Researchers in Ontario have discovered that calls from young males about gambling to the province's mental health helpline have increased by 317% in the last ten years, particularly since the province's igaming sector began to grow in April 2022.
ConnexOntario Information
The study, which advocated for more access to treatment for problem gambling, was published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
This involved examining calls made to ConnexOntario between January 2012 and September 2025 for gambling-related issues.
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, ConnexOntario is a non-profit organization that serves as a major resource for linking individuals with mental health, drug and alcohol addiction, and problem gambling difficulties to support services around the province. People can communicate by text, live web chat, or toll-free phone.Market Revenue of $4 billion
When a new regulated market opened in April 2022, the province increased the amount of online gambling available. In order to compete with the Proline+ platform of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, major operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetRivers, and BetMGM were granted licenses.
According to iGaming Ontario, there are currently 48 licensed operators in Ontario and 82 live websites that provide poker, casino, and sports betting. Gross gaming income in Ontario reached $4 billion in 2025.
According to Canadian Press, ConnexOntario received 745,700 calls during the study period, 37,000 of which were related to gambling from young men between the ages of 15 and 24. This represents a 317% increase from the time the Ontario government introduced the PlayOLG gambling platform in January 2015 to the period following the private market's launch in 2022.
As stated in the Journal:
Significant increases in gambling-related hotline contacts were linked to the introduction of online gambling and its subsequent privatization with single-event sports betting, particularly among teenage boys and young men. These findings may indicate a rise in gambling issues, care-seeking, or both. This emphasizes the necessity of improving treatment access and preventive actions.