Ontario Faces Scrutiny Over Withheld Problem Gambling Study
Canada.- 20 October 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com iGaming Ontario, the agency responsible for managing the Canadian province’s regulated online gambling market, is facing scrutiny after reportedly withholding research that identified higher-than-expected levels of problem gambling.
The controversy emerged following the disclosure of internal documents obtained through freedom-of-information requests, suggesting that agency officials discussed keeping the findings confidential.
The study was commissioned in 2022, ahead of the launch of Ontario’s regulated online gambling market.
Research Findings Remain Unpublished
The research was intended to establish baseline indicators of problem gambling prevalence and support the development of responsible gambling policies.
However, according to recently disclosed internal records, preliminary findings raised concerns among iGaming Ontario executives.
The documents reportedly indicate that:
- Problem gambling rates were considerably higher than anticipated.
- Officials questioned the reliability of the findings.
- Measures to prevent information from becoming public were discussed.
- Internal communications referred to a possible confidentiality restriction involving researchers.
The agency had originally intended to use the research to inform its player protection strategies.
However, the complete findings have not been made publicly available.
iGaming Ontario Questions Research Methodology
Responding to media enquiries, iGaming Ontario stated that the research methodology did not meet the standards required to support regulatory policy decisions.
According to the agency, the results differed significantly from those of other available studies.
Researchers had used an online survey panel to collect information about participants’ gambling behaviour.
The disclosed documents also suggest that potential harm to Ontario’s economic interests was cited among the reasons for restricting access to certain records.
Without the complete report, independent researchers cannot verify the findings or determine whether the reported prevalence rates were statistically reliable.
Ontario’s CAD 82.7 Billion Gambling Market
The controversy comes amid the expansion of Ontario’s regulated gambling industry, which officially launched in April 2022.
During the 2024–2025 financial year, players placed approximately CAD 82.7 billion in wagers, according to official industry figures.
The growth of online gambling has also brought greater attention to its potential social consequences, particularly among younger consumers.
In April 2026, the provincial government announced a partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council to launch an awareness campaign addressing the heightened risks of problem gambling among young men.
Next Steps and Impact
The investigation that brought the controversy to public attention is seeking access to the complete report through an appeal to Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner.
The process could determine whether additional research findings and related documents must be disclosed.
At present, the exact problem gambling prevalence rates identified by the study remain unknown.
The case has renewed discussions about regulatory transparency and the importance of independent evidence when designing consumer protection policies.
For the iGaming industry, the controversy highlights the relationship between market growth, regulatory oversight and responsible gambling.
Editó: @fonta
