Harm Increases Five Years After Canada Legalized Single-Game Wagering

The legalization of single-event sports betting in Canada has dramatically altered the country’s gambling landscape, with Ontario being the most prominent example of both accelerated commercial growth and rising concerns about gambling-related harm. Private Gambling Expansion Fuels Ontario’s Online Market Boom In 2021, federal lawmakers legalized single-game betting, allowing the provinces to offer bets on individual sporting events rather than forcing customers to bundle several outcomes into parlays. The change also allowed betting on individual events during games, such as player performances. Since then, provincial gambling sites have expanded their offerings, with Ontario taking a step further in 2022 by allowing private companies to operate in the online market. Alberta became the latest province to go live with its system for a private online gambling market in July 2026. The Ontario experience suggests what can happen when commercial operators are let loose in a previously restricted market. Although the federal reform focused on sports wagering, online casino games have been a major driver of growth in the Ontario industry. Matthew Young, chief research officer for gambling research group Greo, said there is a massive financial incentive for gambling companies to push customers toward casino products once they sign up to an online platform, as reported by Canadian media outlet The Globe and Mail. Casino games can generate much larger profits for operators than sports betting. Since the arrival of private operators, gambling revenue per adult in Ontario has skyrocketed. There have been increases in other parts of Canada as well, although the magnitude has not been the same in every province. The expansion has led to a large increase in participation. There are now about three times as many active online gambling accounts in Ontario as when the private market opened. Canada’s Gambling Growth Comes With Rising Harm Concerns The expansion of the legal market has likewise raised concerns among researchers and treatment organizations. Statistics Canada data shows that the proportion of Canadians who said they bet on sports in the past year has declined slightly from 2018, but those who do bet are now doing so more often. The percentage of sports bettors who bet at least once a month jumped from just under one quarter to over 40%. Other signs point to more general worries. Between 2018 and 2025, Statistics Canada observed increases in gambling-related issues such as chasing losses and borrowing money to continue gambling. Ontario’s ConnexOntario problem gambling helpline also saw a notable increase in average monthly calls after the private market opened. Call volumes increased to more than three times the previous level and have stayed elevated. Another concern as provincial markets grow is that Canada’s gambling advertising rules are still fragmented. Ontario gambling ads are appearing in other provinces, even in places where the operators cannot legally offer their services. And that can expose young people and people recovering from gambling problems to pervasive promotion, said Luke Clark, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia who studies gambling addiction. At the federal level, proposed legislation would set national standards for gambling advertising. Supporters say that more oversight could reduce exposure as the industry grows.