GoKawiilOntario ER visits for gambling disorders double after online betting expansion, U of T study finds
A University of Toronto study found emergency department visits for gambling disorders doubled after Canada legalized single-event sports betting in 2021 and Ontario opened its online gambling market to private operators in 2022. Researchers examined 952 ER visits over 14 years and found the increase was concentrated among young men, with visits among males aged 10-29 up 154 per cent and those aged 30-44 up 116 per cent above expected levels, while rates among females stayed flat.