Responsible Sports Betting in Canada: Applied Evidence for Positive Play and Harm Prevention
Session Title
Poster session
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Start Date
27-5-2026 12:00 AM
Abstract
The 2021 legalization of single‑event wagering and the introduction of regulated iGaming have reshaped gambling in Canada, with mobile access, in‑play betting, and microbetting increasing engagement while introducing new risks. To examine these changes, a national online survey of ~5,000 Canadian adults who gambled in the past year was conducted as part of a five‑year longitudinal study; this presentation reports first‑year results. Sports bettors were compared with other online gamblers, with sub‑analyses by betting format. Measures included gambling harm (PGSI), anxiety (GAD‑7), cognitive distortions (GABS‑15), motives (GMQ‑SF), and protective behaviors (Positive Play Scale [PPS]). Sports bettors showed significantly higher harm, anxiety, and cognitive distortions, and lower PPS scores, than non‑sports gamblers. Risk increased with wager speed: exclusive in‑play bettors and frequent microbettors showed the highest harm profiles. Young adult males (19–29) were particularly vulnerable. In contrast, high PPS scores were associated with markedly lower harm and coping‑motivated gambling, highlighting positive play as a key protective factor.
Responsible Sports Betting in Canada: Applied Evidence for Positive Play and Harm Prevention
The 2021 legalization of single‑event wagering and the introduction of regulated iGaming have reshaped gambling in Canada, with mobile access, in‑play betting, and microbetting increasing engagement while introducing new risks. To examine these changes, a national online survey of ~5,000 Canadian adults who gambled in the past year was conducted as part of a five‑year longitudinal study; this presentation reports first‑year results. Sports bettors were compared with other online gamblers, with sub‑analyses by betting format. Measures included gambling harm (PGSI), anxiety (GAD‑7), cognitive distortions (GABS‑15), motives (GMQ‑SF), and protective behaviors (Positive Play Scale [PPS]). Sports bettors showed significantly higher harm, anxiety, and cognitive distortions, and lower PPS scores, than non‑sports gamblers. Risk increased with wager speed: exclusive in‑play bettors and frequent microbettors showed the highest harm profiles. Young adult males (19–29) were particularly vulnerable. In contrast, high PPS scores were associated with markedly lower harm and coping‑motivated gambling, highlighting positive play as a key protective factor.