Bruce Kidd is a professor emeritus of sports policy at the University of Toronto, and a former Canadian Olympian.
Ever since the federal government
officially lifted its ban on single-game sports betting in 2021, enabling provinces to legalize it in their own jurisdictions, watching sports on TV has felt like being in a casino. It’s not just the
wall-to-wall ads; it’s also the sense that the entire sports media complex has become an enabler.
Professional leagues, such as the NBA and the NHL, now support betting, even making formal agreements with “official sports betting partners.” Team ownership groups such as Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and media outlets such as The Sports Network (TSN) have also partnered with sportsbooks. Current stars such as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews and iconic legends like Wayne Gretzky have been paid to advertise with betting companies, and on-air broadcasters discuss their selections and share other gambling information. Even the small-print reminders to bet “responsibly” reinforce the message that sports have primarily become a vehicle for gambling.
It’s as if athletes and coaches are now training, strategizing and competing for the sole purpose of providing options for the global gambling industry – with corporate profit trumping people’s mental health. It’s horribly wrong.
It’s too early to have hard data on the number of Canadians who have developed addiction disorders from betting on sports since its legalization and the advent of advertising in the industry. But we do know that gambling more broadly can be harmful. Last year, Statistics Canada
reported that 1.6 per cent of Canadians 15 and older who had gambled in 2017 – that is, about 304,400 Canadians – were at moderate to high risk of gambling disorders, including mental health issues, losing money to the point of falling into debt and jeopardizing close relationships.
