Ontario Moves to Ban Gambling Ads on TV and Social Media

Ontario Liberal MPP Lee Fairclough introduced Bill 107, the Stop Harmful Gambling Advertising Act, at Queen's Park on Monday. The bill seeks to ban most online gambling advertising across the province by amending the Gaming Control Act of 1992. The bill targets roughly 50 licensed online sportsbooks and casinos currently operating in Ontario. Co-sponsors include interim Liberal leader John Fraser, Orléans MPP Stephen Blais, and Kingston MPP Ted Hsu.

Bill 107: Ad Ban, $1M Fines, and License Revocation

Bill 107 would prohibit licensed iGaming operators from advertising or promoting their platforms on television, social media, or through paid sponsorships. Limited exceptions apply, including for certain ads originating outside Ontario. Companies found in violation could face fines of up to $1 million for a first offence, while a second or subsequent conviction could result in the revocation of their provincial operating license. This is not the Liberals' first push against iGaming marketing. Interim leader John Fraser tabled a similar motion in 2023, though it did not advance.

Online Gambling Harm Is Rising and Ontario Wants Ads Gone

Fairclough, the Liberal critic for mental health, addiction, and homelessness, framed the bill as a response to rising harm. "Online gambling is becoming a public health crisis," she said. Since the Ford government opened the regulated iGaming market in April 2022, calls to ConnexOntario have risen 144%, with most contacts linked to online platforms.

Young people, particularly adolescent boys and young men, are among those most affected. "As a mother of teenage boys, I see how young people are being targeted," Fairclough said. Research from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction has found that heavier advertising normalizes gambling, particularly among youth.

Ontario is one of the only places in the world where private iGaming companies compete openly. With Bill 107, it may become one of the first jurisdictions to ban iGaming ads entirely.

Federal Bill S-211 and a Tough Road for Bill 107 in Ontario

Bill 107 arrives as pressure on gambling advertising builds across Canada. Federal Bill S-211, sponsored by Sen. Marty Deacon, passed the Senate and is scheduled for a second reading vote in the House of Commons this week. That bill, sponsored by Sen. Marty Deacon, proposes a national framework for regulating sports betting ads. More than 40 senators have also written to Prime Minister Mark Carney, urging a nationwide ban on sports betting advertising.

Despite the legislative momentum, Fairclough's bill faces a steep climb. The governing Progressive Conservatives hold 80 seats in the Ontario legislature, while the Liberals hold just 14. Bill 107 passed its first reading on Monday and has been ordered to second reading.