“There is absolutely more that needs to be done.”

May 29, 2026 · sent by email

Hon. Stan Cho
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming
Government of Ontario

Subject: Reduce the harm from gambling ads

Dear Minister Cho:

As members of the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling, we write to encourage you in your recent statement, as reported by Global News, that ‘Ontario is looking closely at the rise in gambling ads’ and ‘There is absolutely more that needs to be done.’

We are a coalition of Ontario-based Olympians, parents and grandparents of Olympians, public health experts, and university researchers deeply concerned about the effect of gambling ads on the people of Canada, especially youth. According to the recent survey by the Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction, since legalization in 2021, problem gambling or addiction has increased six times among adult Canadians, to almost 10% of the entire population, and is experienced by 25% of the youth population. For every person addicted, another five or six persons are negatively affected. International research documents that advertising is the most significant factor in the rapid growth of sports betting and other forms of gambling.

We would therefore like a meeting with you to discuss what Ontario could do to reduce the harms from those ads.

We look forward to the discussion.

Thank you very much.

With best wishes,

Bruce Kidd
for Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling

Copies to: Tyler Zheng · Creed Atkinson · Hon. Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport