Federal MPs in Ottawa are advancing Bill S-211, legislation that would rein in sports betting advertising across Canada. The bill is set for a committee vote next week and has already passed the Senate. It comes as new data shows problem gambling is rising in Ontario, where gambling-related suicides have tripled following the expansion of online casinos.
For T.S., a 22-year-old Ontario man recovering from a gambling problem, the constant promotion of online casinos and betting during sports broadcasts is "frustrating." "Imagine you're an alcoholic and there was a beer ad during every show you watched," he told CBC News. His gambling began as a Friday night activity with friends but escalated, and one night last year he lost $14,000 in a single spree. He says the ads fuelled his urge to bet more.
A new CBC News analysis conducted with the University of Bristol found that viewers of seven televised games featuring Canadian teams during the 2026 NHL playoffs were exposed to 3,000 gambling messages. Researcher Raffaello Rossi found ads or logos appearing two to three times every minute, on rinks, jerseys, helmets and during commercial breaks. Of those messages, 95 per cent included no information about harm reduction or age restrictions.
Rossi says Canada lags behind countries such as Belgium, Italy and Spain, which have introduced near-total bans on gambling sponsorship in sports. Bill S-211 would establish a national framework for sports betting advertising. Its sponsor, Bardish Chagger, the MP for Waterloo, says the legislation would be presented for a third and final reading in the House of Commons if approved at committee.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing