Canada has always been a country passionate about its sports. The recent Olympic Games in Paris was a good indication of how rounded Canada is when it comes to producing sporting talent. In an overall haul of 21 medals which included 8 bronzes, 7 silver, and 6 gold, medals were won in swimming, rugby 7’s, diving, judo, gymnastics, fencing, and beach volley, just to name a few. Closer to home, Canadians revel in sporting events all year round with American football, soccer, tennis and Formula One featuring heavily. While participating in, watching, and following sports is enough for some people, there are many Canadians getting involved in a game-changing movement, sports betting.

Legalization of online gambling changing perception of sport

For citizens of the province, Ontario, they witnessed a game-changing moment in the history of gambling on 4th April 2022, when lawmakers legalized online gambling. This has since led to a huge wave of online gambling providers acquiring licenses to offer online casino games and online sports betting to interested parties, of which there are now many.

For sports fans, the change in legislation opened a whole new realm of sports interaction. Suddenly, it was possible to win money from following sport. Secure, fully licensed online sportsbooks would offer odds on a full range of sports, from the more mainstream sports to others like Futsal, lacrosse, MMA, and darts, where wagers could be placed at the click of a few buttons.

This new dimension of sports interaction, practicality, and convenience continues to appeal to Ontarians to the present day with more users creating accounts and placing wagers to complement any live sports action. The ability to back your favorite team or player financially on platforms like TitanPlay sports betting has birthed a new approach to sports fandom, which is being embraced by many Ontarians. In Q3 of 2023, sports enthusiasts were wagering an average of $186 per month, which is also proving a game changer for the local Ontarian economy.

Popularity rising despite contention over gambling advertising

It is not only sports fans that have caught on to the online sports betting trend. Advertising companies are also using the popularity of online sports books for their gain. However, this remains a controversial topic, not just in Canada, but in many countries around the world. Critics argue that advertisements linked to gambling fuel gambling addiction and while Canada has taken measures to prevent celebrities appearing on advertisements, there is still a large amount of promotion on television.

It is hard to say whether public advertising of gambling companies has a direct effect on the increase in users of gambling operators. But with the legalization of gambling only celebrating its second anniversary in April this year, the activity remains a novelty to many Ontarians. As the gambling industry gains even more traction, it is inevitable that more users will follow, and with big upcoming events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup with matches hosted in Vancouver and Toronto, the 4th April 2022 could prove to be a game-changing moment for sports fans.