There Is No Such Thing as a Free Bet

Sports Betting and Youths

Sports betting has grown quickly. It used to be something mainly done in Las Vegas, but it is now available to people around the world, including in Ontario. Instead of happening only in casinos, betting now takes place on smartphones, where people can place bets in seconds. This makes impulsive gambling much easier. Studies show that problem gambling increases within the same year that betting rules become more flexible. These issues effect young people the most, especially young men. Young men gamble more often than young women or older adults, and they take more risks. Advertisers know this and target young men with many sports betting ads, often using special deals to draw them in. Since young people spend so much time on social media, this is where they see most of these ads. Betting companies also partner with influencers who share promo codes and earn money each time someone uses them. Young people are at a sensitive stage of life, and impulsive gambling can lead to serious long-term problems.

Sports Betting Advertisements

A recent study examined how betting inducement ads influence people aged 18 to 24. The study tested four types of deals: signup offers, bonus bets, increased odds, and stake back deals. Earlier research showed these were the most appealing deals to this age group. Signup offers and bonus bets created the strongest interest in placing a bet, and they led people to plan to bet more money. Increased odds and stake back deals were seen to help reduce losses a little, but signup offers felt like a chance to bet for free, and bonus bets seemed like a way to bet with less money. These reactions matched the way the ads were designed. However, the study also checked whether participants read the terms and conditions. Fewer than half read them for every ad, even though they were told to do so. If participants had more carefully read the terms and conditions for each ad, they may have been more aware of the true costs and benefits of placing bets using the deals.

The Issue with Inducements

The ads in the study were modelled after real social media ads, including the same fine print. Many participants believed the deals would save them money, but the truth was more complicated. Bonus bets only apply after a minimum cash bet is made, and winnings from free bets are paid in credits that must be used inside the app, not withdrawn as cash. The study shows how these ads can mislead young people and push them toward harmful gambling behaviours. The results indicate that young people are more drawn to deals perceived as free versus cheap, but the true cost of betting is concealed behind strategically misleading language. 

Protecting Ontario’s Youth

As sports betting continues to expand, Ontario needs stronger advertising rules. Current laws focus on older media like radio and TV and do not address the risks of online or social media advertising. Effective rules should ban “free bet” offers, including signup deals. They should also require advertisers to use clear and honest language. Any ad that uses an inducement offer should be direct about what the deal provides and should not rely on misleading wording. These rules should also apply to social media influencers who may promote betting with unclear or dishonest claims. Greater restrictions on advertisers can prevent harm to Ontario’s youths.

 

Why Autistic People Hide Their Traits - and Why It Hurts

By Sara Marin

When we talk about autism, we often focus on differences in communication or social abilities. But a growing number of autistic people say something else shapes their daily lives even more: the pressure to “fit in.” A new 2025 psychology paper explains how and why many autistic individuals learn to hide their traits, and the high personal cost this brings. 

This behaviour is known as social camouflaging. It includes masking or covering autistic traits to appear more typical to the people around them. Autistic youth may force eye contact, copy gestures, rehearse conversations in advance, or hide sensory discomfort. They often learn these behaviours in childhood because the world expects them to behave a certain way.

Why Camouflaging Appears Helpful at First

According to the study, society tends to reward behaviours that look “normal.” Teachers, peers, and adults often respond positively when autistic children appear more socially typical. Research reviewed in the article shows that autistic adolescents who camouflage more are often rated as more likable by neurotypical peers.

For some individuals, this helps them avoid bullying, form friendships, or meet social expectations. On the surface, camouflaging seems to help them succeed socially.

But the Inner Cost Is Serious

While camouflaging works externally, the internal impact can be damaging. The article explains that hiding one’s real traits every day is emotionally and mentally exhausting. Many autistic young people report feeling disconnected from their true identity. They describe not knowing who they really are because so much of their behaviour is adjusted to meet external expectations.

Research summarized in the paper links camouflaging to:

• higher stress

• increased anxiety

• depression

• loneliness

• burnout

• and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts

These outcomes occur because people respond to the mask, not the person underneath. The autistic individual’s real needs remain unseen and unmet.

A Mismatch Between the Person and Their Environment

The authors use a psychological idea called person–environment fit. Normally, a good fit happens when a person’s traits and their surroundings work together and adjust to each other.

But camouflaging interrupts this process.
Instead of expressing genuine traits, autistic individuals express traits shaped by social pressure. The environment then adapts to the inauthentic traits, not the real ones. Over time, this disconnect can harm mental wellbeing and identity development.

What Needs to Change

The authors argue that instead of expecting autistic people to change themselves to fit their environment, the environment should adapt to them. This includes:

• adjusting teaching and communication styles

• educating peers about autistic communication

• reducing unrealistic social expectations

• supporting autonomy and self-determination

Camouflaging is not always fully negative or fully positive. It may help autistic individuals navigate the social world, but using it constantly can harm emotional health. The real solution is creating spaces where autistic people do not feel pressured to hide who they are.

The Many Faces of Addiction Recovery: Why Understanding Matters

What Addiction Recovery Really Looks Like

Many people imagine someone in recovery from addiction as looking broken or unstable, as if recovery has one specific “look”. However, long-term recovery (LTR) does not follow one path. A recent study found five distinct paths of LTR, each with their own identities, goals, and ways of coping. Understanding this helps us see those in LTR as individuals, not as stereotypes.

What the Study Did

To learn what recovery really looks like, the researchers interviewed people in LTR, along with their family members, and therapists. From these stories, they identified five LTR paths. These include the Fighter, Avoidant, Wanderer, Devout, and Comrade. Fighters see LTR as a battle that they keep fighting. Avoidants stay away from triggers and reminders of the past to avoid relapse. However, therapists and families sometimes see this approach as “not progressing”. Wanderers see LTR as an opportunity for growth and learning. Devouts rely on routine, which helps them feel in control. Finally, Comrades focus on building connection and belonging.

What These Five Paths Teach Us

Together, these five paths show that addiction LTR is far more diverse than many people think. The study also demonstrates that misunderstanding someone’s LTR path can make them isolated. For example, Avoidants used distance to cope, yet many therapists and family members viewed this negatively. These perceptions can make LTR more challenging because it is not just about coping, but also about feeling seen. This is also why it is important that we view those in LTR as individuals rather than stereotypes.

LTR can be compared to renovating the inside of a house. Some people knock down the walls and rebuild everything (Fighter). Some repaint or rearrange each room (Wanderers). Some keep the layout the same because it feels safest (Devouts). Some invite others in to bring life into the home (Comrades). Finally, some keep certain doors closed because they are not ready to enter those rooms yet (Avoidants). From the outside, the house may look the same, but inside, every renovation is different and personal. When we expect everyone to “renovate” their lives in the same way, we create expectations that can harm rather than help.

Why This Matters for All of Us

If there is a lesson that readers should take from this study, it is that we are more like those in LTR than we think. Wanderers seek growth, Fighters rebuild identity after hardship, Comrades search for belonging, Devouts find comfort in routine, and Avoidants shield themselves from painful memories.

Outside of addiction, we all go through our own forms of recovery when we rethink who we are, overcome challenges, or reshape our identities after life lessons. Addiction LTR is simply a more intense form of something that is part of being human. When we see those in LTR as individuals, we reduce stigma. More importantly, we respond with empathy instead of judgement. When we challenge our assumptions about what LTR “should” look like, we begin to meet people where they are at, not where we expect them to be. We also make recovery less lonely. While every LTR story is different, the desire for connection, understanding, and identity is something that we all share. This study reminds us that behind every LTR story is a person "renovating" their life in a way that makes the most sense to them. When we truly understand this, we help create communities where people feel supported, not judged.