Responsible Gambling Council applauds $6.6 million govt. investment to promote responsible play in Ontario

The Responsible Gambling Council’s (RGC) annual Discovery Conference, held last week, saw the Ontario Government commit a historic investment of CAD 9 million ($6.6 million) in funding through the Responsible Internet Gambling Fund (RIGF).

The council says that this three-year investment into the RIGF is a "monumental moment" for RGC and "a clear demonstration of Ontario’s leadership" in online gambling safety and consumer protection.

This increased funding will allow RGC to further enhance its consumer education campaigns, expand community outreach programming, and build partnerships with local community groups.

“Ontario has long been a champion for responsible gambling and this investment into prevention education and programming and today’s announcement is a game-changer,” said Shelley White, CEO, of Responsible Gambling Council.  

“This clearly demonstrates Ontario is the Canadian leader in promoting responsible play, minimizing harm, and creating a strong, sustainable online gambling market,” White added.

The Council says that the RIGF will help ensure a "holistic" consumer education and prevention strategy is in place and that information and resources are available to better support all those at risk of experiencing harm through gambling.

“We applaud and thank the Ontario government for this welcome and historic investment into responsible play,” concluded White. “We know online gambling comes with unique risks and this funding will have a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of so many Ontarians by providing them with the resources and programming to help keep them safe and build a culture of responsible play in this new environment.”