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. fn-mote · 1789584115 · focus · HN ↗

         Wagering 10% of your household income is not shocking?? What would it take to shock you? That is an astounding amount.

         Most people are living paycheck to paycheck. I've watched gambling destroy more than one family member's lives.

         To put this number in context: estimate 1/3 of income for rent, so this is 1/3 of their rent?! Translating that to my own rent is an amount that would immediately lead me to quit forever.

         1. AlexandrB · 1789585276 · focus · HN ↗

            It's both better and worse than it seems. I'm guessing something like 50% of folks gamble $0. Then another 45% gamble some amount of their income, averaging 10%. Finally 5% will gamble everything they have and send their family careening into poverty.

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