The Canadian Mental Health Association is calling for more drastic changes in Canada’s online gambling advertising. CMHA recently proposed banning all iGaming ads as a way to protect teenagers and young adults. 우리카지노탑 The recommendation to the Ontario Alcohol and Game Commission comes amid a proposal by regulators to ban the use of sports stars in advertising.
The recent surge in advertising on online gambling and sports betting can be explained by the introduction of Ontario’s open eye gaming market for third-party operators in April 2022. It has attracted attention from the biggest operators in the industry, who have already had access to it, and their ads now have overcrowded TV broadcasts, especially during sporting events.
Recommendations to Regulators
In a report to the Ontario regulator, the CMHA noted a worrying increase in seventh to 12th graders betting on online gambling in the province. The group cited a study by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in 2021 that found that about 15% of students in the province participated in iGames with real money. This was 4% higher than in 2020.
In addition, CMHA said that despite regulations in the iGaming market last year, some online betting sites are unregulated and based overseas. In addition, an IPSOS survey released in April 2023 found that 85% of respondents who gambled online in the province gambled through one of the many regulatory websites. However, more work is needed.
Last month, the iGaming watchdog put forward a proposal to ban famous athletes and influencers from appearing in gambling ads as a way to protect young demographics. The proposal to ban celebrity advertising is because these popular faces can easily appeal to children and teenagers, and marketing approaches can strongly appeal to under the legal age of games in the province.
However, mental health authorities have pointed out that advertising is still affecting minors and young adults whose brains are not fully developed by the time they reach the age of 25, and that they are more likely to take risks. It reminded us that gambling-related problems such as money loss, mental health problems, drug use, and suicidal thoughts can have long-term effects on gamblers and their families.
It also pointed out that the risk is particularly high in low-income families, and there should be limits on how much money you can bet and how much time you can spend online. The association says iGaming ads will help the industry find the next generation of better people and recommends limiting the chances of exposure to children to a minimum.
Number For The First Year of iGaming
In April 2023, Ontario marked its first year since the legalization of the online gaming market for private operators. In the first 12 months of operation, the market generated $35.6 billion in betting volume, which resulted in approximately $1.4 billion in revenue. There were over a million players with one account out of 40 operators, and the average monthly expenditure was CA$70.