Dr. Shawn Kelly, a pediatrician and addiction specialist, was shocked at the increase in sports gambling ads. He cautions that these ads are particularly insidious to children and adolescents. Dr. Kelly recently co-authored a CMAJ editorial with Dr. Shannon Charlebois. What’s particularly alarming is the intersection of sports fandom and gambling culture, which he discusses in the piece by sharing his own experiences as a parent.
We hope that Dr. Kelly’s concerns about acceptable use come from a painful place of personal experience. His young son, a passionate hockey observer himself, has just started to pick up knowledge and vocabulary related to the game. Dr. Kelly was dismayed to discover that his son was already familiar with these sports betting parlance. The ad’s discovery underscored the disturbing effects of gambling ads on young and impressionable minds.
“It was at that moment I realized that his exposure to hockey and learning the game was so tied in and indistinguishable from the advertising for iGaming (gambling) that he was conflating the two in his mind.” – Dr. Shawn Kelly
The Impact of Ubiquitous Advertising
Dr. Kelly likens the current climate of sports betting ads to being in “the Wild West.” He points out the lack of meaningful regulations that dictate how they can be marketed. He fears that this unregulated environment poses severe risks to children, particularly as they become more exposed to gambling narratives.
In the process, the editorial cautions, normalization of sports betting may have dangerous consequences. Its critique is harsh, calling this practice a “willful mortgage of Canada’s future,” all in favour of enriching private profits and tax revenues. This disconcerting truth has led to demands for tighter regulations on gambling advertisements, safeguarding our youth from the aggressive spread of gambling promotions.
Statistics support Dr. Kelly’s concerns. A separate 2019 survey found that slightly more than four percent of Canadian students in grades 7-12 experienced gambling-related urges. Even before the legalization of single-game sports betting, two percent were at risk for gambling addiction. Furthermore, troubling findings from studies in the UK and Norway underline the severe consequences associated with problem gambling, including heightened risks of suicide.
The Role of Technology
This is no surprise as the spread of smartphones has contributed significantly to the risk of increased underage gambling. The Canadian Pediatric Society cautions that children are prone to gambling by the age of 10. This is the case despite the fact that most provinces limit gambling participation to those 18 or 19 years of age. This kind of accessibility is truly alarming when considering the accessibility that mobile devices provide, giving youth the ability to interact with gambling platforms seamlessly.
Dr. Kelly reflects on the implications of this technology-driven environment, stating, “The legalization of online gambling (iGaming) in Ontario in 2022 turned any smartphone into a betting platform, compounding existing epidemics of technology and social media use addiction.” This convergence makes it more urgent than ever that regulators take strong action to protect youth from these predatory practices.
Calls for Action
Dr. Kelly is calling on regulators to act swiftly to prevent the tsunami of gambling ads targeting youth audiences from continuing. She knows this is key to protecting kids’ health. He also thinks Canadian jurisdictions should ban any commercials advertising sports betting on broadcasts that could appeal to children.
A similar Senate bill, Bill S-211, is advancing through the legislative process. Specifically, it aims to establish a national framework governing the advertising of sports betting and establish advertising standards that mitigate risks. Dr. Kelly insists on the necessity of such measures, stating, “To me, it is wild to usher this in with seemingly no regard for safety.”
“I don’t want to say we are in the midst of an epidemic — this is new — but the playground is on the cliff and it is only a matter of time.” – Dr. Shawn Kelly
