Responsible gambling has been one of the main areas of focus for governments worldwide in regards to online gambling lately, and the Canadian province of Ontario is no different.
Having made online gambling regulated in April 2022, the province has seen a boom in legal gambling of all sorts, and all the concerns that come with it.
To tackle some of those concerns, the Ontario Government has now announced a $9 million investment into the Responsible Internet Gambling Fund.
This investment was made public during the Discovery Conference, organized by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), the province’s primary responsible gambling advocate.
The $9 million will be used to fund a number of RGC projects over a period of three years, the aim of which will be education, outreach, and other activities aimed at diminishing the effects of problem gambling.
The message of responsible gambling will be aimed at all verticals and will be delivered to Ontario online poker and casino players and sports bettors in alike.
Responsible Gambling Council Hails the Investment
The news of the $9 million investment by the Ontario Government was welcomed joyfully by the folks at RGC, who often find funding hard to come by, as problem gambling is not always regarded as primary issue by those who have the power to distribute such funds.
RGC CEO Shelley White said: “Ontario has long been a champion for responsible gambling and this investment into prevention education and programming and today’s announcement is a game-changer. This clearly demonstrates Ontario is the Canadian leader in promoting responsible play, minimizing harm and creating a strong, sustainable online gambling market.”
Indeed, the investment made by the Ontario Government has once again shown their desire to make online gambling safe for all Ontarians, while providing a fun activity for people to engage with and a source of tax revenue for the Province.
Unlike many other markets, where responsible gambling often falls under the radar, responsible gambling advocates in Ontario can gain access to proper funding needed for their projects.
White added: “We applaud and thank the Ontario Government for this welcome and historic investment into responsible play. We know online gambling comes with unique risks and this funding will have a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of so many Ontarians by providing them with the resources and programming to help keep them safe and build a culture of responsible play in this new environment.”
How Serious Is Problem Gambling?
If you were to ask 100 Ontarians if they have a gambling problem, most would likely say no. However, according to a survey published in 2018, 1.8% of adults in the province show signs of moderate-to-severe gambling addiction.
While the introduction of legal online gambling, including popular casino games and poker games, has brought a lot of entertainment options to Ontarians, it also comes with its risks.
Advocates like the RGC work with operators to promote responsible gambling and ensure all responsible gambling regulations are adhered by, but problem gambling still remains an issue.
Campaigns conducted by the likes of RGC aim to educate the public about their options and resources, point them in the right direction, and help those experiencing gambling problem seek appropriate help.
With the kind of funding that the Ontario Government has now provided RGC, there is plenty of reason to believe that such efforts will work and those affected by problem gambling will be helped in the best matter possible.
