Gambling advertisements have flooded Canadian airwaves in recent years and responsible gambling advocates have begun to express concern. They recently got a high-profile ally in hockey parent Karl Subban.
Subban’s sons, PK, Malcom, and Jordan, all played in the NHL. He recently told CTV National News that “there’s something not right about” the volume of online gambling advertisements on television and the internet.
A former high school principal, Subban stressed how impressionable young men and women can be. He is worried that more teenagers could be swayed to illegally bet on sports, especially with famous athletes such as Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid popping up in ads.
“We know what the science tells us, that the part of the brain that is responsible for decision making is not fully developed until you’re 25,” Subban told CTV.
The signs of gambling are everywhere, not just on television. Several Canadian teams have official partnerships with online gambling firms, such as BetRegal, theScoreBet, and PointsBet. Those sites have signage at NHL arenas, Canadian Football League stadiums, and the stadiums for the Toronto Raptors and Blue Jays.
Now, Bell Media is producing and airing gambling segments on television, radio, and the internet. Rogers’ Sportsnet, which broadcasts several NHL playoff games, also provides sports betting content for television.
In response to the proliferation of athletes and celebrities endorsing gambling sites, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has proposed a ban on the use of athletes and celebrities from advertisements. That decision is pending.
Subban joined the group Ban Ads for Gambling, which calls for sports betting advertisements to be removed from all hockey broadcasts.
The AGCO did answer the concern of many responsible gaming advocates by regulating its online gambling market. They rolled out measures to try and curb underage gambling 13 months ago.
Paul Burns, CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, told CTV that regulated gambling is safer.
“Canadians were accessing gaming with no controls, no oversight, no protection. And that’s what this has done, that’s been the biggest change in the last 12 months,” said Burns.
Quebec is seeing cooperation from several sportsbook operators to regulate the online market. Flutter and DraftKings are one of many that have helped launch the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC), which seeks to regulate the iGaming market. Others to join the QOGC are Betway, Bet99, Entain, Games Global and Rush Street Interactive
They are working with the Quebec government, “to develop a new regulatory framework for the online gaming industry.” Currently, the sports betting market runs through Loto-Québec’s Mise-o-jeu online sportsbook.
By joining with the local government, the QOGC further said it can be proactive in regards to consumer safety, responsible gaming and advertising.
The QOGC cited a survey by Leger Marketing as a reason for forming. The study showed that two-thirds (66 percent) of respondents are in favor of regulating private online gaming operators by establishing a licensing and tax system.
