A study by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences reveals that emergency room visits for gambling addictions in Ontario have nearly doubled following the 2022 opening of the online market to private firms. the data highlights a particularly sharp rise among young men, who are increasingly vulnerable to sports betting.
A 99 per cent surge in emergency room crises
Emergency department visits specifically for gambling disorders in Ontario are now approximately 99 per cent higher than they were before the province liberalized its online gambling market in 2022, according to a study published by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). The research , which tracked patients from age 10 to 105 between 2012 and June 2025, identified 952 emergency visits among 757 distinct patients who cited gambling as a primary or contributing factor for their crisis.
Dr. Daniel Myran,the study's senior author and Research Chair at North York General Hospital, noted that this increase was not an overnight spike but a steady climb. As reported by CTV News, Dr. Myran observed that visits increased by roughly seven per cent every three months, suggesting a compounding effect as online betting became more integrated into daily life.
Why males aged 10 to 29 saw a 154 per cent spike
The most alarming trend identified by the ICES researchers is the vulnerability of young men. For male patients between the ages of 10 and 29, emergency visits were 154 per cent higher than would have been expected had Ontario not opened its market to private operators. Men aged 30 to 44 also saw a significant 116 per cent jump, with males and boys overall accounting for 72 per cent of all recorded cases.
Dr. Daniel Myran attributes this demographic shift to the aggressive marketing of sports betting and the rapid technological evolution of play-by-play wagering. he specifically pointed to controversial advertising,such as a campaign for the U.S. sports-prediction market Novig featuring Sydney Sweeney, as the type of marketing that specifically targets and appeals to a male audience.
The 70 per cent overlap with substance abuse and mental health
The crisis extends beyond financial loss, often intersecting with severe psychiatric distress. The ICES study found that more than 70 per cent of emergency visits for gambling disorders involved a co-occurring mental health condition or heavy substance abuse. Furthermore, one third of these emergency visits resulted in hospital admission, highlighting the acute nature of these crises.
The human toll is exemplified by Teddy Wojtowicz, a former accountant who spiraled from a single $25 sports bet into a $14,000 loss. According to the report, Wojtowicz's experience led to a cycle of payday loans and suicidal ideation, eventually requiring admission to a hospital in Dauphin, Manitoba, in April 2023.
The $82.7 billion wagered across 83 betting sites
The scale of the Ontario market provides a stark backdrop to these health outcomes. In 2024, researchers identified 2.6 million player accounts across 83 different betting sites operating within the province, with a collective wagering total of $82.7 billion. This massive expansion of access has drawn criticism from political figures like former Ontario NDP MP Brian Masse, who described the current state of single-event sports betting as "deplorable."
This provincial trend mirrors a broader national conversation, as the federal House of Commons is currently reviewing a bill intended to establish national gambling rules.. Public health experts argue that the proliferation of sports-betting ads exposes youth during critical developmental stages, potentially baking in addictive behaviors before they reach adulthood.
The missing link between ConnexOntario and the ER
While gambling platforms often provide disclaimers directing users to the ConnexOntario helpline, the study notes a critical gap: there is no mention of seeking immediate help at an emergency room. This is particularly concerning given that ConnexOntario saw a 95.5 per cent rise in gambling-related calls from men and boys between the 2015 launch of PlayOLG and September 2025.
One remaining uncertainty is the true scale of the problem. ryan Forrest, a University of Toronto doctoral student who led the study, cautioned that the data only captures the "acute end of the spectrum"—those who reach a total breaking point. It remains unknown how many thousands of Ontarians are suffering from moderate to severe gambling harms that do not result in an emergency room visit but still devastate family stability.
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