It was a long shot, but when the soccer ball landed in the dog kennel it was time to pay up.
A family friend was over picking up his boy and the jesting started about who could kick the farthest and most accurately. There was “no way” a dad in work boots could hit such a bullseye. But he did and a safe bet turned bad.
For someone as frugal as he is, handing over money for such a poor choice was a pretty significant learning moment. A few minutes later, once the emotions calmed down, the money was handed back with a proviso that he remembers what it felt like to lose.
News this week that Ontario itself has become addicted to online gambling revenue is no surprise. Games of chance, lotteries, sports betting – all of these chances to win big are drawing in incredible dollars.
After lobbyists convinced the province to loosen rules on internet gambling, some 46 different operators offer over 70 different sites that brought in $82.7 billion.
That money comes from somewhere and all those gamblers aren’t James Bond actors. They are people with responsibilities.
Of that $82.7 billion, the province reaps a prize of $253 million. Those funds are repurposed and, in an ironic twist, help pay for addiction services and other social ills that result from bad bets and sadness.
The sports channels too are full of gambling opportunities. It is staggering to see the constant onslaught of advertising that prompts viewers to have some fun and bet. One study suggests 21 per cent of broadcast time for National Hockey League and National Basketball Association games features betting company logos and sponsored segments.
The target is clear – nearly 24% of the market is young adults between 18 and 29 years old. For those caught up in this pastime to a harmful degree, great anxiety centres around losing savings, increased credit card debt and grave misgivings about poor choices.
Reading up on this subject we printed off an online column from a daily newspaper decrying this situation and the government’s complicity with the issue.
Any bets on what advertiser graced that printout? It was an Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation ad for the current Lotto Max jackpot.
The current situation is due for a course correction. As the old gambling slogan goes, “know your limit, play within it.” Limit your play and avoid the sadness.
