Ontario faith leaders urge public to join campaign against online gambling
The Anglican Bishop of Ontario has spoken out against legalized online casino gambling in the Canadian province.
Legal iGaming, consisting of interactive slots and table games, went live in Ontario on April 4, 2022. The launch coincides with the legal launch of retail and online sports betting.
Ontario's church bishops, including Archbishop Linda Nicholls and Archbishop Chris Harper of the National Aboriginal Anglican Congregation, issued a joint statement opposing the province's latest gambling venture. Faith leaders are calling on the government to change iGaming regulations to ban all related advertising.
Government policy recognizes that tobacco should not be advertised. This applies to other items as well. The bishops' statement said: "We urge you to be aware that this business model is now bringing gambling addiction into living rooms and onto laptops, smartphones and tablets, with the potential for serious consequences for people's wellbeing."Anglican Journal Report.
"We may have reservations about gambling itself, but we do not condemn it because it remains a personal choice," the bishops continued. "Instead, we are discussing a policy that would enable advertising and promote Traffic and revenue are diverted towards addictive behavior among young and vulnerable people.”
It is recommended to completely ban
While Nichols and Harper are seeking an immediate end to online gambling promotions, the bishops hope to one day go further and get the government to abandon gambling expansion and repeal online gambling laws. The bishops called on the public to write to state legislatures demanding the "abolition of online gambling."
The bishops cited a study that concluded an estimated 1.6 per cent of Canadians are at moderate to high risk of developing a gambling disorder. This equates to approximately 25,600 people affected.
iGaming Ontario, the regulator that regulates online casinos in partnership with Ontario's Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO), said it promotes responsible gambling and provides players with a variety of tools and resources, including self-exclusion (until) . Market launch in 2024), deposit and time limits, and support services. Every licensed iGaming operator is required to invest in a responsible gambling program and regularly promote the importance of smart gambling.
Responsible gambling means engaging in gambling activities without risk of harm or harm to others,” iGaming Ontario states on its website.
Additionally, iGaming Ontario requires its licensees to share anonymous player data “to advance research on problem gambling and responsible gambling.”
Advertising Boycott
According to iGaming Ontario, online gaming advertising can protect consumers by providing information about available responsible gaming protections. These ads can also help players identify legitimate, regulated websites that have these responsible gaming safeguards in place.
Ontario lawmakers have agreed with some calls to restrict gambling advertising. Last August, the AGCO agreed to ban all gambling advertising featuring celebrities and sports stars to "help protect children and young people who may be particularly vulnerable to such advertising content."
As gaming and revenue continue to grow, Ontarians continue to embrace legal online gambling. Ontario's legal casino platforms accepted more than C$14.2 billion ($10.63 billion) in bets during the quarter ended Sept. 30, resulting in about $404.3 million in winnings.
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Source: www.casino.org
