A study finds gambling-related emergency department (ER) visits in Ontario increase after the expansion of online betting and single-event sports wagering. The report says visits related to gambling disorders rise over time, including a sharp increase reported in the years following the introduction and growth of online gambling options.
The analysis is based on health-care data reviewed by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. One outlet reports that visits for gambling disorders have doubled in Ontario since the expansion. Another notes the study tracks trends from January 2012 to September 2025 and highlights that the increase is observed among boys and men.
While both sources describe a consistent pattern of rising ER use tied to gambling-related conditions, they differ in emphasis: one focuses on the magnitude of the increase (doubling of disorder-related visits), and the other highlights the timeframe and specific demographics reported in the study. Both present the findings as observational associations rather than direct proof of individual causation.
