Two senators are urging the Canadian government to prohibit the promotion of sports betting across the country. Charlottetown Senator Percy Downe and Waterloo Senator Marty Deacon have penned a letter to the Prime Minister, requesting the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to ban all advertisements for sports gambling applications and websites. This initiative has garnered support from 40 other senators.
The letter highlights the concern that individuals of all age groups are exposed to a continuous flow of ads that may prompt them to transform their mobile devices into miniature casinos. It also cites a report by CBC’s Marketplace, revealing that gambling messages make up an average of 21% of the broadcast time during sporting events.
Senator Downe, representing Charlottetown, expressed his belief that the situation has worsened in recent years, particularly following the amendments to Bill C-218 in 2021, which legalized single-event sports betting. He emphasized that the ability to now wager on specific aspects of sports events, such as predicting the next goal scorer, contributes to the proliferation of gambling activities among the public.
Acknowledging the existing restrictions on featuring sports personalities in gambling advertisements, Senator Downe emphasized the necessity for further government intervention. Drawing a parallel to the ban on cigarette ads due to societal harm, he stressed the importance of regulating sports betting promotions to mitigate potential negative impacts.
Elizabeth Stephen, a counseling therapist based in Halifax, underscored the vulnerability of young individuals to sports betting influences, especially with the pervasive presence of gambling ads during televised sports events. She advocated for the establishment of guidelines governing sports betting advertising to safeguard youth from undue influences.
Charlottetown MP Sean Casey echoed the concerns raised in the senators’ letter, emphasizing the public health implications associated with the promotion of gambling activities. While supporting the objectives of Bill S-211 aimed at regulating sports betting advertising, he noted the ongoing debate between implementing a comprehensive ban, as proposed by Downe and Deacon, and adopting a framework for stricter regulations.
Casey, who was present during the legalization of single-event sports betting, highlighted the unintended surge in sports betting ads following the legislative changes. While open to the idea of a complete ban on sports betting advertising, he advocated for significant reductions in ad volumes to align them with other commercial advertising practices.
Overall, the senators’ advocacy for restrictions on sports betting promotions reflects a broader effort to address concerns regarding the influence of gambling ads on individuals, particularly the youth, urging a balance between commercial interests and societal well-being.
