Thread

1. geooff_ · 1789582155 · focus · HN ↗

   > In 2024, Ontarians wagered $82.7 billion CAD on these sites through 2.6 million player accounts.

   Truly astounding numbers. Without a doubt, online gambling is the most preventable public health crisis of our generation. None of this had any business getting legalized.

   1. dpkirchner · 1789583477 · focus · HN ↗

      That figure seemed way off to me (gut response) so I did a tiny bit of digging: Ontario claims income (primary household income) for 2024 was $791B. ~10% isn't as shocking as I expected.

      1. 542458 · 1789584100 · focus · HN ↗

         Really? That's an incredible number to me. 10% of all household spending goes to gambling?! 31,000 dollars per player *per year*? The mind boggles.

         1. pennomi · 1789584327 · focus · HN ↗

            By transaction volume yes. Presumably it’s not all spending though, if you regularly win back some of that money. The same dollar is probably wagered multiple times before it is lost.

            1. 542458 · 1789584632 · focus · HN ↗

               Ontario lotteries pay out about 58 cents per dollar in, so that's still $13,000 annually out-of-pocket for a total spend of $31,000. That's crazy money.

               1. dmurray · 1789588215 · focus · HN ↗

                  Sportsbooks typically pay back more like 90%, brick and mortar casinos 90%-99% depending on the game. I don't know what Ontario mandates for regulated online casinos, but I'd guess they're at the high end of that and focus on volume, return custom and dark patterns rather than extreme house edge.

                  If it's 98%, the average household loses 0.2% of their income gambling.

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