Protecting Torontonians from Online Gambling Harm

Public health

Protecting Torontonians from Online Gambling Harm

Online gambling is being pushed aggressively at Torontonians, including young people and families already under financial stress. Addiction, debt, and predatory marketing do not stay online. They show up in homes, workplaces, and neighbourhoods across our city.

I will use every lawful municipal power available to protect Toronto residents, particularly children and vulnerable families, from the harms and aggressive promotion of online gambling, while pressing the Province for stronger regulation.

What the City can Deliver

Deliver: Use every lawful municipal tool to limit harmful advertising and promotion of online gambling where the City has authority, including city property, city digital channels, and city-controlled public spaces.

Deliver: Strengthen public-health and community partnerships so families, youth, and people in financial distress can find clear information and support related to gambling harm.

Deliver: Require honest disclosure and cautionary messaging wherever the City permits gambling-related promotion under its control.

Deliver: Direct city agencies and partners to treat gambling harm as a public-health and consumer-protection issue, not just a private problem.

What we will Advocate

Advocate: Press Queen’s Park for stronger regulation of online gambling operators: tighter advertising rules, better age and identity safeguards, and real accountability when companies target vulnerable people.

Advocate: Call for coordinated provincial-municipal action so Toronto is not left alone dealing with the human and social costs of aggressive online gambling promotion.

Advocate: Support evidence-based harm reduction and recovery supports, and reject approaches that normalize constant gambling advertising as ordinary city life.

Toronto should not be a marketing playground for industries that profit from addiction. Residents, especially children and vulnerable families, deserve a City that uses its power to protect them.