Emergency department visits for gambling disorders nearly doubled after Ontario expanded its online gambling market
Emergency department (ED) visits for gambling disorders doubled following the legalization of single-event sports betting and expansion of Ontario's online gambling market, according to a new study from ICES. The increase was observed predominantly among young men.
A new study from ICES has found that emergency department (ED) visits for gambling disorders nearly doubled in Ontario after the province expanded its online gambling market. The increase was predominantly observed among young men, with a 154% rise in visits among males aged 10 to 29 and a 116% rise among males aged 30 to 44. The study, published in The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, analyzed ED visits for gambling disorders among Ontarians aged 10 to 105 before and after the legalization of single-event sports betting and the rapid expansion of online gambling.
The findings highlight the concerning consequences of rising gambling, particularly among younger males, and underscore the need for further research and support services to address the associated harms.
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