Nova Scotia weighs online gambling as other provinces expand

Finance Minister John Lohr says the province is watching Ontario, which expanded its online markets in 2022, and Alberta, which did so in July. The only regulated platform in Nova Scotia is run by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

"We don't feel like we have any handle on it at all as a province."

— John Lohr, Nova Scotia finance minister

A study last month suggested emergency department visits for gambling disorders doubled in Ontario after online gambling expanded. A Centre for Addiction and Mental Health scientist said online gambling among Ontario high school students rose from about one per cent in 2019 to about nine per cent.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender says the province should "tread very, very carefully". Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin says a public health risk assessment should come first.