The regulatory body in Ontario is currently evaluating proposed changesOntario sports betting to implement a ban on gaming companies from featuring athletes and other prominent individuals in their marketing content, particularly those who might attract younger audiences.
However, a Canadian legislator believes a more comprehensive strategy is required.
Senator Marty Deacon from ISG-Ontario introduced Senate Bill 269 on Tuesday. The bill advocates for a 'national framework' to regulate advertising related to sports betting.
Should the bill pass, it would grant Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration a year from the law's enactment date to create these regulations. The legislation does not specify particular regulations but instead instructs the Minister of Canadian Heritage to collaborate with other federal ministers, provincial heads, Indigenous communities, and relevant stakeholders to form the regulations.
On Thursday, Deacon spoke withOntarioBets about her worries regarding the proliferation of sports betting advertisements and the progress of the legislation that received its initial reading in the Senate on Tuesday.
Canadians Bombarded by a Flood of Advertisements
Deacon supported C-218 two years prior, which legalized individual sports betting games in Canada. As a seasoned coach and a current director of the Canadian Olympic Committee, she has always been concerned about the potential for match-fixing and felt strongly about reforming the criminal code to permit this activity, including online betting.Ontario sportsbook apps , was the right step.
She mentioned having no regrets about her support for that bill; however, she was taken aback by the overwhelming number of commercials and promotional content related to sportsbooks.
"We anticipated some level of advertising, having observed trends in other countries,\" she stated. \"But we didn’t foresee the extent to which it would explode, leaving Canadians of all ages frequently exposed to these advertisements.\"
Deacon Seeks Committee Engagement on the Bill
The forthcoming stage for S-269 will be a second reading, which Deacon informed OntarioBets is likely to occur shortly after lawmakers reconvene in mid-September.
This would facilitate committee discussions regarding the bill. It would also provide an opportunity for lawmakers to gather expert insights and pose questions to refine the legislation. Although the bill focuses solely on sports betting currently, Deacon noted that input from specialists might suggest expanding it to include iGaming as well. In the most populated province of the nation,Ontario online casino iGaming launched alongside sports betting in April 2022.
A committee session would probably also provoke discussions about the regulation of in-game mentions during broadcasts.
"A recurring topic of discussion is not solely the commercials during the game but also what takes place in the intervals between plays,\" Deacon noted.
She expressed hope that discussions surrounding the bill may encourage the government – with ministers who also serve in Canada's House of Commons – to initiate its own legislation, which might have a greater chance of passing.
"I'm completely fine with that as long as we are looking for progress,\" Deacon stated.
Potential Reforms to Ontario's Sports Betting Regulations
An unresolved question remains whether provinces or territories could adopt more stringent guidelines than what is federally proposed if Deacon's bill is enacted. She conveyed to OntarioBets her desire to involve provincial leaders in discussions with Ottawa officials to assess the necessity of this.
Deacon introduced her bill as the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario explores modifications to its current policies.
In a statement issued to OntarioBets on Thursday, the commission remarked that it is \"not appropriate to comment\" on S-269 as it's governed by a provincial agency.
However, AGCO clarified that it has continuously reviewed its policies and regulations since the legalization of online sports betting last year.casino apps Ontario During that review, they identified \"advertising and marketing practices that showcase athletes and other celebrities likely to attract minors\" as a potential concern.
"The AGCO has completed consultations with stakeholders regarding proposed alterations to iGaming advertising standards,\" the statement from the commission indicated. \"Such engagements are typically conducted before considering any regulatory updates. We have received around 40 responses from a diverse set of stakeholders and are currently undertaking a thorough analysis of all the feedback received.\"
New Online Casino Game in Ontario Features Huff, Puff, and More
