"The rate of young men contacting Ontario's mental health helpline for gambling-related problems has increased by more than 300 per cent after the province allowed private online gambling, a new study suggests. The researchers behind the study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday say the findings represent a need for stronger harm-reduction measures and more access to treatment."
"The study found that among boys and men aged 15 to 24, the mean monthly rate of gambling-related outreach per million people rose by 317 per cent from the time before Ontario's launch of PlayOLG to the period after the privatization of online gambling. The rate increased about 108 per cent over the same time frame for men aged 25 to 44, the study further found."
"While better awareness of the hotline could be a factor, the spike may not be solely explained by people seeking help for existing problems, said Dr. Daniel Myran, a research chair at North York General Hospital who co-authored the study."
A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal analyzed ConnexOntario helpline contacts from January 2012 to September 2025, finding over 745,700 total contacts with approximately 37,000 gambling-related. Young men aged 15-24 showed a 317% increase in monthly gambling-related outreach rates per million people following Ontario's launch of PlayOLG in 2015 and expansion of private online gambling in April 2022. Men aged 25-44 experienced a 108% increase over the same period. Prior to these policy changes, rates remained stable. Researchers emphasize the need for stronger harm-reduction measures and increased treatment access, noting that increased helpline awareness alone may not fully explain the spike in contacts.
#problem-gambling #youth-mental-health #online-gambling-regulation #addiction-treatment #public-health-policy
Read at www.cbc.ca
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