Ontario residents are being urged to exercise caution as fraudulent online casino schemes continue to proliferate. Recent reports have surfaced regarding deceptive advertisements on social media platforms, falsely linking reputable establishments like Casino Rama to unregistered online casinos.

Vigilance Urged as Ontario Cracks Down on Online Casino Scams

Ontario’s law enforcement agencies, including the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), have sounded the alarm after uncovering a series of scams targeting unsuspecting gamblers, reported local media CTV News Barrie. The fraudulent ads, which tout enticing gaming opportunities purportedly associated with Casino Rama, lead users to unregistered platforms such as WinSpirit Casino.

A spokesperson from the OPP cautioned that while the allure of online gaming may be tempting, it was imperative for individuals to remain vigilant. They emphasized that those fraudulent advertisements posed a significant risk, potentially compromising users’ personal information and financial security.

Authorities emphasized the importance of using regulated gaming sites that adhere to stringent standards of game integrity, data security, and player protection measures. 

In Ontario, licensed gambling establishments are subject to rigorous oversight by the AGCO, ensuring a safe and fair gaming environment for all participants.

At the same time, AGCO and iGaming Ontario recently released an IPSOS study indicating that 86.4% of Ontarian players utilized regulated sites for online gaming in the past three months, showing an increase from the previous year. 

Despite this, over 13% of Ontarians still use unregulated sites, prompting concerns about the risks involved, as highlighted by AGCO’s CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr. 

AGCO Urges Caution in Online Gambling with Tips to Avoid Fraudulent Schemes

A representative from AGCO emphasized the significance of exercising due diligence when participating in online gambling activities. They highlighted the importance of verifying the registration status of gaming sites and using common sense when encountering online advertisements, suggesting that residents could reduce the risk of being ensnared by fraudulent schemes.

This cautionary advisory comes in the wake of similar warnings issued across Canada in response to a nationwide surge in online casino scams. In January, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) warned Manitobans about fraudulent social media posts promoting an online gaming app for Club Regent Casino, urging caution and reporting the ads to Meta. 

While PlayNow.com was highlighted as the province’s sole legal online gaming site, the MBLL emphasized that neither Club Regent Casino nor McPhillips Station Casino offer mobile apps or online gaming options, advising against engaging with fake ads to protect personal information. 

As the prevalence of online gaming continues to rise, authorities remain steadfast in their efforts to combat fraudulent activity and safeguard the interests of consumers. 

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Gambling addiction in the United States is getting more and more serious as calls to get the situation under control grow louder. The Guardian spoke with experts who highlighted America’s concerns about the young people exposed to harm.

Gambling organizations across the US have noticed a concerning number of teen and young adult patients seeking help.

New Jersey, which has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to gambling, is currently dealing with an influx of harmed young patients. According to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, the number of requests for support has more than doubled since 2018. This was also echoed by UCLA, which has been evaluating the trend.

Many believe that the convenience mobile gambling provides has made it very appealing to young people Brad Ruderman, of the Beit T’Shuvah treatment center in Los Angeles noted that this would be the first generation to grow with mobile gambling.

Keith Whyte, the National Council on Problem Gambling’s executive director, asked a room of 40 17-year-old boys in Virginia how many had sports betting apps on their phones. Thirty-six boys admitted to having one, further supporting T’Shuvah’s claim.

Experts believe that young people, whose brains are still developing, might be much more susceptible to gambling’s tricks of attracting customers.

Arnie Wexler, a counselor, fears that America might be “killing its youth.”

The Situation Is Bad But Not Hopeless

Rick Benson, the founder of the Algamus treatment facility in Goodyear, Arizona, believes that America might be headed into a “gambling addiction quagmire if not crisis.” He said that the nonstop betting opportunities provided by the local mobile operators are simply too convenient.

Another aspect is peer and commercial pressure, Shekhar Saxena, ex-director at the WHO, believes. He pointed out that younger people easily influence one another, exacerbating the problem.

For reference, in 2018 only 11.5% of the people who contacted New Jersey’s gambling support services admitted they were under 25. During the first 10 months of 2023, this number had increased to 19.6%.

Luckily, the younger generation is more likely to seek help, according to UCLA’s co-director of the gambling studies program, Timothy Fong. The stigma among them is not so serious suggesting that there might be hope for solving the issue.

The Guardian also spoke with Amanda Blackford, director of operations and problem gambling services at the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Commenting on the rising harm rates that followed the recent legalization of sports betting, Blackford said that problem gambling will always exist, so it is important to help as many people as possible.

Many Believe Tougher Regulations Are Needed

In the meantime, calls to better regulate the sports betting sector have increased. While many states now offer gambling, some believe that few of them are sufficiently engaged in the protection of customers.

Felicia Grondin, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling, is one of the many supporters of restrictions on gambling ads. Ads are already talked about a lot in other modern markets as many believe that exposure leads to more harm.

WHO’s Saxena, on the other hand, said that operators themselves should not exploit their consumers’ vulnerabilities. Saxena thinks that allowing the customers to choose how often and how much to wager is not enough.

The industry, however, argues that an overwhelming majority of consumers wager safely. According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), legal operators offer a number of important safeguards to keep players safe.

Overregulation, on the other hand, risks channeling people toward the black market, which offers few, if any, of these safety measures. The AGA urged for further research before proceeding with overregulation.

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South Korea is seeing a concerning rise in gambling among teenagers. While iGaming is strictly prohibited in the country, young players often find ways to circumvent the rules and restrictions.

Unfortunately, the rise of online gambling among younger players also means that addiction treatment institutions are struggling to provide services to all affected players. In fact, the National Center for Youth Internet Addiction Treatment is the only establishment that offers such programs.

The center is run by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and offers 12-day rehabilitation programs for people struggling with gambling addiction. To help patients cope with the absence of gambling and overcome their addiction, the program offers a variety of activities, including sports and playing music. However, the program fails to hold the attention of many younger participants.

Shim Yong-chool, the center’s director, told The Korea Herald that despite the short duration of the program, many teenagers fail to complete it and quit early. For example, he noted that only 12 of the 17 recently admitted teens managed to complete the entire program.

This shows that the center, which opened in 2015, is struggling to help the increasing number of problem players.

Young Players Are More Prone to Becoming Addicted

Shim noted that many young addicts fail to resist their urges. In addition, the proliferation of online gambling continues to highlight the need to reinforce South Korea’s capacity to deal with gambling harm.

Data shows that the number of teenagers being treated for gambling addiction has skyrocketed by 75% in just four years. In addition, the National Police Agency’s recent crackdown on online gambling saw 353 people arrested, 39 of whom were juveniles. Survey shows that some 28,838 are at risk of developing gambling problems.

According to Lee Hae-kook, a professor from the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, teenagers are a very vulnerable demographic because they are already immersed in the digital sector. Internet access from an early age increases their chance of coming across gambling content and starting to gamble themselves.

According to Lee Byung-chul, a professor from Hallym University College of Medicine’s Department of Neurology, gambling addiction, even if treated fairly quickly, can cause serious problems in young people’s neurological development. According to him, the state needs to fund systems that connect schools, mental health institutions and youth facilities.

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The opening of Bally’s casino in Chicago has brought excitement to the city, but this new high. History has shown that the expansion of gaming facilities in Illinois tends to correlate with a surge in individuals seeking treatment for gambling problems. While there hasn’t been an immediate influx of such cases since Bally’s opening, experts anticipate a steady rise in problem gambling cases.

More Bettors Mean Increased Exposure to Gambling Harm

The launch of Bally’s Chicago Casino has seen a strong start, attracting over 80,000 visitors in its first three weeks of operation. However, addiction treatment experts warn that the sudden influx of new gamblers could significantly impact local communities, pushing vulnerable individuals toward gambling harm. 

Anita Pindiur, executive director of Way Back Inn, a Maywood treatment center providing recovery programs for various addictions, explains that there is typically a time lag before an increase in clients seeking treatment becomes noticeable. For example, it took around six months for Way Back Inn to see a rise in clients following the opening of Rivers Casino in 2011.

The vast majority of people who go to the new casino will spend a little money… and then move on. But statistically, we know there are going to be some… who will need help.

Anita Pindiur, Way Back Inn executive director

Pindiur noted that more than a quarter of new clients seeking help at Way Back Inn had issues with sports betting, which was legalized under the same legislation that authorized the Chicago casino. As Bally’s Chicago ramps up operations, it is still uncertain how many individuals will require gambling addiction counseling.

Improved Accessibility Can Facilitate Addiction

Jeremy Klemanski, president of the nonprofit Gateway Foundation, also warned of the magnitude of the problem, stating that the rising number of gamblers set the foundation for a noticeable increase in individuals seeking help within a year. He added that the increased accessibility of gambling facilities made it harder for those with gambling issues to avoid triggers.

A 2021 state-commissioned study discovered that 3.8% of adults in Illinois, approximately 383,000 individuals, had a gambling problem. An additional 7.7%, roughly 761,000 people, were identified as being at risk of developing a gambling issue. These statistics suggest that there could be over 80,000 Chicagoans currently addicted to gambling, with even more at risk.

As Chicago’s new casino ushers in an era of increased gambling accessibility, the need for public awareness and robust support systems becomes more critical than ever. Treatment facilities and gambling harm prevention charities remain instrumental in mitigating the industry’s negative societal impact. These organizations cooperate with the State Department of Human Services to raise public awareness about gambling disorders and help vulnerable individuals.

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