Coalition Backs Bill S-211 to Advance a National Framework on Sports Betting Advertising

A joint submission from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) and Greo Evidence Insights was recently submitted to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in support of Bill S 211 the National Framework on Sports Betting Advertising Act.

The bill is a Canadian Senate public bill that seeks to advance a national framework to regulate sports betting advertising, aiming to reduce gambling related harms — especially for minors. 

As gambling advertising becomes an increasingly prominent part of the sports and media landscape, the submission highlights the need for a coordinated national approach. A framework could provide an opportunity to establish consistent standards and guide decisions about how sports betting is advertised, promoted and presented to people in Canada. 

“Bill S-211 is an opportunity to put public health at the centre of how Canada responds to gambling advertising. A coordinated national framework could strengthen protections for children and youth while helping governments respond to a gambling environment that increasingly crosses provincial and territorial boundaries.” Matthew M. Young, PhD, Chief Research Officer, Greo Evidence Insights & Senior Research Associate, CCSA.

The submission brings together perspectives from research, public health, gambling harms prevention and the non-profit sector. This collaboration underscores the importance of considering sports betting advertising not solely as a matter of commercial promotion, but also as an issue with implications for public health and social well-being. 

To date, the submission has been endorsed by over 15 organizations including the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Canadian Pediatric Society, the Canadian Public Health Association, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Centre for Gambling Research at UBC, the Canadian Society for Addiction Medicine and Mental Health Research Canada. 

The participating organizations are urging members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to support the bill and its objective of advancing a national framework on sports betting advertising.