Academic Journal
Public health implications of the deregulation and privatization of online and sports gambling in Canada.
| Τίτλος: | Public health implications of the deregulation and privatization of online and sports gambling in Canada. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Forrest R; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. r.forrest@mail.utoronto.ca. |
| Πηγή: | Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique [Can J Public Health] 2026 Jun; Vol. 117 (3), pp. 471-475. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Sep 15. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Springer Nature Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 0372714 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1920-7476 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00084263 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Can J Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Switzerland : Springer Nature Original Publication: Ottawa : Canadian Public Health Association |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Gambling*/prevention & control , Privatization*/legislation & jurisprudence , Public Health* , Internet* , Sports* , Government Regulation*, Humans ; Ontario ; Canada ; Public Policy |
| Περίληψη: | Recent legislative changes have allowed the rapid expansion of online and sports gambling in Ontario. These changes include the privatization of the online and sports gambling market and the legalization of marketing practices for private operators, leading to an unprecedented growth in opportunities and inducements to gamble. While the stated objectives of these reforms centre on economic growth, consumer choice, and consumer protections, the potential public health implications of this policy shift demand urgent attention. This commentary argues for the necessity of applying a public health lens to understand the wide range of potential harms associated with Ontario's gambling policy changes, particularly as other jurisdictions in Canada and across the Americas consider adopting similar approaches. It advocates for targeted research that reframes policy debates around gambling, moving away from a narrow focus on individual responsibility and towards a broader understanding informed by environmental, social, and commercial determinants of health. The public health community must step up to provide the public and decision-makers with the evidence needed to mitigate harm, protect vulnerable populations, and advance equitable health outcomes. (© 2025. The Author(s) under exclusive license to The Canadian Public Health Association.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Ethics approval: N/a. Consent to participate: N/a. Consent for publication: N/a. Conflict of interest: The author declares no competing interests. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Addiction; Commercial determinants of health; Gambling; Gambling policy; Public health Local Abstract: [Publisher, French] RéSUMé: De récentes modifications législatives ont ouvert la voie à l’expansion rapide du jeu en ligne et des paris sportifs en Ontario. La privatisation du marché du jeu en ligne et des paris sportifs et la légalisation des pratiques de marketing pour les entreprises privées ont en effet mené à une croissance sans précédent des possibilités de jouer et des incitations au jeu. Les objectifs déclarés de ces réformes sont axés sur la croissance économique, mais le choix et la protection des consommateurs et les conséquences possibles pour la santé publique de ce changement d’orientation exigent une attention urgente. Nous faisons valoir la nécessité d’appliquer un prisme de santé publique pour comprendre le vaste éventail de méfaits possibles associés au changement de cap de l’Ontario en matière de jeu, surtout que d’autres sphères de compétence au Canada et sur le continent américain songent à adopter des approches semblables. Nous préconisons des études ciblées qui reformulent le débat sur le jeu et qui, au lieu de se focaliser étroitement sur la responsabilité individuelle, visent une compréhension plus large, éclairée par les déterminants environnementaux, sociaux et commerciaux de la santé. La communauté de la santé publique doit se mobiliser pour fournir au grand public et aux décideurs les données probantes nécessaires pour atténuer les méfaits du jeu, protéger les populations vulnérables et favoriser des résultats de santé équitables. |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250915 Date Completed: 20260706 Latest Revision: 20260726 |
| Update Code: | 20260726 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13345661 |
| DOI: | 10.17269/s41997-025-01108-3 |
| PMID: | 40954442 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1920-7476 |
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| DOI: | 10.17269/s41997-025-01108-3 |