A public-health approach for Toronto.
Our presentation to the Toronto Board of Health in support of Councillor Moise's motion endorsing Bill S-269 — because the most effective harm-reduction strategy is to ban the ads.
November 18, 2024
Presentation to the Toronto Board of Health
On Our Health, Our City: A Mental Health, Substance Use Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategy for Toronto
In support of Councillor Moise's motion that the Board of Health express its support of Bill S-269, An Act respecting a national framework on advertising for sports betting. By Bruce Kidd, Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling.
My name is Bruce Kidd, a lifelong Toronto resident and the Ombudsperson at the University of Toronto.
Today, I speak on behalf of the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling, a group of Torontonians deeply concerned about that aspect of the mental health crisis created and exacerbated by the explosion of sports betting, especially among children, youth and other vulnerable persons. We are Olympians, sports leaders, health professionals, educators, parents and grandparents.
We strongly support the Board's recommendations with respect to Our Health, Our City, and Councillor Moise's amendments endorsing Bill S-269, An act respecting a national framework for advertising for sports betting.
When Parliament amended the Criminal Code in 2021 to legalize sports betting, there was no debate about the consequences of advertising for sports betting, despite the well-documented research about the harmful impacts and the public policy responses from other countries. This was a huge failure. Since legalization, there has been a virtual tsunami of ads for gambling — during televised sports, on social media, in sports facilities, and even cinemas. CBC Marketplace recently reported that 21% of the time of sports broadcasts is now devoted to gambling ads and commentators' discussion of betting possibilities.
Research shows that ads significantly increase the amount of gambling and exacerbate addiction and problem gambling. While the governments, media, sports corporations and gambling companies that profit from sports betting say that it is only ‘harmless fun’, betting can lead to serious addiction, mental health issues, bankruptcy, loss of homes, family break-up, even suicide.
Mental Health Research Canada recently estimated that 7% of Canadians, and 15% of persons aged from 18 to 34, experience problem gambling. That means more than a million Canadians.
Problem gambling has been classified by the American Psychiatric Association as a non-substance-related addictive disorder.
CAMH reports that since legalization, calls to its helpline for problem gambling have skyrocketed.
The Canadian Safety Council considers gambling addiction a community safety and crime prevention issue.
The most effective strategy of public health harm reduction is to ban the ads.
We therefore urge Parliament to enact Bill S-269 as soon as possible. We advocate a public health approach, in this case a series of coordinated steps, starting with a ban on ads, rather than the ‘blame the victim’, ‘responsible gambling’ approach currently taken by provinces and the gambling industry.
Our Campaign enjoys broad support across Canada, from school boards and universities, health bodies, religious organizations, to MPs from all five political parties. A survey conducted by Maru Public Opinion in February found that 75% of Canadians said that there's a need to protect children and youth from sports betting commercials.
Bill S-269 starts the process of curtailing advertising for sports betting by initiating a national framework.
Your support for the Bill would strengthen the case in Parliament.
Bruce Kidd
Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling