Key Takeaways
- Ontario survey data shows teen online gambling rose from 8% to 12% in two years.
- Several parents admitted to creating gambling accounts for their underage children.
- A regulated operator was fined $120,000 after minors successfully created and funded accounts.
New evidence from Canada’s regulated online gambling market shows a growing problem. More teenagers are accessing regulated sports betting and casino apps, sometimes with help from their parents.
Recent survey data shows a sharp increase in teen online gambling in Ontario. The trend could also provide a warning for US states that have quickly expanded regulated sports betting.
Parents Are Opening the Door
Several Toronto-area parents told the National Post that they created regulated gambling accounts for their teenage children. The practice is illegal under Ontario law.
One mother, identified as Kath, said her 16-year-old son used her ID to register for a government-licensed gambling app after repeatedly asking for permission.
Another parent, David, opened accounts for his sons before eventually closing them because of concerning behavior. A third parent, Robin, said her son’s private school brought in a gambling counselor because student betting had become so common.
Students were reportedly gambling on their phones during the counselor’s presentation.
These cases show a major weakness in age verification. Even strong ID requirements may not work when parents willingly help their children get around them.
The Data Behind the Trend, Verification Systems Have Real Gaps
Ontario’s latest Student Drug Use and Health Survey found that online gambling among high school students had “increased significantly.”
About 12% of students surveyed said they gambled on regulated sites, compared with 8% in 2023. Gambling rates were also higher among boys.
The numbers could concern US regulators, especially in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, where online sports betting has become a major industry.
Ontario gambling sites require customers to provide government-issued identification and photographs. However, teenagers have found ways around these rules.
Harley Redlick, a gambling law instructor and executive director of the Canadian Addiction Recovery Association, said some teenagers secretly borrow their parents’ IDs. Some even take photographs of their parents to complete verification requirements.
The problem has already resulted in regulatory action. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario fined Betty Gaming Ltd. $120,000 after at least nine minors created accounts, deposited money, and placed bets. Another 14 minors created accounts, but did not make deposits.
Marketing Amplifies the Problem
Redlick also believes gambling advertising is making the issue worse. Ontario has banned sports celebrities from directly promoting betting. However, athletes can still appear in responsible gambling advertisements.
Critics argue that the difference may not mean much to young viewers who still see famous athletes connected to gambling brands. Redlick pointed to a BetWay commercial featuring Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as one example.
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