Introduction

In August 2023, the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling issued its White Paper No. 1 on “The Impact of Advertising for Gambling”. The Campaign calls for the prohibition of ads for gambling in the same way that ads for tobacco and cannabis have been restricted. Since last August, there has been continued research on the impact of advertising for gambling and on the individual and social impact of gambling and gambling disorders, especially in light of the growth of the online sports betting industry. The purpose of this White Paper No. 2 is to highlight the findings of the continued research and to update what is happening in Canada and other countries concerning the regulation of ads for gambling.

There is a growing call to politicians and governments, in Canada and other countries, to move from an individual approach and so-called “responsible gambling” to a public health approach. While the individual and social costs of gambling are widespread and difficult to estimate, experts in the field agree that they far exceed the revenue that governments may receive from legally registered gambling businesses.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) issued a “Gambling Policy Framework” on March 27, 2024 providing a template for gambling policy that effectively addresses the health and social harms that can accompany gambling, and to inform government initiatives in this area. While CAMH argues that a full ban on gambling advertising may not be realistic in the short term (a position with which the Campaign to Ban Ads for Gambling disagrees), they do advocate for much stricter regulation and, in particular, strengthened youth protections. They write: “There is a causal relationship between exposure to gambling promotion and gambling attitudes and activities. Children and youth, as well as those already experiencing gambling problems, are especially susceptible to these effects.”