Responsible Gambling Council highlights problem gambling ahead of Super Bowl
Nearly half of Ontarians expected to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday plan to lay down a bet, according to a study by the Toronto-based Responsible Gambling Council.
The survey showed that most Ontarians plan to watch Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles (63%), and 48% will place a wager on the game.
The objective of the study was to shine a spotlight on the number of people at risk of losing control when it comes to gambling, while offering tips to put a plan together for safer sports betting.
“Gambling is random but your plan shouldn’t be,” said Sarah McCarthy, the new Chief Executive Officer of the Responsible Gambling Council, in a written statement.
“Perceived knowledge of the game, persuasive advertising, and substance use can all influence how we gamble. A smart plan includes being mindful of the illusion of control and remembering that even with sports expertise, understanding the game, players or stats won’t boost your chances of predicting a random outcome.”
Gambling advertising has an impact – over a third of Ontario adults (35%) have placed a bet after seeing an ad on TV, according to the study. That number goes up when surveying populations considered more at-risk for problem gambling, the Responsible Gambling Council said in a statement, including those under age 44 (42%) as well as black, indigenous and people of color individuals (44%).
Nearly two-thirds think their knowledge of sports and the time they spend studying outcomes gives them an edge (67%). That’s especially true among men aged 18-44 (70%).
“While knowledge and skill does inform a bet, it doesn’t guarantee a win. The misconception that one can accurately predict an outcome can lead to over confidence that their knowledge will give them an advantage and ultimately, a win. This is known as the illusion of control,” the statement added.
Therein lies the risk according to the Responsible Gambling Council – persuasive advertising combined with false belief equals individuals betting more than they can afford to lose. More than a third surveyed (36%) reported doing that in the past 12 months.
The survey found 55% of respondents will bet CAD$100 or less, 19% will bet between CAD$101 and CAD$500, while 8% plan to bet more than CAD$500.
Safer gambling tips from the Responsible Gambling Council include being mindful that sports expertise doesn’t boost your chances of predicting a random outcome, pre-setting betting limits before you play, only gambling with money you can afford to lose, limiting alcohol and cannabis intake while gambling, not betting if you are stressed, and never viewing sports betting as a way to make money.
Licensed operators all have responsible gambling tools on their platforms. The survey revealed that 25% of those who plan to use online sportsbooks read online information about the odds of winning, 23% use spend limit tools, and 20% use personalized spending reports or take a cooling off period. One third (33%) said they don’t plan on using any features to help them manage their betting.
Other highlights:
- 48% said the main reason they bet on the Super Bowl is to win money
- 47% said the main reason they bet on the game is that it adds excitement to the game
- 22% said they bet because they are knowledgeable about the team and players
- 20% because they feel confident about their chances of winning
- 18% because their favorite team or player is playing
- 10% bets in an attempt to make up for last year’s losses
The online survey of 1,147 Ontarians over the age of 18 was conducted between November 22 and December 6, 2024, using market research firm Leger’s online panel.
Mark Keast is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and covers the Canadian digital gaming industry for COMPLETE iGAMING. Mark is a long-time sportswriter and editor, most notably with the Toronto Sun and Toronto Star.
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