To the editor,
For some time now, some pals have noticed the proliferation of ads for betting sites. I was curious, so I corresponded with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission (OLG) inquiring about the proceeds.
In an email dated Sept. 22, the Ministry of Finance said:
Dear C. Brodie Hart:
Thank you for your email about the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) fiscal activity in 2020-21 and 2021-22. We appreciate you taking the time to write.
In the fiscal year 2020–21, OLG’s Lottery, Land-based Gaming, Digital Gaming and Charitable Gaming lines of business collectively generated $4.8 billion in total proceeds.
OLG ended the fiscal year with $359 million in Net Profit to the Province (NPP). In the fiscal year 2021–22, OLG’s Lottery generated $7.1 billion in total proceeds and ended the fiscal year with $1.6 billion in NPP.
Further information about OLG’s financials can be found in the OLG’s Annual Report published on the OLG’s website at about.olg.ca/reports-and-disclosures/annual-reports.
Thank you again for writing.
Ministry of Finance Correspondence Team
Shock is a mild reaction to these stats. Several things come to mind:
– That any government would benefit to this extent from the potentially addictive activity is troubling. And no doubt the NPP will only grow.
– There is likely a correlation between the age groups seeking mortgage renewals and participation from the addictive promotions. One cannot watch a sports broadcast without being bombarded with ads; same with sports networks reporting upcoming games that now include odds/spreads et al. This too is troubling.
– The ads for this addiction now reach into the regular TV programming, also troubling.
– The ads also show prompting on cell phones, seemingly no escape.
Probably unlikely that much will immediately change and I know this might seem prudish, but like most addictions, only the dealer wins.
C. Brodie Hart
Walkerton
