iGaming Ontario withheld problem gambling study, newspaper investigation finds
Internal documents show the provincial agency commissioned research but decided against releasing its findings on problem gambling rates.
TORONTO — The president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association says a newspaper investigation into iGaming Ontario's decision to withhold a study tracking problem gambling rates risks damaging the industry's reputation.
"I think better choices could have been made," said Paul Burns.
"It's unfortunate. The iGaming industry is built on trust and transparency. We support public, evidence-based research. We need trustworthy data."
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According to Toronto Star reporting, internal documents obtained through freedom of information requests show that iGaming Ontario commissioned research by the Responsible Gambling Council before the regulated market launched in April 2022.
The Star reported that iGO, which manages iGaming in the province, had previously committed to making the research public.
As work progressed on the 2021 study, iGO identified concerns with the study's methodology, determining that it did not meet the standard required to inform policy development.
"We have all worked to support building strong regulated markets with comprehensive protections for players," said Burns.
"We shouldn't be wanting to move to hide things. It doesn't do us any good. Without data and information, gaming policy and regulation get shaped by headlines and anecdotes, and that doesn't serve anybody."
The initial request from the Star identified more than 1,750 pages of potentially relevant records.
When finally released, the Star said they were heavily redacted, with the researchers' findings obscured and hundreds of pages withheld entirely.
According to the Star, iGaming Ontario said that releasing certain records could "harm the province's economic interests."
The controversy comes amid evidence of increasing gambling harms, the Star reported, citing rising gambling-related emergency room visits, bankruptcies, calls to problem gambling support services, and suicides in Ontario.
On Monday, the Star editorial board called for Premier Doug Ford to address the story.
"It is appalling that a report showing problem gambling in Ontario to be significantly higher than expected was shelved by a provincial agency and that 'gag orders' were considered to prevent leaks," the Star's editorial read.
In a statement, an iGaming Ontario spokesperson said Ontario's regulated online gaming market has some of the country's strictest standards.
"We continue to work with our partners to strengthen responsible gaming and protect players across the province," the spokesperson said.
"iGaming Ontario has implemented a variety of structural and programmatic improvements to better support responsible gaming."
The spokesperson said these include investing nearly $5 million over the last year in responsible gaming initiatives and player supports, including on-campus education and outreach programs as well as the launch of BetGuard, Ontario's new self-exclusion tool.
Burns added that one way to measure the efficacy of an iGaming regime and regulatory oversight is through independent research.
The newspaper's investigation is continuing.