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.
- whatever1
All gambling should be state owned. It is a strict societal loss anyway, we can at least soften the overall blow.
Losses can be redistributed and cover for the externalities of gambling. And we will be able to control the knob on how addictive we make them.
For profit companies have the target to maximize their profit, so of course they will ramp up any method that can bring in more revenue.
- dpflan
Our incredible brains are easily high-jacked. Another concerning trend in global/societal mental health that stresses different parts of it (e.g. increased ER visits). If the entirety of humanity is a connected mind let's say, and more and more parts of it are being damaged by companies that capitalize on "flaws" in the human brain -- which means our shared mentality keeps weakening and can be exploited more and more. It's just so much easier now because there is a machine in your pocket full of endless ways to high-jack your mind and attention.
We live in really crazy/fascinating times, accelerating human problems at "internet scale".
- geooff_
> In 2024, Ontarians wagered $82.7 billion CAD on these sites through 2.6 million player accounts.
Truly astounding numbers. Without a doubt, online gambling is the most preventable public health crisis of our generation. None of this had any business getting legalized.
- r3trohack3r
> Emergency room visits for gambling disorders
Are Canadian ERs different than ERs in the U.S.? Why would one go to an emergency room, seek emergency treatment, for a gambling disorder?
- apitman
A few months ago I read an article that compared vibe coding to gambling[0] and I've found it a useful model.
[0]: maybe this one: https://www.fast.ai/posts/2026-01-28-dark-flow/
- jacobgold
Vegas was such a great solution to gambling for Americans. We had it contained to a specific place, making it easy to access but also easy to avoid.
Cryptocurrency, which turned into just another form of gambling, seems to have been the corrupting influence that allowed it to spread into people's homes. I hope we can reverse it somehow.
- johnnyApplePRNG
Out of seemingly nowhere a few years ago, the canadian local landscape changed overnight.
I feel like I am walking around las vegas half the time.
Virtually every corner store has turned into those english sports betting pubs or whatever they have all over England.
It's disgusting.
- JumpCrisscross
How does someone at the ER for gambling addiction present?