Lee Fairclough Will Keep Fighting for a Total Ban on Predatory Online Gambling Ads

TORONTO, ON – Today, Ontario MPPs voted on a Bill introduced by Lee Fairclough, MPP for Etobicoke—Lakeshore, Liberal Critic for Hospitals, Mental Health, Addictions, and Homelessness, to ban online gambling advertising in Ontario. Despite clear-cut evidence that online gambling ads are fuelling a public health crisis, the Ford Conservatives refused to take action to protect Ontarians from the harms of online gambling ads.

“The human cost of online gambling addiction is staggering – it’s damaging people’s health, increasing demand for addictions services, driving people deeper into debt, and ruining families,” said Fairclough.

“The Conservatives’ decision to privatize online gambling opened the door to predatory advertising that is designed to be addictive.”

Research shows that Canadians with problem gambling are four times more likely to think about suicide.

“As a mom of two teenage boys, I see how these ads try to exploit young males,” said Fairclough. “Last year, $83 billion was wagered in online gambling in Ontario. This money is coming out of the pockets of young people who can least afford it.” The Canadian Paediatric Society reports that gambling starts as young as 9 or 10 years of age.

“As I visit communities like Thunder Bay, St. Catharines, Almonte, Ottawa and in my own Toronto riding, this bill is resonating everywhere,” said Fairclough. “I want to thank the thousands of people who have signed the petition to ban online gambling ads and the many more who are speaking out about this preventable crisis.”

“I called on all MPPs to protect the people they serve – to vote with their conscience and support this bill,” said Fairclough. “In the end, Ford’s Conservatives failed to take responsibility for their damaging policy choices.”

“I’ve heard loud and clear from every corner of this province that people want the government to protect their health and put an end to online gambling ads,” said Fairclough. “The Ontario Liberal Party will keep fighting until there is a total ban on these insidious ads.”

The World Health Organization, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health all recommend significant guardrails for online gambling advertising, similar to restrictions on ads for tobacco and other addictive products.

The Private Members Bill was co-sponsored by MPP Stephen Blais, MPP Ted Hsu, and MPP John Fraser and unanimously supported by the Ontario Liberal Party and all opposition members in the Legislature.