Ontario lawmakers propose online gambling ad ban
Lawmakers in Ontario have introduced a bill to ban advertising for online gambling across the province. The bill would create a law called the Stop Harmful Gambling Advertising Act, and was introduced on April 20.
The bill would amend the existing law, to ban licensed gambling operators and their partners from promoting services on TV, social media or other platforms. It would also impose fines of up to C$100,000 ($73,081) for individuals and C$1 million ($730,815) for corporations. Repeat violations would lead to the company or individual losing their license.
Supporters of the bill point to data that shows increased demand for addiction services since the online gambling market launched in 2022. Calls to mental health support services increased by 144% and three-quarters were related to gambling.
Critics of the proposal warn that a full ad ban could make it harder for consumers to find regulated operators, potentially increasing their unlicensed platforms. The bill could also face a tough passage, however, as its Liberal Party sponsors are not in government in Ontario.