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News
When Ontario opened its online gambling market to private companies in 2022, emergency department visits for gambling disorders nearly doubled by mid-2025, a new study finds. The spike was sharpest among young men, with rates rising over 150% for males aged 10–29. Researchers say the findings signal a serious and growing public health concern.
After Ontario became the first Canadian province to legalize privately operated online gambling in April 2022, emergency department (ED) visits for gambling disorders surged — nearly doubling by the second quarter of 2025, according to a large observational study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers analyzed 14 years of data from 17.3 million people and found 952 ED visits from 757 unique individuals, with rates climbing 99% above what would have been expected without the policy change.
The effect was overwhelmingly concentrated in men. Rates held steady or declined among women, while male patients saw dramatic increases — particularly younger men. Clinicians are being urged to screen for gambling disorder using non-stigmatizing language, such as asking about "sports betting online" rather than framing it as a disorder.
Why it matters: Most people with gambling problems never seek care, so the ED spike likely represents only the tip of a much larger iceberg of gambling-related harm. As more provinces expand online gambling access, clinicians and policymakers need to prepare for rising demand for addiction services.
