Ontario's Online Gambling Boom Sent Young Men to the ER at Twice the Expected Rate
ER visits for gambling disorders doubled after expanded online gambling market
University of Toronto researchers found that emergency department visits for gambling disorders doubled after Canada legalized single-event sports betting and Ontario opened its online market to private companies. Among males aged 10 to 29, visits ran 154 per cent above expected levels; for men 30 to 44, 116 per cent higher. No change appeared among women. Ontarians wagered $82.7 billion CAD across 2.6 million accounts in 2024.
By the end of the study period, the observed number of visits was 154 per cent higher than expected among males aged 10 to 29; and 116 per cent higher than expected among males aged 30 to 44.