Ontario Bill 107 Takes Aim at Sports Betting Advertisements on TV and Social Media

(AsiaGameHub) –   Political efforts to restrict gambling advertisements have resurfaced in Ontario. A proposed bill from the Liberal party seeks to prohibit the majority of advertising by licensed online sportsbooks and iGaming providers, though its chances of becoming law remain slim.

Good to Know

• Introduced by Lee Fairclough, Bill 107 is co-sponsored by Stephen Blais, John Fraser, and Ted Hsu.
• The legislation aims to prohibit television commercials, social media marketing, and paid sponsorships from licensed gambling operators.
• Ontario has previously strengthened its rules on gambling ads, imposing restrictions on the use of athletes and celebrities.

Ontario Liberals Reintroduce Proposal to Ban Gambling Ads

Lee Fairclough introduced Bill 107 at Queen’s Park on Monday. Dubbed the Stop Harmful Gambling Advertising Act, 2026, it would modify the Gaming Control Act to outlaw the advertising and promotion of gambling sites by licensed Ontario operators on television, social media, and through paid sponsorships. Companies that violate the rules could be fined up to $1 million for an initial offence, with subsequent infractions risking the loss of their operating licence.

Fairclough linked the bill to worries about addiction following Ontario’s 2022 launch of a privatized online gambling market. She noted that approximately 50 private gambling firms are now marketing their services widely, coinciding with an increase in individuals seeking gambling support from ConnexOntario.

The bill’s political prospects are challenging. The Ontario Liberals remain the legislature’s third party, a position they held when John Fraser advocated for stricter marketing regulations in 2023. Therefore, despite renewed focus on sports betting commercials, iCasino promotions, and gambling sponsorships, passing the legislation appears to be an uphill battle.

Nevertheless, the bill’s introduction is significant. It demonstrates that public frustration with gambling advertisements during sports broadcasts persists, and it comes as the federal government in Ottawa also considers broader restrictions. Provincial regulators have already addressed some concerns by banning athlete endorsements, limiting celebrity involvement, and prohibiting bonus-bet ads on most public channels. Bill 107 seeks to extend these efforts significantly by aiming to eliminate wide-ranging promotional activities by operators at the provincial level.