Many Canadians enjoy gambling as a hobby. They spend a reasonable amount of money on it every so often and are sensible with it. While most people are able to control their gambling and keep things in check, there will always be some who develop gambling-related problems.
The good news is that there’s a wealth of help and resources available to help people who gamble in the real world, online or both. Nearly all casino sites such as Spin Palace Casino have a responsible gambling section that explains what tools players can use and who they can contact if they need help.
The Increase in Gambling Problems
In recent years, online gambling has become more prevalent throughout certain parts of Canada thanks to provincial governments creating regulatory bodies. The idea behind this is simple: by regulating gambling sites, the government can protect people more and generate revenue from operators.
Many more people have started gambling online because they feel safe knowing that there’s protection if things go wrong. However, with an increase in people gambling, there’s bound to be an increase in the number of people who have gambling-related problems. These can include, but are not limited to, addiction, debt and even mental and physical health issues.
In April 2022, Ontario became the first Canadian province to legalize online gambling. Since then, the number of people who have called the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline has experienced a significant increase. The new legislation has benefitted the government (which earns tax revenue from operators) and those who enjoy gambling sensibly. However, there hasn’t been a significant study that looks at the full impact (both positive and negative) of the legislation on people living in Ontario.
Licensed gambling sites are required to meet certain standards to obtain a licence and keep it. These include actively looking out for customers and offering a range of services to help prevent and deal with gambling problems. Many sites have account limits that let people restrict how much they can deposit, wager and even win, for example.
What’s Being Done to Help With Gambling Problems
The money that governments earn from gambling taxes goes to a range of good causes. Some of it funds programmes designed to promote responsible gambling and help people who have been negatively affected by gambling.
There have been calls for Canada’s central government to start taking more action on online gambling given how easily accessible it has become. Some have argued that internet-based gambling has such a long list of negative side effects and long-term issues related to it that it should be treated more seriously.
To reduce gambling problems, things like less exposure to gambling ads, more restrictions on casino sites and sportsbooks and easier access to help are needed. Gambling should also be de-normalized so that fewer people feel pressured into practising it.
Online gambling in particular has become more accessible and therefore more popular across Canada. It remains to be seen whether the central government will introduce any major new legislation to give people more protection and reduce short- and long-term gambling harms.
Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/online-gambling-public-health-report-1.7384379
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-023-10268-1
