A Member of Parliament has praised Ontario's NDP caucus for its role in getting internet gaming rules adjusted.
Windsor West MP Brian Masse congratulated his provincial counterpart, Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky, for co-sponsoring Bill 126, which would ban online advertising of gaming sites. The bill passed first reading at Queens Park in June.
On Tuesday, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced that by February 28, 2024, online gaming advertising involving celebrities and professional athletes will be barred in the province.
Masse, who helped get single-event sports gambling legalized across Canada, said provincial authorities need to step up enforcement, and the AGCO announcement was a big first step.
"This issue has been from the very start of legalized single-event sports gambling," said Masse in a media release. "Other countries have banned online advertising of sports gambling. The regulatory oversight and control in Canada is at the provincial level. While I’ve advocated for this to be banned, I congratulate MPP Lisa Gretzky and her fellow co-sponsors on Bill 126 to ban it in Ontario."
Online gaming ads have featured Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews, and others.
Masse said the Ontario government was given ample opportunity to put safeguards in place.
"When single-event sports gambling was legalized at the federal level to remove organized crime from this activity, provinces and territories were given time to introduce robust regulatory regimes to protect consumers and implement significant provisions to prevent and reduce gambling addiction," said Masse. "Unfortunately, instead of following the lead of other countries, the Ford Conservatives let the market become a free-for-all."
If passed, Bill 126, also known as the Ban iGaming Advertising Act of 2023, would result in fines starting at $25,000, and going to as much as $1-million.