With the regulations surrounding gambling shifting and changing at both the federal and provincial levels, online gambling in Canada has rapidly grown in recent years. But this growth has come with a great deal of criticism and concern.
This isn’t surprising; gambling, like drinking and drug use, comes with taboos, strong opinions, and, for some users, mental health concerns. It’s the mental health concerns — and the financial consequences that tend to come along with them — in particular, that cause people to worry about online gambling becoming (or already being) an epidemic in Canada.
But are these concerns that we’re heading toward a gambling epidemic founded? Let’s dive into the details to see.
What Is an Epidemic?
Before we can start assessing whether or not something is an epidemic, we should understand what the term means. An epidemic refers to a widespread disease within a community. The term also tends to be used to refer to social epidemics to describe activities and ideas that can lead to ill societal effects.
What Is Problem Gambling?
Another important factor to consider is when gambling stops being entertainment and becomes problematic, tipping the scales from fun and trendy towards a social epidemic. Generally, problem gambling is identified by various symptoms ranging from headaches and a low mood to financial distress and disrupted daily life.
There are many contributing factors to who is at risk for problem gambling. These factors include a history of anxiety and depression, a restless or impulsive personality, and a significant life change (e.g., divorce or loss of a loved one).
Supporting & Protecting Online Gamblers
Online casinos, like those where you can play free slots online at casinos.com, are more regulated and controlled than many other platforms. Much of the regulation around online gaming is designed to create a safer and more responsible gambling environment.
With regulated casinos, players can feel more confident that their personal and financial information is protected through more secure platforms. These same security features also help limit underage gambling, which is harder to prevent with “offshore” casinos (casinos available online from places outside the regulated province).
But beyond protecting personal details, a significant aspect of online gaming regulations is ensuring that these platforms provide tools and support to prevent and help with problem gambling. Below are some common tools and supports available through online casinos.
Self-Exclusion Programs
Self-exclusion tools suspend a gambler’s account for a set time to prevent the player from accessing games should they need extra support to take a break from gaming.
Deposit & Betting Limits
The ability to set deposit and betting limits ensures players can stay within their budget and reduce financial distress. These limits are set before playing and can be based on a daily, weekly, or monthly limit.
Timers & Reminders
During gameplay, timers and reminders — also called reality checks — can let players know how long they have been playing and keep them aware of time. These features also allow players to set timers for how long they can play.
Access to Problem Gambling Support
Through online casinos, players can find resources and support to help them address problem gambling. Most casinos will outline gambling best practices and provide links and phone numbers to support centers and hotlines.
Beyond these in-platform tools, there are also more regulations around advertising and promoting online gaming and gambling platforms. For Ontario, this includes restrictions on who can appear in-game ads. For instance, celebrities and athletes cannot endorse or appear in advertisements for online casinos or sports betting platforms.
Mental health authorities, like the Canadian Center for Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), have ongoing research on how to protect online gamblers and to lower the risks of problem gambling at the policy-making level rather than the responsibility falling solely on each individual. This type of work is helping to craft a more responsible and supportive environment for individuals taking part in online gambling.
What Are Canada’s Gambling Stats?
Now that we have a better understanding of what an epidemic is and when gambling crosses the line to problematic, we can start looking at Canada’s online gambling statistics to assess if gambling is an epidemic in the country.
As online gambling has increased in popularity, it’s become a lucrative industry for Canada, with an anticipated revenue of over $4 billion in 2024 and over 20 million users by 2028.
For Canadian gambling in general and not just online gambling, Stats Canada has reported that roughly 64% of people gamble. Of that number, 1.6% are at risk for problem gambling. The same report also highlighted who is most likely to gamble: men and individuals from higher-earning households.
Entertainment or Epidemic?
At this point, online gambling is something that’s still new and exciting rather than an epidemic. The excitement draws players in the same way a physical casino lures guests to its table and slot machines with a sense of luxury and glamour.
The regulations surrounding online gambling are only just starting to take shape. Because of this, having worries or concerns is perfectly natural. Gambling does, after all, have ties to mental health problems and financial stress. So, just like physical casinos, online casino players should remember that moderation is essential and take advantage of in-game tools and support systems to enhance responsible gameplay.
As the industry evolves, so do the tools and resources at players’ disposal, making online gambling more secure and helping prevent possible adverse outcomes — like a gambling epidemic. With the enhanced regulations and evolving research, online gambling will hopefully remain a form of entertainment rather than become an agent of harm in Canadian communities.