Healthy play is a core value at Atlantic Lottery and we want to ensure that Atlantic Canadians who gamble, regardless of their age, understand the risks involved so they can make informed decisions about their play. This summer, we partnered with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), an independent, non-profit organization that works to prevent gambling harm, to deliver an interactive experience about understanding risk to young people to help prevent the development of gambling harms. Together, we brought “Diamond Decisions” to life at the 2025 Canada Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Why is it important to talk to youth about gambling?

In Atlantic Canada, gambling is only legal for those 19 years and older. However, young people, even those under the legal age, are finding ways to gamble, and research shows they are at increased risk to develop gambling harms. The Canada Games provided a space for us to share messages about the risks associated with video games, gambling, and sports betting to help support young people in making informed decisions and prevent the development of gambling harms.

Research shows that 27 per cent of young people aged 11-17 (Statistics Canada 2024) engage in some form of gambling, while 57.3 per cent of 18-24-year-olds (Canadian Community Health Survey 2018) have gambled in the past year. By sharing awareness messages, we are trying to prevent problems from developing.

How did we do it?

Through an interactive baseball-themed game called “Diamond Decisions”, participants were invited to step up to the plate and learn about risk in a way that focused on the “illusion of control” fallacy. This is when a person believes their ‘knowledge’ or ‘skill’ can control the outcome of a game.

In the game, participants entered into a virtual reality baseball stadium where they read themed questions, used their knowledge to select an answer and used their skill to hit the area of the field where their answer is located. The educational activity was built around four key areas: gambling and gaming myths, warning signs, available supports, and tips to keep play healthy.

At Atlantic Lottery, we’re always looking for innovative ways to connect with our fellow Atlantic Canadians, especially when it comes to  healthy play.

By all accounts, Diamond Decisions was a home run: youth, young adults, parents and coaches had positive feedback about the interactive experience and the messages we were sharing.

“The VR baseball experience was fun and made me think differently about gambling,” one participant said.

​“I didn’t know games could affect your mood so much. The quiz made it clear,” said another.​

Supports for teens and young adults

Education is essential to minimizing and preventing gambling harms. While Diamond Decisions successfully educated young people at the Canada Games, we know many more young people still aren’t aware of the risks associated with gaming and gambling. If you know a teen or young adult who may be developing or experiencing harms from their gaming, there are supports to help. These include confidential text lines, 24/7 online chats, school counsellors, mental health apps, and local youth programs. Some youth-focused helplines include Kids HelpPhone, Black Youth Helpline, Hope for Wellness Helpline, Naseeha Youth Helpline or YouthLine.