A Comparison of Advertising Policies for Cannabis, Alcohol, and Gambling: The Case of Ontario, Canada

Session Title

Session 1-1-D: Policy and Regulation, Part 1

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation

Location

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

Start Date

23-5-2023 10:15 AM

End Date

23-5-2023 11:45 AM

Disciplines

Other Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

When attempting to draft policies, legislators and regulators often look to other jurisdictions for inspiration. Similarly, when aiming to benchmark policies, comparisons are frequently made against other jurisdictions. When cannabis was legalized for recreational use in Canada in 2018, many of the same entities that were responsible for regulating alcohol and gambling became responsible for also regulating the sale of cannabis. However, the laws and local policies governing the availability and promotion of these substances/activities vary considerably. We suggest that comparing regulatory policies associated with gambling, alcohol, and cannabis will provide unique insights that may inform approaches to gambling regulation and help to identify novel areas for improvement. This session will provide a case study and examples, considering how availability and advertising policies for cannabis, alcohol, and gambling differ within the same jurisdiction. The discussion will focus on lessons that can be applied to the gambling field from this exercise, with respect to policy approaches, prevention and harm reduction programming, and evaluation.

Implications:

This session will provide attendees with guiding questions and an approach for reframing assessment of gambling policies and programs by considering alignment with related fields such as cannabis and alcohol, as well as encouraging attendees to consider how their gambling-focused work might overlap with policy or programming in related fields.

Keywords

policy, advertising, cannabis, alcohol

Author Bios

Dr. Sasha Stark is Senior Research Lead at Greo, an independent knowledge translation and exchange organization working across the health and wellbeing sectors. Sasha is an internationally known gambling researcher, having worked in the field for 15 years. She oversees development of Greo’s knowledge synthesis products, leads research activities, and works with international stakeholders. Previously Sasha was Senior Researcher at the Responsible Gambling Council, where she led primary and applied research and evaluation activities.

Matthew M. Young, Ph.D., is Director of Research and Evidence Services at Greo, Senior Research Associate at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), and an Adjunct Research Professor of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa where he has studied substance use, gambling, and addiction for over 20 years. Dr. Young was also co-chair of the scientific committee that developed the lower-risk gambling guidelines.

Funding Sources

There are no funding sources associated with this submission.

Competing Interests

Term Care (Canada), social responsibility arms of Canadian crown corporations with responsibility to conduct and manage gambling, non-profits, charities, and post-secondary institutions (Canada), New Zealand Ministry of Health, regulatory settlement funds (Great Britain), third-sector charities (Great Britain), and other international regulators. In her previous role at the Responsible Gambling Council, SS previously worked on prevention, research, or consultation projects funded by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (Canada), Greo (Canada/UK), International Center for Responsible Gaming (US), Carleton University (Canada), MGM International Resorts (US), and Playtech (UK). MMY was employed for 12 years by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction which received funding from the Government of Canada MMY is currently employed by Greo.

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May 23rd, 10:15 AM May 23rd, 11:45 AM

A Comparison of Advertising Policies for Cannabis, Alcohol, and Gambling: The Case of Ontario, Canada

Park MGM, Las Vegas, NV

When attempting to draft policies, legislators and regulators often look to other jurisdictions for inspiration. Similarly, when aiming to benchmark policies, comparisons are frequently made against other jurisdictions. When cannabis was legalized for recreational use in Canada in 2018, many of the same entities that were responsible for regulating alcohol and gambling became responsible for also regulating the sale of cannabis. However, the laws and local policies governing the availability and promotion of these substances/activities vary considerably. We suggest that comparing regulatory policies associated with gambling, alcohol, and cannabis will provide unique insights that may inform approaches to gambling regulation and help to identify novel areas for improvement. This session will provide a case study and examples, considering how availability and advertising policies for cannabis, alcohol, and gambling differ within the same jurisdiction. The discussion will focus on lessons that can be applied to the gambling field from this exercise, with respect to policy approaches, prevention and harm reduction programming, and evaluation.

Implications:

This session will provide attendees with guiding questions and an approach for reframing assessment of gambling policies and programs by considering alignment with related fields such as cannabis and alcohol, as well as encouraging attendees to consider how their gambling-focused work might overlap with policy or programming in related fields.