Online Gambling Expansion Linked to Surge in Young Men Seeking Help in Ontario

A dramatic rise in young men reaching out for gambling-related support has followed Ontario’s expansion into private online betting, according to a new study published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Researchers report that contacts to ConnexOntario the province’s free, 24-hour mental health and addictions helpline for gambling concerns have climbed sharply in recent years, particularly among males aged 15 to 24. The study suggests that the province’s shift toward broader online gambling access may be contributing to the trend and calls for stronger safeguards and expanded treatment services.

The research examined helpline data from January 2012 through September 2025. Over that 13-year span, ConnexOntario received more than 745,700 total contacts, with approximately 37,000 related specifically to gambling issues.

Two major policy changes appeared to coincide with increases in gambling-related outreach. The first occurred in January 2015, when the government launched its online gambling platform, PlayOLG. The second followed in April 2022, when Ontario opened the market to private online gambling operators.

Among boys and young men aged 15 to 24, the mean monthly rate of gambling-related contacts per million people rose by 317 per cent from the period before PlayOLG’s introduction to the era following the privatization of online gambling. Men aged 25 to 44 also saw a significant rise, with rates increasing by 108 per cent over the same timeframe. Before these policy shifts, researchers say the rates had remained relatively stable.

Dr. Daniel Myran, a research chair at North York General Hospital and a co-author of the study, cautioned that while greater awareness of the helpline may explain part of the spike, it likely does not tell the full story.

“There’s strong evidence that most people with gambling problems don’t seek formal care,” Myran said. “When they do reach out, it’s often through services like ConnexOntario. The increases we’re seeing may represent only a fraction of a much larger rise in harmful gambling behaviours.”

The study also noted a sharp jump in online gambling participation following the market’s privatization. Between April 2022 and August 2024, the number of active online player accounts per 100,000 Ontarians aged 15 and older increased from roughly 2,160 to more than 7,300 a 239 per cent surge.

Myran pointed to the growing visibility of gambling advertisements as a potential contributing factor. Since private operators entered the market, betting promotions have become commonplace across television, digital platforms and sporting events.

“We need to think carefully about who these ads are reaching,” he said. “They’re widely visible to youth, and the recent increase in contacts from young men aligns with the demographic most heavily targeted by sports betting campaigns.”

The study also raised concerns about newer betting formats, such as micro-betting, which allows wagers on in-game events. Unlike a single bet placed on a game’s final outcome, micro-bets enable repeated wagering throughout an event, increasing the risk of “loss chasing” a pattern where individuals attempt to recover losses by continuing to gamble.

“That can accelerate people into gambling disorders very quickly,” Myran explained.

Researchers argue that the findings highlight the need to treat gambling-related harm as a public health issue. Gambling disorders are associated with serious consequences, including financial instability, strained relationships, mental health conditions and an elevated risk of self-harm and suicide.

“Gambling doesn’t just affect the individual,” Myran said. “It can ripple outward to families and communities. We need to ensure that treatment is accessible and that policy decisions consider broader health implications.”

As Ontario’s online gambling market continues to grow, the study’s authors say policymakers must weigh economic benefits against the potential social and health costs particularly for younger populations who appear to be disproportionately impacted.