Sports Betting Contacts to ConnexOntario Down While Contacts Rise in General

ConnexOntario shared some of its data for problem gambling contacts. The data shows when bettors made the most calls and more. Listed on some of the betting sites as a resource, the organization is one of the province’s go-to places for problem gambling assistance.

Data shows decline in sports betting contacts and rise in problem gambling contacts

Data obtained from ConnexOntario revealed that problem gambling contacts to the organization increased over the last year, but contacts for sports betting declined during that time. ConnexOntario recorded the number of gambling contacts that the organization received each week over the past few years and shared some of this data. “ConnexOntario receives an average of 33% of gambling-related contacts each week, and these numbers demonstrate the important role we play as a trusted, province-wide entry point for information and support. About 13% of the individuals who reach out are looking for help specifically related to sports betting. We hear from individuals who are seeking general information about gambling, wanting information about our services, or wanting support related to online gambling vendors. These contacts reflect where people are in their help-seeking journey and show that individuals often come to ConnexOntario first when they are unsure where to turn,” said Samantha Cornelissen, system navigation and information services team lead. This data provides some insight into how Ontario bettors have navigated the rise of sports betting as the list of regulated sports betting sites in the province continues to get longer.

There were 4782 contacts to ConnexOntario from October 30, 2023 to November 3, 2024. 634 of those contacts were for sports betting. There were 4923 calls from November 4, 2024 to November 2, 2025. 576 of those contacts were for sports betting. ConnexOntario commented on the numbers. “Individuals with an addiction to gambling, including sports gambling, will seek support when they start to notice that their sports betting is negatively impacting their relationships, their finances, their schooling or employment, their mental health, etc. This realization may stem from one major impactful event or by several cascading events, and can happen at any time throughout the year,” Cornelissen said.

When the most calls were made

127 calls were made from March 3 to March 9 2025, the highest number recorded during the time period. The organization often received about 82-100 contacts in a week. 27 calls for sports betting were made that week, also the highest number recorded during the time period. The organization often received about 8-14 contacts for sports. iGaming Ontario listed ConnexOntario as one of three organizations bettors can reach out to for help with gambling problems. One of the other organizations that was added to the list is Credit Canada, a non-profit organization that helps people get out of debt.

“We do notice a little bit of an uptick(in contacts) during football season, specifically college football and the NFL. It declines a little bit after football season. When those major sporting events come to an end, there is a small decline in online betting because we find that people prefer to bet on certain sporting events. Once that sporting event is over, they don’t go elsewhere,” said Mike Bergeron, Credit Canada council manager. iGaming Ontario’s data revealed that playoff seasons for the NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA didn’t lead to a big increase in contacts for sports betting.

Playoff numbers and the World Series

“For individuals who are ready to take the next step and are looking for actual gambling supports, the data shows that these contacts remain relatively consistent throughout the year and fluctuate independently of playoff seasons. However, we do see approximately a 10% increase in general gambling-related inquiries during playoff periods,” Cornelissen said. For the playoff seasons, the most calls were made during the NBA and NHL playoffs which are played at the same time. The second most calls were made during the NFL playoffs. The fewest calls were made during the MLB playoffs.

Sports bettors made more calls to ConnexOntario last MLB playoffs despite the Toronto Blue Jays playing in the World Series. According to Bergeron, sports betting becomes a problem for a lot of people when things get carried away and bettors become negligent with gambling. “If you’re betting responsibly and taking the protocols to play within reason and limits, I think that’s a fair form of entertainment,” Bergeron said.

Data from the Responsible Gambling Council showed that sports bettors often bet on big games, including the Super Bowl and more. 89 per cent of respondents from a poll planned to watch at least one big game. 77 per cent planned to bet on big games. “Individuals with an addiction to gambling, including sports gambling, will seek support when they start to notice that their sports betting is negatively impacting their relationships, their finances, their schooling or employment, their mental health, etc. This realization may stem from one major impactful event or by several cascading events, and can happen at any time throughout the year,” Cornelissen said.