The Ongoing Sports Gambling Advertising Issue

I felt an updated look at this was needed with so many ads during the playoffs on odds this and odds that. It's just become a constant.
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[@The9thPawn]

What's truly irritating is when I'm trying to watch a bunch of gambling ads on TV and they keep breaking it up with clips of the NHL playoffs. Completely ridiculous!!

[@JBDay-bd8cu]

Lol. Love your sarcasm

[@stanvincent7644]

Lmao

[@troyhanks7279]

LOL

[@datriaxsondor590]

[@micahhoffman3519]

Love that profile pic

[@richardd408]

Playoff advertising is only three things: 1) Buy this new truck, your life sucks without it. 2) Drink this alcohol, your life is empty without it. 3) Gamble your money away, you can’t afford much else anyways. Apparently young men in particular suffer from poor mental health, I wonder why…

[@NotTheWheel]

This is actually why I use adblockers on the internet. I can't avoid them watching sports (but I generally only watch post season) Advertisements don't appeal to me. There's nothing they can show me that I'd want. Heck I still get Marine advertisements on some websites. I was already in the Military twice once active duty Navy the other Army reserves. They already got me! lol

[@Doshee33]

Those military advertisements are Everywhere. Arguably worse than gambling ads cause they're trying to get you to die for your country or make another poor bastard die for his.

[@WhoDissGuy]

How about all the ads for ED medications? While I know some people have serious medical issues, let’s not question the effect people’s porn consumption has on their performance. The book Your Brain on Porn is a good read.

[@itsmedjoom987]

It’s most likely because the viewers who are watching these are mostly cis men. We have been conditioned thru years of advertising to act in a certain way related to our gender and societies view of material things.

[@imanoobtuber]

@@Doshee33bro what? 99 percent of the military is pogs. pogs aren't seeing combat and dying in droves dude. normal infantry isn't even doing that.

[@jeremyj8153]

I’m a 24 year old bartender in a college town and sports gambling dominates male conversations. It’s awful. I don’t care which player ruined your 14 leg parlay, man. Every time someone starts telling me about a bet they made I tell them the food bank would have loved that donation

[@archiveacc3248]

😭 lmfao thats hilarious, they deserve that. It sucks trying to talk sports with people now... or trying to listen to podcasts and stuff... its all about the line and the spread etc etc. What happened to caring about the game? I can only imagine how much it sucks having to listen to that all the time at work

[@dogperson2136]

It’s always the guys who barely understand game fundamentals who a dropping crazy parlays and flood these conversations with betting bs. Crazy how socially pernicious sports betting-I hate it

[@LLG47]

I don't actually hear much about sports betting when I talk sports with friends or strangers I don't think any of them do it. You might have a different sample size because you're at a bar so you have people addicted to drinking addicted to betting too. Just like cigarettes the addictions flow together and when they get buzzed they talk about betting.

[@quibsoon]

i'm sure you make a lot of friends with that attitude...

[@RoboWarriorGhosT]

⁠@@quibsooni’m sure you make a lot of friends with that attitude…

[@aaronthompson2329]

I remember when they said there would never be a professional sports team in Vegas because the leagues would not want anyone to associate their teams with gambling. Now every league is so deep in the betting sites pockets you can't go five minutes without seeing a betting ad.

[@gunDyBeo]

It was such a quick flip, too - seemed like one day they were vilifying gambling and the next they were highlighting the odds on over/unders. So slimy.

[@milanek1527]

They cant make up their mind. Who do we blame?

[@milanek1527]

And who is "they"?

[@gunDyBeo]

@@milanek1527 I guess I mean the establishment or zeitgeist or what have you. I know ESPN went from talking about gambling scandals being embarrassing for some athletes or their mere mention causing alarm and it seemed like weeks later they have entire blocs of programming devoted to gambling odds and bet picking.

[@frankvonfrauner]

Along with every other form of debauchery and moral degradation.

[@archiveacc3248]

I'm so fuckin tired of gambling ads, gambling promos, gambling partnerships. THANK YOU for being a man and standing up to this crap.

[@tradingmedic]

I'm a compulsive gambler (been clean for almost 11 years) and watching games with my kids has become impossible. Kudos to you for taking a stand on this issue.

[@ElectricVikingTube]

Congrats on eleven years!

[@lizwiens671]

I feel for you. I’m not a gambler and I find the ads annoying, I can’t imagine trying to overcome an addiction and being exposed to that not only during commercial breaks but throughout the game on the boards! It never used to be like that.

[@dono09]

I think this is the thing that bothers me. The open advertising and endorsement from leagues. Let people gamble but don't promote it openly. It's wrong

[@lancerhades971]

Very well done on 11 years man. Everyday is hard but your still going 😊

[@SwervinSpliffs27]

Same here but I still watch. It's just wild that it's legal

[@LegionOfEclaires]

I think it's funny how these leagues push gambling so hard and then act surprised when players or other team-related personnel get caught gambling.

[@heathclark318]

Shane Pinto details still murky but clearly bad to lose half a season

[@stevesmart170]

@@heathclark318 Who plays on a team with "betway" right on their helmets.

[@heathclark318]

@@stevesmart170 LOL sorry hard to keep up with 32 teams let alone their corresponding 32 sponsors. That is hilariously ironic. Pinto is the target age group

[@danglezbenderz]

This Shane Pinto suspension is brought to you by Bet365

[@admiralron]

It sucks to say it, but I hope we end up with a White Sox world series rigging in the next few years. Seems like that is the only thing that's going to reign this in.

[@YOUTY209]

You know it's bad when you're talking about how wholesome used car salesman are in comparison.

[@georgelewis3047]

Or divorce lawyers.

[@Kane-Viktorovich]

As someone who grew up being told gambling is bad and constantly seeing gambling portrayed negatively in media, I’m genuinely shocked at how normalized it has become ESPECIALLY the advertising of it.

[@icedo1013]

Truly the symptoms of the degeneration of a nation and its people playing out in real time.

[@PapaDalbec]

Moral degradation, perfect talking point for the month of June

[@Kane-Viktorovich]

@@PapaDalbec men’s mental heath awareness month?

[@BobLoblaw-rr2hk]

It happened so fast too. The Supreme Court decision was in May of 2018.

[@devinstreater1763]

Weimar Moment

[@WhoDissGuy]

I know a guy who works for an online casino. He told me a while ago about how they put limits on you when you win a lot but have there are no limits when you lose a lot. Predatory.

[@thelovefromupabove7347]

Shannon Skanes: Man of Integrity. There are too few and far between, especially in this space. Keep up the good work.

[@heathclark318]

100% agreed. I may not agree with all his takes on hockey but when it comes to his humanity, he is spot on. Thankful for him and the community he's built

[@russell-di8js]

From the UK , u better believe it.

[@RememberMe123-b4b]

I guess he's a good guy... doesn't look like he has much of a life though. Don't get me wrong, I love hockey too ( been watching for 60+ years), but let's face it, there's more to life than hockey. Is there that much money in these podcasts?...because HOLY SH*T!!!!

[@sippingthe]

@@RememberMe123-b4b You have 100+ comments on this channel alone… The difference is he’s getting paid for it😂😂

[@RememberMe123-b4b]

@@sippingthe yah....I would imagine he's getting , what, $100,000 / episode?... and his pension must be at least $50.00 /month ?

[@TwonVonJon]

My uncle was addicted to gambling so badly he used to steal from mother all the time. This was his younger sister working 3 jobs as a single mother to raise a child. He used to blame me for stealing. He even blamed MORMON missionaries for money missing from her purse..... Now thats an addict. Gambling is a terrible thing and destroys lives.

[@PoolNoodleGundam]

The one mormon I know is a massive gambling addict too

[@people3865]

My cousin as well. He was a cop for 30 years, and ended up divorced because he blew through 150k of savings

[@johndavid8339]

Same with my Ma. She would steal and pawn possessions of family (including us kids) with the "Intent" to win and return the stuff. The plan would fail and she would take down a bottle of Tylenol and a bottle of Vodka. Almost killed herself more than a half dozen times.

[@bustertn2014]

Sadly, from what I have seen in my 56 years, addicts are addicts. If it's not gambling it's something else. I grew up in Vegas and of everybody I was friends with ony 1 guy was into gambling at all. I have never placed a single bet in the 33 years I lived there on anything. I don't think I have ever spent more than 100 bucks on the Megabucks machine in a hotel if we went out to dinner. It's not the gambling it's the people. If it wasn't on legal sites most of this would take place with bookies or the like or off shore places.

[@Bill-Shakespeare]

How long until it’s called a “disease” haha

[@petejunebug]

I’m only 25 but even when I was 17-18, there wasn’t even 10% of the ads for gambling. It’s going to hurt the country terribly in decades to come

[@mvpandrew93]

*I'm 31. It really hurts to see what has changed. But when the money is flowing, that's where the market goes. No matter how pathetic and unethical. Thg just compared them to drug dealers as I'm typing this. Agreed*

[@CanuckChoy79]

💯 agree. I feel like sports is just finding the next vice to make money off of. First it was cigarettes, then alcohol and now gambling. How do you feel like of all of these while tobacco, alcohol have clear direct negative health implications and many indirect effects to family and friends, GAMBLING in my opinion has the greatest potential for greater harm to the family and society as a whole, it has a much higher risk of placing generational debt back that can ruin the lives of so many....

[@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija]

@@CanuckChoy79 Debt can't be inherited in the United States or Canada at least. Other than that I totally agree with your point, it destroys lives

[@EDunn21]

They will only stop when the gambling commercials hurt ratings, which will never happen. The only way it happens is if players start gambling or if a lot of match fixing is found out in a league. See what happened with Shohei Ohtani in MLB and Jontay Porter in NBA. Porter is banned from the NBA because the leagues know people will not watch if they know it is rigged (or players are throwing games). There are conspiracy theories that games or draft lotteries are rigged. When people know that match fixing is happening at a large scale, ratings and revenues will go down. Otherwise, gambling sites and ads will continue.

[@Kanders190]

That's because 7 years ago, the only legal places to sports bet were casinos in Vegas and Atlantic City and you had to be 21 to do that. Now half the country has direct access to countless betting apps through their phone and the age limit is only 18. When your potential customer pool increases by 1000x, if not more, it makes sense to see a huge spike in advertising.

[@PeteJohnsMusic]

Australia is about 5 years ahead on this and it’s horrible. You simply can’t enjoy sport anymore without seeing multiple gambling ads every break. I worked in the gaming industry (sadly) and the vast majority of revenue comes from a small percentage of people, who are usually vulnerable, addicted and simply can’t afford it.

[@joshanderson9391]

To be fair even Australia doesn’t have live odds during games. That’s insane

[@thomasthomasthomas296]

@@joshanderson9391like the espn broadcast will interrupt the commentary to bring up the current odds for the faceoff or something stupid. It’s so terrible. Espn is awful and to be fair I knew the espn thing was gonna go bad as soon as they refused to hire Gary Thorne and Bill Clement as a broadcast crew when they wanted to come back to the sport (they called so many famous moments in this sport)

[@SteelersNationAustralia]

Agree

[@smith9157]

Australians gamble more than any other western country we have pokies (slot machines) in pretty much every single establishment with a liquor license. Even in small towns the local will have a pokies room

[@charleslaw1990]

shameful and unaustralian not to have a punt or several, cobber. how dare you suggest we rob the average aussie the chance to piss it all up the wall on the smallest whim. if anything we should have more pokies, preferably in centrelink waiting rooms so we can sidestep the clubs lobby entirely.

[@lizwiens671]

When you’re watching playoffs you’re seeing the ads REPEATEDLY, and that embeds it in your brain. It’s not just the commercials it’s on the boards while they’re playing! I can’t imagine someone with a gambling problem being exposed to all that when they’re just trying to watch a game.

[@ianism3]

yeah, plus the ones on the boards are very distracting when I'm trying to watch what's actually happening on the ice... ugh

[@columbiajones1534]

Shoot, I didn't think about that. If you have a gambeling problem, you might need to stop watching all sports. Otherwise you're constantly being encouraged to regress.

[@georgelewis3047]

Yeah but you are protected by the disclaimers. 🤣

[@thrashedrider84]

I'm paying off a 15k debt extending from gambling currently.. Have had to take steps to remove it from my life and stick to the disciplined work grind to pay it off... Feels good though!

[@thomasthomasthomas296]

@@thrashedrider84 Just know that there are people proud of you for tackling your issue. I wish you the very best.

[@MG-rg3jo]

The promotion of gambling has crossed a line. It is non stop and there will have to be a course correction.

[@lindacorwin9066]

The only "course correction" I can think of is for a very large number of viewers to boycott televised sports completely until the ads are removed. Every other possible solution is simply a band-aid. One last thought: I live in New Mexico, USA, and I'm waiting for some entrepreneur to start making book on high school football and basketball.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

The UK has set a precedent in regard to this by greatly limiting gambling ads (they can only be shown on late night programming) & the Premier League has banned clubs from having gambling companies as shirt sponsors starting from next season. This is because they realized how quickly pervasive sports gambling became once it was legalized online back in 2012 & how it ruined people's lives.

[@Kreege]

Needs to be treated the same as tobacco ads.

[@buzzsaw1000]

The sad part is while it definitely should at the very least be regulated (personally I think legalizing it was a huge mistake) so many people are into sports betting, and it brings in tax revenue and lobbying, that legislation will go nowhere.

[@Emmy5275]

McDavid and Gretz should be ashamed for endorsing this crap. If you’re going to allow sports betting, folks should have to go to a physical site. Being able to do it from your couch has crossed the line, preying on people’s addiction to their phones.

[@simoncaton1226]

It’s not like these guys need the money? I understand that I’m not privy to their finances. But there are other ways for them to get their money. It’s not like these are 4th liners or AHL guys on 2 way deals.

[@Desert-Father]

It's makes their conduct even worse that they are two of most highly paid players during their era and don't need the extra cash from gambling ads. Meanwhile addicts and their families will suffer.

[@Stonesour1]

They are sellouts to the establishment.....Do you see Bobby Orr ever advertise for gambling ???? a Real role model kids can look up to .......not like today's easy money athletes such as that fool that plays TE for the superbowl winning team 1

[@GordonSlamsay]

ik they have contractual obligations but why haven't any of these athletes told these companies where to go and what to do? Whats the worst that can happen, they get fired?

[@viperswhip]

Especially since they are already multi-millionaires, why the heck do they need to do these ads?

[@McSomething15]

Sports betting and fantasy has ruined how people view sports.

[@xypherus777]

That's why I haven't gotten into fantasy for hockey or baseball yet. I do 2 football leagues per year just because it's easier for me to keep track of and I do one free league and one league where I only put 20 bucks down. I can't imagine gambling hundreds per week like some people do

[@kurtwpg]

Yes, Makes me sick watching NFL fans root for their "team". Their team is the statistics of 20 different players on 16 different teams.

[@eshadlow]

The way people online carry on about shot counts and what counts as a block etc shows me how much fantasy and sports betting have changed the game for so many people. They don't watch it because they love the sport, they watch it to see if they won money. I watch sport because I love it.

[@ryanmorrison3699]

See this is a product of a society that no longer has any morals/standards/values whatsoever. As somebody who still does have a shred of basic expectations of people, I commend you for standing on your principles and not selling your soul. We are living in a truly evil world today.

[@BlisaBLisa]

lol gambling has always existed dude its just way more accessible now than it could be before bc we have internet now, its not because the world has become more evil and its bizzare to suggest we have LESS morals/standards/values now than before. we used to have advertisments for cigarettes as the tobacco companies lied about them not causing cancer, it was easier to get away with doing evil shit like that and there were less laws and regulations for it. people who think like this a always either looking at the past through rose tinted lenses not realizing how fucked things used to be or they just have some really bad values. being nostalgic for a past that never existed does nothing to help the problems of the present and future

[@brandonw6139]

Capitalism is the only God here. Whatever makes money

[@sHaNeR766]

Good on you for calling this out. These revenue increases can only be possible by draining more and more middle/lower class people of their expendable income. All North American commercials: Gambling, Alcohol and Meds, all things that tend to be abused and get people hooked.

[@heathclark318]

Those of us who been here for years know your reasons. Families are destroyed daily by this vice pushed on us constantly. It's disgusting. If it's not a vice or pharmaceutical, it's not a commercial in the United States

[@hox3000]

I've honestly lost all respect for players who take part in these gambling ad, including Gretzky.

[@phattlmann]

To be fair, I lost respect for Gretz many years ago when he was shilling for politicians who are anti-woman and anti-equal rights. The man is all about money. He lost all of my respect and his legacy in the sport has been tarnished as far as I'm concerned.

[@OldRustySteele]

ESPECIALLY Gretzky. Mister “Squeaky Clean”. I’ve lost a lot of respect for him.

[@RememberMe123-b4b]

As a recovering gambling addict...nobody forced me to sit down at the blackjack table and piss away $300,000. It was my own immature and irresponsible actions, nobody else's!!! Don't go blaming Gretz. That's like blaming Democrats or Republicans for the ills of America....YOUR OWN ACTIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE.

[@hox3000]

@@RememberMe123-b4b Blaming a person is an entirely separate matter from choosing not to respect them. I don't blame Gretzky for anything.

[@RememberMe123-b4b]

@hox3000 then why not respect him... he's done nothing but be a great Ambassador to hockey...no scandals, never a bad word about anybody, no over inflated ego. Anybody who has ever come in contact with him has nothing but good things to say about him. Loved his father. Like I said, I'm a recovering gambling addict, did somebody hog tie me and drag me to the casino? My own stupid fault. Simple as that

[@airsicklowlander7756]

In a decade or two, pro sports will be viewed the same way that people already view horse racing today. People don’t watch horse races because they’re fans….

[@josephwirtz8352]

Quite possible…

[@yoholmes273]

FUN FACT - Horse racing has fans. In other breaking news, water is wet 💧

[@martinperry5072]

I'm a fan of horse racing, but I don't do online betting. I only bet at the track where I can check out the horses in person. It probably doesn't help, but I enjoy horses.

[@tk80mufa5]

@airsicklowlander7756 man , if ony you were right. 😕 but unfortunately , looking at the long history of both horse racing and gladiator-like sports arenas throughout human history , i'll say the human species is too primitive to "reach the next level" or "collectively gain that insight". btw *Think Like a Horse* is a great channel , even though i now actually oppose horse riding in general , since it hurts their backs. also the one good YT ad throughout the years was this one dude *James French* who has like an empathy method towards connecting with animals like horses. I know you weren't going for the animal welfare angle but hey. Apart from the gambling/betting issue , is also the players and the abuse they put themselves through as well. We just take it for granted that we see these players as completely disposable.

[@leftcoaster67]

I love the horses, and it breaks my heart when they have to put a horse down on injury. When I go to Hastings (Haven't done so in over a decade). I just set aside $20. And don't go above that. But I get a rush when the horses are going full tilt on the home stretch. Thank you the Questrade ads are as annoying as hell.

[@par000002]

It is absolutely not just you. I am 50 and am absolutely shocked at the gambling advertisements. It is exactly as you said, it is sleazy, insidious and completely disgusting.

[@Demopans5990]

Honestly, attaching a old laptop and installing a network adblocker was the best investment for my sanity. A lot less ads on the phone and computer

[@eisernfront8549]

Gambling industry has a powerful lobbying group.

[@thewhexperience3901]

Thank you very much for your attention to this issue. You’re an upstanding man to reject sports betting advertisements. The new generation’s addiction.

[@im_sorry_i_forgot_my_username]

In Slovakia, we've been getting this one specific ad for a sports betting company ALL the time. Especially now during the IIHF championships, the ad plays in EVERY SINGLE ad break. It even features Tomáš Tatar and David Pastrňák as two big NHL stars to get some more eyeballs. This ad campaign has a tagline, one it constantly repeats. Its purpose is most likely to make betting inviting to people who are new to it, who might be hesitant. The way I'd translate this tagline is "All it takes is to start" or "All you have to do is start". Honestly, lowkey kudos for such a brazen mask-off moment. Every time I hear this, all I can think is "All you have to do is start, because then, we'll have our hooks in you. We'll have won. You won't be able to stop and we'll wring you dry of every penny." And they're just saying it so openly, right in our faces, because they know we can't do anything about it.

[@LGPanthers1]

Dobre take my guy

[@DJVexillum]

and here I was naive enough to believe it was really only getting bad in the US/Ontario. Awful to hear it's starting to happen in Europe as well.

[@robbi6801]

It is even worse in Europe. Austrian football (soccer) league is called ADMIRAL Bundesliga. Admiral is - you guessed it - an Austrian gambling company. The leagues name has a betting company in it... Imagine the Bet MGM NHL

[@im_sorry_i_forgot_my_username]

@@robbi6801 Same here. The top league in Czechia is called the Tipsport Extraliga (Tipsport being the betting company I mentioned in my original comment), while the Slovak top league is called the Tipos Extraliga (Tipos is likewise a sports betting company). It's ridiculous.

[@tk80mufa5]

@im_sorry_i_forgot_my_username great comment ! 👍 how scary is that ! 😧 I am going into the second half of my thirties , and got lucky i long ago in my teens made the decision to be straight edge ( and extend that to some other things like gambling ). But young people? Especially kids and teenagers? now that Czechia won the 2024 IIHF WC and Pastrnak scored the game winner. That historic memory along with those gambling ads will forever be connected in their heads ! Shame on these gambling / betting companies ! 😤

[@tradingmedic]

The leagues have been hooked by gambling as much as compulsive gamblers.

[@Alex-js5lg]

As have governments.

[@HarryANuis-gi9hz]

its sad I watch lots of esports and counter strike, all teams have gambling sponsors and almost all advertising is directed at children doing things such as back to school gambling promos its sick.

[@me36391]

Hell the NHL promotoes it fully in pre game and during the game. Cant stand it.

[@tripsaplenty1227]

the way you spelled "promotes" reminds me of former US Vice President Dan Quayle and his potatoe.

[@GospelTestimony]

Gambling ads have become a blight to the NHL under Bettman. Gambling is just one more addiction that is contributing to the ruin of society today, and I'm getting sick and tired of seeing these ads being promoted, and the majority of fans see this for what it truly is. Great video Shannon...please never let go of your integrity!

[@georgelewis3047]

Thank you Hockey Guy for raising awareness on this scourge. My kids are grown but if they were young today, I would NOT want them watching NHL hockey. How ridiculous is that, in the land of hockey, the world's fastest and most exciting team sport. It doesn't stop at ads, the gambling is embedded in the presentation. Viewers are literally marinading in the stuff. Some baseball games show odds fulltime on the screen for every little event that might happen next. You can't easily look away from words on top of a picture. Do McDavid and Matthews, both on around $10M per year, still not have enough income? Is there no one in the entire pro sports industry with the conscience to say 'no'? Ron McLean? Kelley Hrudey?? CBC??? Anybody???? First off, we need to start insisting that governments and their corporate influencers and buddies call this what it is -- GAMBLING, not GAMING. 'Gaming' is playing checkers or crokinole. I live in the (failed state of) Ontario, where we have an idiot premier called Doug Ford (brother of cokehead Rob Ford) who thinks this is somehow a good thing that contributes to the economy. WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K? This is pure bloodsucking exploitation that ruins peoples lives through bankruptcy, divorce, even suicide. Gamblers are clearly not the only ones with an addiction problem, governments (who should be acting in our interest) are seriously addicted to their tiny slice of the profits. Almost all the money goes offshore. Yet taxpayers are the ones paying to pick up the pieces for the harm gambling causes. Keep up the good work, and I am signing on to your YT channel.

[@simbeau]

I am a compulsive gambler, an addict. It ruined my relationship with my sister, my brother, my nieces and my nephew. Watching sports has become a constant battle to tune out the continuous advertising.

[@thomasthomasthomas296]

yeah it is ridiculous. Like even the pre game show will talk about ads on espn and espn then trying to get you to use their new gambling app. It’s ridiculous and frankly wish we could go back to when this advertising was not there at all. I’ll take the old annoying advertising back if it gets rid of gambling advertisements

[@andygrenn680]

Mute button the commercials. Hell Mute play by play too! Do you need play by play. I don’t. And you know who else doesn’t need play by play. The fans in the arena. They’ve been getting along fine with no play by play forever.

[@AR-wm9lv]

My tip: I pause the game for 30 minutes. Then watch the game on a 30 minute delay, and fast forward through all the commericals (including the gambling ones)

[@andygrenn680]

@@AR-wm9lv I live my life on a 30 minute delay…Late for everything and on time for nothing…The pace is just right.

[@el_tristo]

It's real cathartic to hear you rant about the same stuff I'm thinking about while watching every night. The gambling, the various other annoying ads, the intermission, it's frustrating

[@slagothor48]

The ads all over the ice are so obnoxious as well. You can't even watch the actual game without being continously bombarded to buy more useless crap.

[@ianmindcraft]

My rule with gambling is if I put money down, I assume it's gone, and I'll never see it again.

[@krabkrabkrab]

If I donate to charity, same rule applies, but in addition, my money goes to a good cause. So there's no contest.

[@Alex-js5lg]

@@krabkrabkrab well, Alberta's government makes about $2B in gambling revenue each year. That's the consolation I tell myself when I buy a lotto ticket.

[@tommcd8471]

@@krabkrabkrab keep the receipts, those donations may be tax deductible.

[@ryans413]

If I bet it’s a small amount and if a lose then that’s it I just go oh well and move on. But a lot of people can’t do that because they are addicted and I’d rather bet on something I know will go to someone else or a good cause. Like the 50/50 draws at hockey games.

[@maguirebentz797]

Same thing for me with the casino. I don’t go often. But after high school, some friends wanted to go every now and then. I set a firm limit at $40-$60. I would have spent more than that going out to trendy bars (including Ubers and drinks) so this amount was reasonable for the cost of a night out with a friend I wanted to see. That’s how I viewed the money. Cashing out before losing it all was seen as a bonus.

[@nbassano]

I really appreciate that you’re one of the only hockey KZbin channels that doesn’t promote sports gambling. There are a few other channels I really enjoy but the partnering with sports gambling sites seems exploitative.

[@disgraced101]

Its interesting that you mention how prevalent it is. I'm an MMA/Boxing fan and I know how entrenched those sports are in gambling. Even Khabib Nurmagamedov mentions his disdain for it and when he was trying to build up his own fight promotion Eagles FC to be a feeder system for Russian fighters to be scouted by the UFC, he stated he got many Partnership requests by said companies which conflicted with his own religious beliefs so he turned them down.

[@InsertUsernameHere-co1uv]

I'm glad that you've posted this, I'm a young dude (20) and I've already dealt with addiction, it's a fucking nightmare, it's great to see you speaking up about it

[@BeenusSupreme]

Glad to see you're aware and taking care of yourself at such a young age. I'm 31 and had a rough go in my early, 20s too. Pulling for you, mate.

[@ChristopherStandardTime]

I'm glad you both are getting better. Stay strong, y'all.

[@InsertUsernameHere-co1uv]

@@BeenusSupreme it got me in a rough financial spot, still in debt, but it was a real eye opener. It's wild out there

[@cdanielh128]

Stay strong. I am 46 and been fighting for over 20 years. The fight gets easier the longer you go but the itch never is gone.

[@lancerhades971]

24 here. Keep going my man. You've got this

[@73Ambassador]

Thank you for openly opposing this insanity! Sports gambling is spreading like cancer. Its now on mainstream sports channels, and even local hockey teams podcasts or KZbin channels I watch are shoving these ads in our faces. Your integrity is worth more than anything they could pay you!

[@artystaar]

This is more of a societal discussion than a hockey discussion, which is well presented and worth hearing.

[@Rye-jl2fk]

This is why I love Shannon. He's not just a great sports analyst, but he's a great person. Thank you for everything you do. We're lucky to have you.

[@Slim_Ch4rles]

Not a hockey fan, came across this in my feed and as a 1st time watcher I can confidently say your 300k+ subs is well deserved and you deserve even more. Rare to see creators who have the integrity, morals, and intelligence that you do all at the same time

[@SeanK1998]

THG watches more nhl hockey than anybody in the world and even he doesn’t touch gambling. Glad that you speak out, very powerful message.

[@adammcallister5773]

Literally got an unskippable fanduel ad on this video. It is inescapable torture

[@stewdumplings7847]

KZbin Vanced if you have android look into it. Premium is worth it if you use you tune a lot.

[@elterrifico9522]

I saw a Bet 365 ad

[@shawn9366]

I’ve been clean and sober for over 10 years now. I am very grateful I can see through the gambling ads but I worry about others like me who can so easily be brought down by it.

[@patrickharrison4763]

Nice job on a decade! Sadly for every 1 of us (7 years sober here) there are 100 people who fill fall for it and be hooked. They know the odds are in their favor (pun intended)

[@Hockeynut73]

Take a look at the NFL a bunch of Players got suspended for Gambling issues but the networks dont cover those stories everything is being buried by the money aspect

[@Azeria]

hey great video, just fyi you can disable gambling ads in your google adsense account if you’re worried about those ads running against your content!

[@sooptime]

Glad you covered this. It's gotten beyond ludicrous. Rink boards during games, players, announcers during breaks, odds ticker on-screen, ads in breaks.

[@sdeepj]

McDavid is not allowed to do ads for alcohol or tobacco, but it’s okay for him to ads for gambling🤦

[@otaviofrnazario]

one phenomenon we understand early while studiying law (I'm a lawyer in another country) is that "the law is the one running after the acts of human life" and that people always try to find a breech

[@okyouknowwhatever]

@@otaviofrnazario Any wise or reasonable person understands this, you don't have to study law to get it, just have normal intelligence level and adult life experience. I'm always annoyed by all this "aw aw, and we can't do anything about it, it's only going to get worse from here", as if countries never change or remodel their laws to tackle social problems.

[@SaveznaRepublikaJugoslavija]

I love that THG isn’t a sellout

[@Patrick33456]

I have so much respect for you for making a stand on this issue. I got a job offer for almost double my salary to work for a sports gambling app. Only reason I took the interview was many good friends had begun to work there. I turned it down in a heartbeat and never looked back. I couldn't live with myself.. always happy to see others make a stand in whatever small way they can.

[@joep2311]

THANK YOU!!! The ads drive me absolutely insane. Not to mention my family is all hooked on it. They weren't hooked until the flood of ads started either... 🤦‍♂️

[@nottherocketman]

I appreciate you standing strong against all this BS, Shannon. Gambling is one thing, but when all these sports are offering MID-GAME updates on odds and all that crap, it feels so dirty. I feel like a WWE match would be more honest.

[@Dratchev241]

I think you can even bet on the WWE.

[@fredleinweber2819]

@@Dratchev241 wouldn't doubt it

[@michaelbacchiocchi8111]

The availability and fast processing of sports data and analytics makes it possible. More bets = more coin.

[@ShawnJain]

The world would be a far better place with no sports gambling or pharmaceutical advertisements

[@defectiveindustries]

Only two countries on Earth allow pharmaceutical ads

[@ryanbakker3668]

​@defectiveindustries I live in Canada and as a result see pharma ads from American broadcasts. American channels are a part of a basic satellite package. I'm sure there's lots of people still seeing pharma ads around the world.

[@mamitomoe321]

It would be a far better place with no ads

[@notesandfragments]

💯 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@CardsNHorns04]

Sure, but that's not the world we live in, and will never live in. People will always seek vices, but regulating them and providing help to those who need it is really the only effective way to deal with it.

[@kpats11]

Another byproduct of all this sports gambling is the crowd that shows up to hockey games. I’m at almost every islanders game, and there are more and more people who aren’t fans of either team on the ice, but they’re just there to gamble. They’re obnoxious and rude. It just makes the in arena experience worst for fans of both teams

[@chyeaOGKush]

idk this channel but good for u for speaking out man !!! I like betting personally but understand how destructive it can be and I HATE the ads. It should be treated like cigarettes'. 21 and older, no ads at all and generally looked down upon. Its constantly glorified and now sports center type shows are constantly bringing up lines of games and recommended bets.

[@galkanftw]

The only reason it hasn't become much worse is because the NLHPA has equal say against the leagues wishes unlike the UFC where Dana rules all and the employees have ZERO say. it kind of works anyhow both parties can enjoy the added profits but for the fan it does nothing just like rising costs to see a live game the FAN is left out of the equation. IMO it is the old school dads that keep the new populace of hockey players coming because it's not like kids get to easily see live games unless they have 500 bucks handy in their pockets. I used to watch games gold seats 20 bucks at the old ODD now it's like easily 200 bucks so a 20x increase but our wages didn't increase 20x along with it otherwise I would be making 140 dollars an hour.

[@pierrepellerin249]

I once had a gambling problem. It's a road you do not want to drive on. I beat the addiction over 35 years ago and I haven't had money problem since. Today, you could not make me buy a lottery ticket. I really can't stand gambling now and even less gamblers.

[@tombullard6167]

If you've been there have empathy for those struggling. Not sympathy but empathy bc you've been there. I understand 100% the feeling tho bc deal it with it daily. I think it's probably partially bc we see reflections of our past selves in those currently in the struggle so have disgust for what we allowed ourselves to become. Mental health & ability to cope with modern life is of tantamount importance.

[@devonn3278]

I know i don't know you, and i hope this doesn't come off as condescending or out of line or something, but I'm happy for you and proud of you that you kicked that addiction. It's always really good to hear that someone who was in it bad got out and is doing well.

[@yoholmes273]

I'm a professional poker player and I understand you completely. I hate casinos and hate the degenerates. I go to a casino strictly for work and can't wait to get out of there.

[@pierrepellerin249]

@@tombullard6167 I stay away and wants nothing to do with gambling addicts. Empathy is hard, like you said, maybe I see my old self there and wants nothing to do with it. Maybe I see gamblers as a threat to 35+ years of a gambling free life. Irrational fear I suppose but when something burn you once, you never forget. I hope they find the strenght to do what I did and take their lives back. Showing them it's possible is the only help I can give.

[@Chimeratech8]

You are literally the only major hockey KZbinr willing to talk about these issues honestly and in-depth. Not quite the same, but I'm part of the hockey and Pokemon card communities and it's frightening how much people will spend because they think that the Shiny Charizard or Bedard rookie card is "due" to be in the next pack(s).

[@angiebee2225]

It is the same, though, because it is a literal gamble when you buy a pack. It's addictive behavior that EA Sports relies on when it sells in-game card packs.

[@otaviofrnazario]

@@angiebee2225 yes, ultimate team packs are a pure gamble...

[@LGPanthers1]

It's because they are due; how will they find out when they're due if they don't lose 10x consecutively?

[@matthewsmith2078]

I wonder how much of the gambling epidemic in Gen Z is related to loot box mechanics in today’s games. When I was a kid playing Mario Sunshine or Madden 02, there was no way to use real money in a game to get a reward

[@chrisguardiano6143]

As a Premier League fan in addition to hockey, I can tell you in the UK, these ads are a major problem. It has gotten so bad in recent years that the UK Parliament has had to pass laws greatly limiting their airing (and there are laws in the works to totally ban these ads). For example one of the laws is that gambling ads can only be shown on late night programming meaning anything between the hours of 10 pm-5 am. In addition the Premier League has banned clubs (starting next season) from having gambling companies as jersey sponsors so if you see jerseys without sponsors when watching a Premier League match going forward, that is the reason why. I think the steps that the UK has taken are the only way these problems can be addressed in the US & Canada though it will be much harder to enforce gambling laws given the fact that there are significantly more companies in operation than in the UK in which it is just Betway & Bet365 followed by smaller Chinese companies/sites. There is also the high likelihood that leagues in North America won't follow the Premier League's example in stamping out this issue unless they are forced to do so by the local, state/provincial & federal governments.

[@otaviofrnazario]

man, I'm following things a bit in the UK as a brazilian due to the Lucas Paquetá trial. Here in Brazil it is horrible regarding gambling. What used to be the best daily sports show in the country has been sponsored by gambling companies, the boards near the fields are dealt by an agency that is close to gambling companies, there are companies coming out of the blue that no one has heard about that are paying a ton of money for club sponsorship... but the board of the club is being accused of mismanagement of funds provenient from said sponsorship... And all but four clubs have gambling companies as main sponsors. The sporting gamble is legal here, but there are companies (not say the name but Neymar is a spokesperson and probably a silent partner) that promote games that are actually illegal (slot games and a game called crashed, that has an airplane).

[@jasonforster9445]

God bless you for being brave enough to post this. As a member from the addiction recovery community I thank you.

[@skiiworld]

If you think this is bad, I was watching Fury vs Usyk, and there is literally betting advertisements during the round breaks, after round 6 it was flashing up odds for Fury to win in round 7, 8 or 9 in a fight that was even on the cards at that point, straight up predatory.

[@alexsquared1534]

In the UK a soccer player (Ivan Toney) was banned for gambling and told he couldn’t train with the team for x amount of months (I think 8). The sponsor on the front of the soccer jersey was a sports betting company. It’s a joke how much these companies pray on people using celebrities and how all the sports governing bodies are ok with it

[@lordlondis]

I was just talking with my brother about this the other day. He is starting to think that it's affecting the game in litle ways, like how they consider what are shots or not.

[@angiebee2225]

It isn't impacting that. What it is impacting is how many people who have bets on that kind of thing rage on the Internet because the NHL official scorers got something wrong.

[@yoholmes273]

I bet hockey, almost exclusively on the over for player shots on goal. This season has been very screwy with the official scorers as how they count shots. I'm even seen periods end and the shot count is then corrected by -3 shots.

[@fredleinweber2819]

@@yoholmes273 I've noticed that too this playoff season.

[@maluorno]

i haven't had cable for years and when i was at a friend's house to watch a game recently i was dumbfounded how all these ads were all over the place. disgusted, actually. glad im not the only one

[@chronicpark670]

yup. started watching the Jays on SN this year. its terrible. gawdy logos placed digitally onto the back of the pitching mound with matching ad on the wall behind the catcher. nothing says baseball like rybelselus

[@ReviewBrad]

Haven’t watched your videos before but have seen you in the community obviously. I’m an old head when it comes to hockey. Thank you for making this video. The gambling is way too much. People are fee to do what they like but the league is being complicit in these gambling companies grooming addicts to give them their money. Someone with a gambling addiction cannot even watch a game now because of the constant advertisements even at intermission and in play.

[@High_Caliber]

Even Don Cherry's twitter channel was pushing sports gambling, which was sad to see. Gambling is a tax on people that don't understand statistics.

[@fredbrandl880]

Totally agree with you Shannon! These gambling ads absolutely suck.

[@Sil3ntB87]

Betting and gambling has become absurdly ridiculous and a major issue that is just getting worse

[@br1an432]

while gambling ads are nothing more than a deep frustration for me personally, i cant help but feel so bad for people struggling with a gambling addiction, watching hockey must become an incredibly frustrating, if not impossible task for them.

[@slagothor48]

Ads overall have gotten ridiculous. I loathe the constantly flashing ads around the rink and all over the ice itself.

[@TimPounders-kb3kj]

I completely agree with you. A true sports fan does not have to have money on the event, they just can tune in watch the game and be invested in the competition and skills of athletes. I listen to sports radio and I am soooo disgusted with focus of 75% of the dialogue is the line and betting. I usually turn it off at that point. The hosts, guests, and commentators all promote and discuss their own bets. This is our entertainment now to keep us from discussing toxic politics and religion! Depressing.

[@TheSimpleG5]

Totally agree, gambling is something to be avoided.

[@frankfarklesberry]

It's shameful. Twenty years ago, politicians were making hay about how gambling was out of control. Gretzky was running around trying to keep his wife out of trouble. Now, politicians let their hand get greased, and it's full bore enticement.

[@OldRustySteele]

Yeah, and Gretz’s strumpet daughter doesn’t fall far from Mom’s tree. I’ll bet they’re both HIGH MAINTENANCE.

[@julianr3489]

​@@OldRustySteeleyour comment literally made me laugh out loud😂

[@ctaylor8003]

You really think Janet was the one with the gambling problem? I'd like to sell you a bridge

[@2639theboss]

Politicians arent getting their hands greased to allow betting. They might have initially, but its so far past that point that at most its just additional tax revenue.

[@BlisaBLisa]

i think its just too enticing now for them to resist, it takes so much less money to run a website or app than a physical casino and its so much easier for anyone to access whenever they want

[@JOHNWLOUCKS]

Since legalized gambling came to NY state it's just a disaster and has made me pull away from sports.

[@biglebowski3961]

One thing is for those ads to pop up during the game, but then u have the announcers pushing it, too.

[@adamjohnson6715]

I’m a big hockey watcher from Ontario, and the gambling ads are insufferable. So during the regular season, I’d usually flip to a website to watch games (especially those out of my viewing area), where there was usually at least one camera crew broadcast available. The camera crew broadcasts don’t include commercials, and instead cut to the ice. All because I know the regular broadcast is littered with gambling ads.

[@johnalwell5795]

You do a great job normally but this video is a classic. I have gambled and gone to casinos but I would NEVER own a gambling app, it causes reflex gambling . YOU lose a tough game and now with the app you can immediately bet more money to get even . The greed in the casino industry is worse than ever your right MGM app has become garbage with no real perks. Thank you for the video .

[@stevesmart170]

It is obnoxious. My eyes notice the huge gap between the minus and the plus, and I just think, damn, the only winner is the house.

[@iagmusicandflying]

@Julia_Hammels I swear they make up their own odds systems just to keep even people schooled in probability and statistics off-balance.

[@quercusquercus532]

The size of this gap, combined with the fact that none of them make "we give better odds than our competitors" a major part of their marketing? Suggests there's some serious collusion going on.

[@markfeland2285]

It's only a matter of time before sports betting corrupts game outcomes ( officiating) if it hasn't already. As long as there's a way for money to be made by cheating some people are going to cheat

[@dellydelly7759]

Thank you for bringing this to the forefront. I'm so sick of watching sports betting commercials and the athletes and x athletes who promote this. Thanks for being a man of integrity!

[@trevorhare2699]

Thank you so much for this vid. I teach high school in Ontario. Young staff members and my students gamble on sports all the time. Funny enough our provincial gov pushing this gambling, we just created a ministry in charge of Ontario Lottery and Gaming, has decided to “test” grade 10 financial literacy. “You are a money moron, listen to McDavid bet on tonight’s game.” Chronic gamblers lose everything in the end. When the end comes is different for everyone, but the end does come.

[@AnthonyJoh]

The game is almost unwatchable on TV now with ads EVERY SINGLE BREAK in the game!

[@mattblom3990]

It's just creepy how the NHL has so quickly and wholeheartedly embraced gambling.

[@LGPanthers1]

It's in every professional league; it's already wormed its way into the NCAA and I'm sure it's the same for overseas amateur leagues. You used to have to hit up the sketchball meathead on 6th street just to put 20 bucks down on a cheeky cover for next week's Eagles game. Now you can just veg out and "incentivize" your own viewing experience by putting a stack on literally meaningless and uncontrollable metrics within 10 seconds.

[@kurtwpg]

It's pretty simple. Take a little gambling money, look around the internet to see if the fans are freaking out. If not, "GIVE ME MUCH MORE MONEY PLEASE!"

[@BobSaxon-ou7ww]

I think any sports league that takes in profits from the promotion of gambling should be required to put 40 percent of all profits into treatment for gambling.

[@Meddemmmmmmm]

I watch way more soccer than hockey and this has been going on for a few years. This season alone in the premier league, 3 players have been charged with gambling on their own matches; even getting an intentional yellow card for a specific bet. This will get worse. It generates too much money for it to stop unfortunately.

[@Lotus77777]

Thank you for standing on your morals. A lot of KZbinrs for all sports won’t take a stand on promoting gambling to a susceptible audience of young people (and primarily young men).

[@felixculpa3520]

Thank-you for bringing awareness to this incredibly important issue. I have been a hockey fan for over fifty years, but I have been absolutely disgusted with the NHL for at least a year about this. I am currently boycotting the playoffs and will never watch another NHL game, for the rest of my life, if this does not stop.

[@mftoms59]

One of the many reasons you're my EXCLUSIVE Hockey Channel. As someone in the Las Vegas Gaming Industry I TOTALLY AGREE, thanks.

[@Merlin_From_Shrek_3]

The only good thing I got out of marketing class was being able to recognize marketing tactics

[@blzt3206]

That’s the entire point of taking a marketing class so…

[@guagadu7804]

"Gambling needs to stay away from our sport! Wait, we can make how much money? Nevermind, gambling everywhere!" I've been watching the NBA playoffs and it's been so frustrating how some of the betting sites have gone beyond ads in the ad breaks, but also have ads built into the broadcast during the game in a way I don't remember seeing from any other sponsor.

[@michaelgurnick8422]

Thank you. Gambling addictions are going to become a serious social issue, if it hasn't already. The fact that it is now connected to our phones is making a lot more people susceptible. I think it is disappointing to see McDavid and Gretzky jump on board and are part of the advertising / promoting of online gambling. The final issue I see is that it is dangerous ground for a professional sports league to get in bed with gambling companies. In this playoffs, the disallowed goal in OT by Dallas against Colorado becomes a lot more suspicious. Not saying their was anything nefarious on that goal, but it certainly proves that the potential for that sort of behaviour is definitely there.

[@CB-ob5vh]

My dad is a gambler, especially pro-line sports betting. The advertisements are getting out of control. I'm a Sens fan, and was pretty shocked Shane Pinto got 41 or 42 games (i forget) for gambling on a different sport, while the Sens have tons of advertisements for sports betting websites. Unbelievable.

[@peregrine-fu]

Imagine my surprise when I got an ad for sports betting before this video lol. Good on you for standing up against it.

[@ZealZaddy]

Thank you! I love this. I hate all these ads, too. I also hate what gambling has done to the joy of sports. The love/hate of players and teams for making/not making YOU money is sooooo wrong.

[@mhedden033]

I am born and raised in Vegas. I have had family and friends not be able to control themselves gambling. (Common denominator for almost all of them has been favorite gambling game is craps, for what its worth). I bet on betmgm, I put $50 in my account at start of the season, bet about $3-5 a game once or twice a week, mostly player prop bets. I do enjoy cheering for shot blocks, saves, and sog because I have $1 on the over for that player (parlays are for suckers, trust me). I finished this season with $36.13, but if my account hits $0 during the season I wouldn't top back up until next season. If you would be tempted to put more money in before next season then betting is not for you, please avoid it.

[@justincase4812]

Thank you for talking about this. It is much more prevalent in Canadian broadcasts than American national and local.

[@djardine2520]

Thank you for toeing the line on this. It is grotesque how much we are being hammered with all these betting ads.

[@maxpowr90]

Yet nobody bats an eye how the Oilers arena is attached to a casino. Even in Vegas, that isn't the case.

[@RobdaVegasMailman]

Attached, no. Placed in between a few of the major Strip casinos, yes. Years ago, Vegas had an ECHL team before the Golden Knights were formed. They played at the Orleans Arena attached to the Orleans casino.

[@north3606]

Casinos aren’t the problem, it’s the online gambling and ads.

[@LouieNJ]

I saw the other day someone talking about having a pretty severe gambling addiction...they were 21.... Congrats, society. This is going to only get worse over the next decade. Every sports league, major game developer, some twitch streamers and politicians will have their fingerprints all over the issue.

[@Deeegz675]

Happy to see you make a video on this. The impact sports betting will have on society is scary. On top of that, they have made it easier for gambling addicts to hide their addiction. I wish they would at least get rid of the segments on tv broadcasts that are dedicated to the odds. Stop normalizing sports betting and making it part of the game. I feel bad for anyone who makes that first bet.

[@timhunt6457]

Good on you for sticking to your values!

[@chris-qo1nt]

Hey THG. I’m an old guy, 38, who likes online sports books, spent only like 100 on it in the last year and I agree, the advertising is absolutely insidious. Good for you for coming out against it