Three years ago, Ontario became the first province in Canada to regulate online gambling and single-sport betting, leading to what is now a multi-billion-dollar industry.
This month, another gambling milestone: OLG became the first Canadian provincial lottery and gaming agency to enable betting on horse racing through its website and app.
The news is yet another reminder of the boom in online gambling across Ontario, which now boasts nearly 100 regulated gaming sites accessible to the public 24/7.
“There has been a huge increase," says Melissa Toney-Williams, the associate director of prevention programs at the Responsible Gambling Council. "You're seeing advertisements for it everywhere. I think we’re inundated with it."
VIDEO: For online gamblers, Ontario is the new Vegas
A recent guest on Village Media's podcast, Toney-Williams says even though online gambling has become more normalized in recent years, it's important to remember the inherent risks.
“We just want people to be mindful of what it actually means," she said on the podcast. "Gambling is intended to be entertainment, and we want people to look at it that way and have a plan around it.”
You can watch the full interview HERE.
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