Ontario Protects Students: Harm Prevention Program Expanded to 40 Campuses

In Ontario, the fight against gambling harm among young adults is being significantly ramped up. The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) and iGaming Ontario (iGO) announced a major expansion of their existing education campaign on Wednesday, September 23. Previously limited to 20 locations, the program's reach is now doubling to a total of 40 publicly funded college and university campuses. The initiative specifically targets young adults aged 18 to 24, who are statistically among the most vulnerable groups for gambling-related issues.

This expansion comes at a critical time as online betting and sports wagering become increasingly woven into the media landscape and sports culture of young adults. Through trained peer-aged ambassadors, the program aims to lower barriers to entry for conversation and enable an open dialogue about the risks of gambling. The campaign is funded by Ontario's Ministry of Health, with iGaming Ontario's support enabling a significant increase in the program's footprint.

Numbers and facts

The ambitious goal of the organizers is to generate over 10,000 in-person student interactions during the current tour. At the heart of the program is the interactive module The Random Tower, a life-sized Jenga-style activity. Through this exercise, participants learn that game outcomes are often determined by factors beyond their control, such as randomness in software or last-minute sports events. Additionally, 10,000 Student Education Kits are being distributed, containing QR codes that lead directly to support services and exclusion tools.

A key focus is the BetGuard system. This is a centralized self-exclusion tool that allows registered users to opt out of all regulated gambling platforms in the province of Ontario with a single action. This is a vital step, as according to the RGC, approximately 70 percent of the 18-24 demographic in Ontario attend post-secondary institutions, making the campus the most effective place for direct intervention.

Background

Sarah McCarthy, CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council, emphasizes the need to meet students where they live and learn. The ubiquity of betting advertisements on social media and during sports broadcasts has changed the perception of gambling among youth.

"Young adults are growing up in a world where betting is woven into how they watch and talk about sports. Meeting students on campus, in the moments that matter, is how we help them understand the risks and know their options. With iGaming Ontario’s support, we can now do that on almost all publicly funded campuses in the province." - Sarah McCarthy, CEO of the Responsible Gambling Council

Parallel to the educational effort, iGaming Ontario has issued a warning regarding a new scam. Unlicensed, illegal websites are misappropriating the BetGuard brand to gain player trust and lure them to unregulated platforms. This highlights the importance of playing exclusively with licensed operators who are subject to strict oversight.

Why it matters for German players

The situation in Ontario reflects several aspects of the German regulation under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). In Germany, there is also a massive focus on youth protection and prevention for young adults. The Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) maintains a whitelist of all legal providers. Similar to Ontario's BetGuard system, Germany utilizes the cross-provider self-exclusion system OASIS to protect players from addiction.

German players are also subject to strict deposit limits of a maximum of 1,000 euros per month across all providers, monitored by the central LUGAS system. Furthermore, stakes on online slots are capped at 1 euro per spin. Programs like the one in Ontario could serve as a model for intensifying education at German universities, where the affinity for sports betting among young men is also steadily rising.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German casinos with a GGL license are already required to provide extensive measures for the early detection of problematic gambling behavior. The move in Ontario shows that the industry worldwide is under pressure to actively bring player protection into public spaces rather than just hiding it on help menus. Licensed operators in Germany should proactively seek partnerships with prevention agencies to clearly distinguish themselves from the unregulated black market, which offers no such safeguards.

"We are excited to partner with the Responsible Gambling Council to bring meaningful gambling education to 40 of Ontario’s publicly funded post-secondary campuses." - Joseph Hillier, President and CEO of iGaming Ontario