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Calls to Ontario’s mental‑health helpline for gambling problems rose sharply after the 2022 privatisation of online gambling, with young men most affected. The finding follows the legalisation of single‑event sports betting in Ontario and a rapid expansion of private operators and advertising. This signals increased risk for players and greater demand for support services in the province and beyond.
A Growing Public Health Concern
The study examined more than 745,000 contacts to ConnexOntario from 2012 to 2025 and found a clear association between online expansion and help‑seeking. With the federal amendment allowing single‑event sports betting in 2021, Ontario opened a private online market in April 2022.
After privatisation, overall gambling contacts increased by 96%, while calls made up 9.2% of helpline traffic and 76% of those involved online gambling.
The Scale of the Shift
- Help‑seeking jumped 317% among males aged 15–24, and 108% among men 25–44. Overall, there’s 144% surge among men aged 15–44.
- Between April 2022 and August 2025, monthly legal wagers rose 654%, i.e., from $1 billion to $8 billion, and active player accounts grew 239%.
- The most common reported gambling types were electronic gaming machines (46%), table games (25%), and sports gambling (12%).
Researchers and experts flagged the health implications. Dr. Daniel Myran called gambling an
“underrecognised determinant of health.”
He urged clinicians to inquire about gambling when patients present with mental‑health, financial, or substance‑use issues. Other researchers noted that helpline contacts are a useful early indicator of population harm and that heavy marketing by licensed private operators can amplify risks.
What Does this Mean for Players?
- Young men and teen boys aged 15 to 44 show the greatest increases in help‑seeking. Sports betting and in‑play betting are particularly linked to harm.
- Mounting financial stress, anxiety or depression, sleep problems, relationship strain, and increased substance use while betting are the common signs to watch out.
- If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to ConnexOntario or local addiction treatment services.
- Family and friends commonly initiate help calls.
- Clinicians can also screen patients presenting with related problems.
- Players can consider harm‑reduction measures, such as self‑exclusion programs, gambling‑blocking software, setting deposit/time limits, and avoiding betting while using alcohol or drugs.
- Treatment and peer support programs are effective but may take multiple attempts. Usually, early contact improves outcomes.
Look Ahead
Regulators and public‑health authorities will likely weigh advertising limits, restrictions on in‑play betting, and expanded treatment capacity as evidence unfolds. Provinces, like Alberta, considering private licensing should watch Ontario’s trends and helpline indicators closely.
Players and clinicians should also monitor policy announcements and published research. And as always, gamble responsibly and seek help early if harm appears.
