The first national lottery authorized in Canada was developed in 1974 to raise funds for the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics. Five decades later, the relationship of Canadians with the concept of gambling remains complicated, and particularly convoluted when it comes to sports.

Our latest survey presented a representative sample of Canadians with two contrasting opinions that could be used to describe a person’s position on a particular issue. Respondents were more likely to say that gambling should be “legal” (60 per cent) than “illegal” (40 per cent). However, by a margin that is practically 2-1, Canadians described gambling as “detrimental to society” (66 per cent) instead of “beneficial to society” (34 per cent).

Two other pairs of statements yielded closer results, with 58 per cent of Canadians describing gambling as “morally acceptable” instead of “morally wrong” (42 per cent). The effect of the legalization of single-event sports betting is also contentious, with more Canadians considering that gambling is “bad for sports” (56 per cent) than “good for sports” (44 per cent).

Most Canadians are worried about the effect of sports betting on society, with majorities outlining two problems: the normalization of gambling as a way to enjoy sporting events (55 per cent) and the harassment and abuse of athletes and coaches (58 per cent).

The level of concern is higher for three other aspects: the amount of ads for betting websites on televised sporting events (64 per cent), the normalization of gambling among children and teens (72 per cent) and the increased risk of gambling addiction for bettors (76 per cent).

It is not a surprise to see more than three in five Canadians pondering advertisements, children and addiction. It has been practically impossible to enjoy a sporting event on television without being subjected to a commercial spot for a licensed operator.

While provincial lottery corporations control legal sports betting across most of Canada, Ontario has allowed for an open market where licensed operators like DraftKings, Betway or FanDuel are actively seeking customers during sporting events. Some of these companies sponsor segments where pundits, who used to discuss players and strategy, now spend time explaining concepts such as “over/under.”

In our survey, 12 per cent of Canadians told us that they placed a bet on a sporting event through a licensed operator over the past 12 months, and fewer (nine per cent) placed a bet on a sporting event through their provincial lottery corporation.

Participation in gambling through licensed operators reaches 16 per cent in Ontario and 18 per cent among Canadians aged 18 to 34. The gender gap is significant, with only five per cent of women placing a bet on a sporting event over the past year through a licensed operator or a lottery corporation, compared to 16 per cent and 14 per cent respectively for men.

It is important to note that participation on both types of sports betting is decidedly lower than the proportions of Canadians who, in the past year, bought a lottery ticket (54 per cent) or a Scratch & Win ticket (38 per cent). We will have to wait longer to see if this relatively new way on betting on sports catches up with the lotteries that Canadians have enjoyed for decades.

A lottery ticket remains the preferred way of seeking a gambling thrill for Canadians aged 35 to 54 (56 per cent) and aged 55 and over (69 per cent). These two groups are not currently embracing the legal sports betting market as much as their younger counterparts.

At this point, Canadians are not outlining a wish to go back to the mid-1960s, when gambling was completely illegal. Most also believe the practice is morally acceptable, regardless of their religious affiliation. However, more than seven in 10 are concerned about a generation growing up with disappearing boundaries between fandom and monetary gain. Placing emphasis on seemingly meaningless goals, runs or baskets that play no role in the outcome of a game or match may not be the best way to introduce children to professional sports.

Mario Canseco is president of Research Co.

Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from May 12-14, 2026, among a representative sample of 1,002 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.