As the gambling industry continues to grow globally with the rise of online gambling, a recent report from the medical journal The Lancet’s commission on gambling calls is calling on governments to approach gambling as a public health issue.

Malcolm Sparrow, one of the authors of the report, says this will put gambling in the same category as alcohol and tobacco, which are identified by the World Health Organization as issues of the public interest.

Statistics Canada estimates that in 2018, nearly two-thirds of Canadians gambled in the past year. The data estimates that about 300,000 Canadians were at moderate-to-severe risk of developing a gambling problem, where gambling starts to negatively affect a person’s life.

    • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
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      7 days ago

      How exactly is the “Corrupt and incompetent government” responsible for people getting addicted to something?

      • Infomatics90@lemmy.ca
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        5 days ago

        I’m going to go off a limb and assume your a sweet summer child and were not aware of the smoking ads in the past.

        • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
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          5 days ago

          I am going to assume you like the smell of your own farts, based on the condescending tone of your comment, and are not aware that people still start smoking without advertisements for cigarettes.

          • Infomatics90@lemmy.ca
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            5 days ago

            I used to smoke, I knew it was bad, but I did it because it was cool(in the beginning). tell me how that is not a problem?

      • streetfestival@lemmy.ca
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        7 days ago

        That’s an easy one. For example, by allowing the marketing or product to be unduly attractive to children

        • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
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          7 days ago

          How does one market something in a way that isn’t attractive to anyone between the ages of 0 and 17?

      • Nik282000@lemmy.ca
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        7 days ago

        A total lack of regulation and a wold view so far behind reality that they cant even identify problems until years after they occur.

        • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
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          7 days ago

          Why is the Government responsible for regulating an adult activity beyond age restricting that activity?