads during games, banning ads on media or in venues where 25% of the audience is expected to be children and youth, and banning ads designed to influence non-gamblers of any age to gamble. While the Framework did not call for a total advertising ban (as we have advocated), it does say that its recommendations are a `minimum’ of what should be done.
We believe the CAMH report is a good support for the goal we have, which is a total ban of ads, as is now in place for tobacco and cannabis.
The full report – which is brief and easy to read, can be found at https://www.camh.ca/-/media/driving-change-files/public-policy/camh-gambling-policy-framework-pdf.pdf
2. Introducing Women to be Gamblers
It was bound to happen: someone would think it was smart to make a business of telling women they could attract men if only they knew how to gamble on sports, and would learn what the terms meant and how to place bets. As Simon Houpt reports in the Globe and Mail, at least two women have now established such businesses on TikTok.
As one of the sites states, “If you want to impress your boyfriend, text him right now and say, ‘Are you taking the Chiefs on Sunday minus three-and-a-half or are you taking the Bucs, moneyline?’ and let me know what they say.” Another woman has a site with the motto “Bet like a lady.” Another site has a step-by-step betting guide for women.
One gambling company says 50 per cent more women placed bets on the Super Bowl this year than last.
The article is at https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-the-sports-gambling-industry-is-betting-on-women-to-boost-its-bottom/
3. Enticing Kids to Gamble
As Tim Dewhirst relates in his recent article in the Globe and Mail, gambling companies are working hard to get kids into gambling early. His son played in an under-14 years of age hockey tournament in Oakville where the arena and the dressing rooms were plastered with ads for gambling. His photo says it all:
Photo by Tim Dewhirst // The Globe & Mail
The article is here: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-ontario-isnt-doing-enough-to-protect-our-children-from-sports-gambling/
We have also found that a movie theatre, before showing ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ which is rated PG-13, screened an ad for gambling. We have filed a complaint with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario that these ads targeting minors contravene its regulations and that both the companies and venues should be sanctioned.
4. Where We Are Now
BanAdsforGambling.ca is continuing to push for Bill S-269 to be given second reading in the Senate so it can be passed and sent to the House of Commons. As well, we are actively working with members of Parliament to get support so the issue is before the House before the summer. We will report further when we have more news.
Support Is growing. On March 6, the Toronto District School Board joined boards In Waterloo and Owen Sound to call upon the federal government to ban the ads.
Comparable activities are now occurring in United States. A recent article in the Boston Globe states, “Amid growing alarm over the spread of illegal youth sports betting, the Massachusetts attorney general’s office is preparing to launch a statewide initiative to educate students about the perils of gambling and its risks to public health.
“The initiative, unveiled Thursday at TD Garden in the midst of March Madness, involves the rollout of an educational curriculum that will teach students from grade school to college about the addictive nature of gambling, including how quickly and easily dabbling in sports betting can lead to disaster. The curriculum will be developed with input from a new coalition that includes New England’s major professional sports teams, the NCAA, and the state Gaming Commission.”
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5. Subscribe to the Bulletin
There is no charge for the Bulletin, and we will not share subscriber names. We need as much support as we can get, so please send this Bulletin to your friends and colleagues. Subscribe at info@banadsforgambling.ca . And we are delighted to receive your financial support. Make a donation by going to our donation page.