Ontario Study Links Online Sports Betting Legalization to Doubling of Gambling Disorder ER Visits
A University of Toronto study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that emergency room visits for gambling disorders in Ontario doubled after the province legalized single-event sports betting in 2022. The surge was concentrated among males aged 10 to 44, with many patients presenting with depression or suicidal thoughts. While the study highlights a specific demographic impact, US data shows rising problem gambling rates among young adults, though experts note that ER visits likely represent only a fraction of total harm.