Canadian Medical Association Journal warns ads increase risk of problem gambling for young people
An editorial calls for support for a national framework on gambling advertising. Also, we asked the Ontario government where tax revenue from the gambling industry goes, and they answered.
The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CAMJ) has weighed in on the debate over gambling ads.
In a CAMJ editorial released on Monday, co-authors Dr. Shannon Charlebois and Dr. Shawn Kelly, using a variety of academic studies and media stories for their research, argue that gambling ads are setting young people up for an increased risk of problem gambling.
“In 2025, advertisements for sports betting platforms punctuate screened competitive sports games without limits on their duration or frequency,” Charlebois and Kelly wrote. “Sports betting advertisements are seen on player jerseys and digitally projected onto playing areas, and commentator segments are sponsored by betting platforms. Such advertising insidiously normalizes a harmful activity, and children are being exposed, to their detriment. Despite official age restrictions for participating in gambling and using betting platforms, Canada’s youth are being harmed.”
Later, the authors reference a study that concludes, “Warnings to game responsibly have, however, been shown in a systematic review of 166 studies to be ineffective which highlights the weak efforts of provincial governments who stand to make substantial revenue from iGaming.”
They conclude by advocating for support for Senate Bill S-211, which, as Gaming News Canada has covered many times, would force the federal government to set up guidelines for the marketing of online gambling that could limit the number, scope and/or location of the ads. That bill passed second reading and is now at the committee stage in the Senate. If it passes there, it will still need to pass in Parliament before becoming law.
“Allowing glaring and ubiquitous promotion of sports betting is a wilful mortgage of Canada’s future to the interests of private profit and tax revenue,” Charlebois and Kelly wrote. “Canadian jurisdictions should act to eliminate all commercials that promote sports betting during broadcasts where minors are likely to see them. Legislation at the federal level is required given that piecemeal interventions by jurisdictions are likely to be ineffective.”
Gaming News Canada reached out to Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) CEO Paul Burns for comment on the CAMJ editorial, but did not hear back before the newsletter was sent this morning. Burns has written about the history of gaming advertising in Canada, and spoke at a Senate committee hearing last year on Bill S-211.
“Provinces have the tools and are in the best position to regulate,” Burns told the committee. “[An] additional layer of federal regulation is not required.”
The CGA commissioned Vivvix/Media Radar to study ads in 2022 and 2023 when such they would have been at their peak during the new market customer acquisition rush.
Vivvix/Media Radar reported that:
During NHL broadcasts, only 6% of the ads were for online gambling, a number that dropped to 4% during NBA broadcasts.
Online gambling ads represented only 2% of all TV ads.
Viewers were three times more likely to see automotive or financial services ads than gambling ads.
When compared to other key categories, online gambling represents an 8% share of total media ad spend.
Anecdotally, we have noticed a similar decline in the number of gambling ads in Ontario in the last year. That said, the number of studies suggesting exposure to such ads could lead to long-term problems for a small percentage of the young people exposed to them is a serious reminder that more needs to be done.
Responsible gambling initiatives, keeping gambling products out of the hands of young people and limiting how often those that are underage see material promoting gambling should always be the top priority of the operators and the governments that regulate the industry.
Obviously, it’s the right thing to do – and that’s most important. But it’s also the path to a sustainable future for the industry.
Whither goes the taxes paid by Ontario’s gaming industry?
While doing our daily scouring of the internets a fortnight ago, your . . . ahem . . . industrious editor-in-chief came across a news release from the Colorado Department of Revenue reminding its residents to play responsibly, and also passing along this reminder:
Annual sports betting tax revenue is used for water conservation and protection projects, which provide a framework for helping Colorado meet its water challenges. These funds support the Water Plan Grant Program, administered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the state’s primary water policy agency.
That reminder served as a reminder of other U.S. states letting it be known where tax revenue from their legal sports betting and igaming businesses are directed. In Michigan, the First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund, the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund and the Agriculture Equine Industry Development Fund are among the recipients from monies collected by the state’s gaming control board. According to the American Gaming Association, the share of revenue the government receives from Pennsylvania’s legal industry is used to reduce school taxes paid by property owners, and also directing funds to local law enforcement grants and responsible gaming programs.
What about Ontario, where it’s expected the combination of OLG and the 50 (and still growing) operators licensed by iGaming Ontario will deliver more than $2.6 billion in revenue to the provincial government in the 2025-26 fiscal year? We got in touch Monday with Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho’s office and received this response yesterday:
As one of the largest non-tax revenue generators for Ontario, the gaming sector contributes to the government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund which helps fund key government priorities such as health care and education.
In addition, communities that host casinos receive municipal contribution payments. Host municipalities invest their revenues in local programs and infrastructure projects, helping to create robust communities.
Back in days when we hosted Thursday audio shows on Twitter Spaces and then LinkedIn Audio, Dr. Michael Naraine appeared on several occasions to make his case for the Douglas Ford government to make available dollars for education and research around the brave new world of regulated sports wagering and online gaming. According to Naraine, an associate professor in Brock University’s Department of Sport Management, it’s status quo.
”Nothing has changed at all,” Naraine told GNC in an email exchange Monday. “The Ford government has not introduced any new or rehashed old initiatives related to iGaming or sports gambling. As a comparative, they've created research priorities for the following: AI, automotive (including electric vehicles), critical minerals (including research that supports Ontario’s Ring of Fire), genomics, life sciences, medical devices. and quantum technology.
“Obviously those are important issues, but iGaming is literally bringing in new money and is being understudied.”
Naraine, who is involved in the Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming (SWAG) at the University and San Diego, believes the provincial government in Alberta will be well-supported when it launches by the decade-old Alberta Gambling Research Institute at the University of Calgary.
“As other jurisdictions continue to consider data-uninformed policies (Illinois, for example), Ontario should be reinvesting in the space, and they need to get on it<“ added Naraine
“Fast.”
PointsBet now under control of MIXI Australia
Tom Nightingale reported this week for Canadian Gaming Business that MIXI Australia has taken control of PointsBet, including the latter company’s online gambling platform in Ontario.
MIXI Australia is a branch of Japanese entertainment and technology company MIXI, which was in a battle with Betr over control of PointsBet’s holdings.
Nightingale wrote that, “as of Sept. 5, MIXI Australia is the registered and beneficial owner of approximately 180 million PointsBet Holdings shares, a stake that represents majority ownership, and holds 51.86% of the voting power in the online sportsbook that it is trying to acquire.”
MIXI Australia confirmed the move in a statement released on Monday.
PointsBet offers online sports betting in Australia and both sports betting and an online casino in Ontario. The operator has also said it intends to launch an online casino and sportsbook in Alberta when that market is expected to open early in 2026.
“PointsBet reported in late August that its total Ontario market revenue rose 26% year over year to around C$38.5 million for the Australian fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025),” Nightingale wrote. “Its Ontario online casino handle broke the C$1 billion barrier (up 27%), while its sports betting handle was up 39% year over year to C$318.8 million. Its online casino net win in the province rose 39%, while its sportsbook net win grew 11%.”
SBC brings together the entire gaming industry in the beautiful city of Lisbon for the annual SBC Summit, September 16-18.
More than 30,000 delegates will gather to explore a show floor packed with some of the greatest (and newest) products on the market and listen in to what the greatest conference program in tech and gaming has to offer, all set in one of the world’s greatest cities.
Click here to register now and use the code PARLEHPARTNERVIP for a 50% discount.
StatRankings’ Kevin Adams on the GNC Show
This week, Kevin Adams, the founder and CEO of StatRankings, was Steve McAllister’s guest on the latest Gaming News Canada Show.
Last week, StatRankings announced the launch of its new website, which bills itself as the,”ultimate data hub for sports fans, bettors, and fantasy players.”
Adams and McAllister discussed that and more, including the ever-expanding roster of data startups in the sports industry, and the appetite for fans, bettors and fantasy players to have access to as many numbers as possible.
You can listen to the show via your preferred podcasting app or watch it here:
People on the Move
After 30 years, MGM Resorts International COO Corey Sanders is calling it a career at year’s end, although he will continue to lend a hand as an advisor. The company intends to announce a new Chief Operating Officer this month.
Meredith Alzner, the former Vice President of Product Management at theScore, is appointed Director of Product Management at DraftKings.
Peter Kesitlwe is elected the first Chief Executive Officer of the African iGaming Alliance.
Swedish video technology company Vindral appoints Henrik Fagerlund as Chair of the Board.
Tal Zamstein is named CEO of global igaming holding business Veli Group.
Camilla Rosenberg steps down as Director General of Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen (please don’t ask us for the audio version. . . .). Johan Rohr is named interim DG.
Gaming industry savant Chris Grove joins the Board of Directors at Kero Sports.
Brothers Mark and Tom O’Neill, with a helping hand from James Lees and Rachel Booth, launch the iGaming Licensing consultancy firm.
Luke Fisher, after three years as Director & Head of Compliance at Rivalry, is named Head of Corporate Compliance at Relax Gaming.
Caitriona McWilliams, formerly of Entain, joins Betsson Group as Global Head of Talent Acquisition.
After more than four years as Head of Brand Strategy & Marketing, Andre Garven is off to Bet99 as Head of Affiliates.
Russell Wilde Jr., who left Front Office Sports this summer after founding the media company in 2014, is the new Chief Operating Officer for The College Sports Company.
Martin Bland, who left his Senior Vice President, Commercial post with EPIC Global Solutions in July, is named Commercial Director at StreamAMG.
Joel Lavery joins British Esports as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Major Events.
Maxwell Gover is appointed Managing Director – TMET for the senior banking division of XST Capital Group LLC.
Steven Hess and John Mikuta join Ifrah Law as Associates.
Erin Dolan has a new contract as ESPN’s sports betting analyst.
Montreal-based Acquire.bet brings on board former Underdog marketing/partnerships specialist Lauren Brown as Senior Affiliate Manager, and Nicolas Insarralde as a Performance Content Creator.
Chris Hoer joins Kinectify as Implementation Manager.
RJ Fleigle joins Pavilion Payments as Account Relationship Manager.
Andrea Pustivuk departs Boyd Interactive as Senior Compliance Manager.
Canadian sports executive David Hopkinson, formerly of MLSE, Real Madrid and Madison Square Garden, is the new Chief Executive Officer at Newcastle United.
Julian Franklin is bidding adieu to Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to return full-time to Franklin Management Group.
From the Dept. of Better Late Than Never, Melissa Domansky left Calgary Sports and Entertainment after a 13-year run to join the NSL’s Calgary Wild FC as Vice President, Strategy & Operations.
Noah Sternig departs Kalshi as Head of Operations.
Hard Rock Bet brings on Mike Tyson as an Ambassador.
Journalist/podcaster Donnovan Bennett leaves Rogers Sportsnet after more than 12 years.
Shaun Tyler joins the PGA of Canada as Senior Coordinator, Employment.
Classified (Jobs) Information
On the Home Front
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa is on a seek-and-employ mission for a Director – Entertainment.
OLG has an opening for a Director, Paid Media Effectiveness & Planning.
Push Gaming has a hybrid opportunity for a Data Scientist, AI & MLOps Specialist. Must also be able to make a damn good cup of coffee (OK, we made up that one. . . .).
Electronic Arts continues to be in search of directors and managers.
The WNBA Toronto Tempo are searching for a Director, Communications and a Manager, Lifecycle Marketing.
Deloitte’s Toronto office has an opportunity for an Engagement, Change and Communications Manager - Strategic Priority Focus.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment requires an Associate Analyst, Global Partnerships.
CBC has four Reporter/Editor positions up for grabs in Toronto.
CTV News is hiring a Producer.
Toronto-based MKTG Sports + Entertainment is looking for a Director, Brand Activations.
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada is searching for a Senior Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst.
The Toronto Tiger-Cats have an opportunity for an Account Executive, Ticket Sales & Service.
Toronto-based Right to Play is in the market for an Event and Corporate Partnerships Manager.
The Coaching Association of Canada is seeking a Coordinator, Marketing and Communications.
Turo Canada is seeking a Toronto-based Senior Manager, Growth Marketing and Senior Manager, Brand Marketing.
WWF-Canada has need of a Senior Specialist, Video Content.
The Ontario Hockey League is hiring a pair of part-time Game Night Digital Content Coordinators.
South of the Border
The Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health is searching for a GameSense Advisor.
BetMGM has a remote opportunity in New Jersey for a Director, Trading Compliance.
DraftKings has an opening for an Employee Relations Senior Specialist, and in Las Vegas for a Sport Trader. In Boston, there’s need for a Manager, Content.
FanDuel is looking to hire a Merchandising Operations Senior Associate, and in New York a Strategy & Operations Director and a Financial Crimes Manager.
Wanted by Hard Rock Digital: a Lead Analyst – Marketing AI & Automation.
New Vegas sportsbook Boomer’s is in the market for a Social Media Manager.
Fanatics is in the market for an Auditor – Operations.
Hollywood Casino at the Meadows is looking for a Director of Racing.
Epic Games is in the market for a Partnerships Manager (Culture IP).
SharpStakes has a position open in Indiana for a Sales and Business Development Intern.
Kalshi is embarking on a hiring spree, and its search continues for a Head of Staff.
Mkodo is on the lookout for a Lead Back End Engineer.
NBC Sports has an opportunity in San Francisco for a Media Operations Specialist.
Wanted by the Carolina Hurricanes: a Chief Revenue Officer.
The WNBA expansion Boston Legacy are in seek-and-employ mode for a Vice President of Marketing and a Vice President of Corporate Partnerships.
Major League Rugby is on the lookout for a Senior VP, Marketing.
The Tennis Channel has an opening out of its Santa Monica location for a Director, Social Media.
There’s an opportunity in LA at Netflix for a Manager, Content Programming Strategy & Operations, Sports & Live.
Bloomberg has an opening in New York for a Team Leader, Audience.
NBA HQ has an opportunity for an Associate Video Coordinator.
Across the Ponds
Boyle Sports has an opportunity in Dundalk, Ireland, for a Management Accountant.
London-based Clarion Events is seeking a Conference Manager.
Random State has an opening in Gothenburg, Sweden, for a Fullstack Developer.
Betsson Group is hiring for its Malta offices a Talent Acquisition Manager.
RAW iGaming has an opportunity in Pieta, Malta for a Senior Legal and Compliance Manager.
Trustly is looking for a Senior Sales Operations Manager at its Stockholm offices.
There’s a Sept. 19 deadline to apply for the Head of Content gig at the Australian Olympic Committee.
IMG has need of an Account Director, Football.
BBC is in the market for a Senior Editorial Manager – Sport.
Arsenal FC has a fixed-term contract for a Reddit Content Producer.
Tripadvisor is seeking a Financial Crime (KYC) Manager to work out its Dublin location.
Reading and Reflection
1. FINTRAC made public last week the $199,000 fine it is imposing on the CNE Casino.
2. From Tom Nightingale’s keyboard. . . an Ontario Supreme Court of Justice judge rules that GotSkill? Electronic terminal games are indeed gambling.
3. Dave Grendzynski of The Action Network reports the opening week of the NFL regular season was quite kind to the sportsbooks and casinos south of the border.
4. FanDuel continued to lead the way in New York’s legal online sports betting market when it comes to revenue for the month of August.
5. Jill Dorson, writing for InGame, reports on the politics around prediction markets/sports betting in the U.S. of A.
6. According to Citizens JMP Securities, Kalshi’s pricing for NFL games on Week 1 was a tad high.
7. The CEBL Ottawa BlackJacks have new owners.
8. The editorial gang at SBC did the rankings thing for sports betting ads in the U.S. of A.
9. The UK Betting and Gaming Council likes increasing taxes on legal gambling. The Council also believes the Easter Bunny is the real deal.
10. Actor and St. Louis Blues superfan Jon Hamm is BetMGM’s latest ambassador and his duties will include the true north strong and free.
11. Apollo Global Management is launching a $5 billion investment fund for the sporting sector.
12. There was an avalanche of glowing tributes to Ken Dryden last weekend when Canadians learned of the death of Hall of Fame goaltender/author/lawyer/politician/executive/advocate for player safety. Perhaps the most unique tribute came from political pundit Scott Reid. We also highly recommend watching the great Michael Farber’s video feature on Dryden. And this ScoreGolf column from Canada’s greatest golf chronicler Lorne Rubenstein is also worth your time.
Finally, ICYMI, the Buffalo Bills are getting together with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter, ensuring you never miss out on breaking updates.
To discuss our coverage of your company's news and announcements and to become a advertiser on Gaming News Canada, please contact steve@gamingnewscanada.ca.
