OT: Gambling Ads...

[macmaroon]

Sorry for bringing this up, as I know most of you are all tired of these damn gambling ads during the hockey games. However, I subscribe to the Las Vegas Advisor, a gambling newsletter, that has some interesting information about all of this, and it may explain why the ads may continue for some time...

The Best Igaming Market in the World?:
Is it New Jersey, the oldest igaming jurisdiction? Or Michigan, which surpassed New Jersey in online-gaming revenue for the first time two months ago? Is it Pennsylvania, with its population of 13 million (fifth largest in the U.S.)? Is it the UK or Australia? Perhaps, but it could also, surprisingly, be Ontario, Canada's most populous province (with 14.7 million residents, a bit more than Pennsylvania). Ontario celebrated the one-year anniversary of what's probably the world's most open igaming market yesterday. In only 12 months, Ontario now hosts more than 40 igaming operators that handled $36 billion in total wagers on more than 70 gaming sites with upwards of 5,000 games from 1.6 million accounts (one account for every 9.1 residents). The average spend is around $69 per month. Which sport was the most popular with bettors? Soccer? Hockey? NFL football? Curling? Nope, basketball, with 28% of the handle, followed by soccer (15%), football (14%), hockey (9%), and baseball (8%). In the online casinos, 48% percent of all wagers were on slots, 32% on table games with live dealers, and 19% on computer-based table games.

With over $36 Billion in total wagers in one year in Ontario alone, no wonder they are constantly playing those damn ads. At least now you know why...

Click to read more...

 

[Eyeseeing]

I find it really interesting as there was a lead up of several years of “fun websites “ to gamble almost as if people were being groomed
It’s going to ruin a lot of people’s lives unfortunately like any other vice.

 

[SensibleGuy]

The ads are so frikkin obnoxious. Especially when they drop some BS about the built in "safety features" they have to protect gamblers from themselves. Yeah right.

 

[Eyeseeing]

The ads are so frikkin obnoxious. Especially when they drop some BS about the built in "safety features" they have to protect gamblers from themselves. Yeah right.

Government wins big tax windfall
MAID also from the government less problem gamblers
Double win for government as they are seen as proactive.

 

[KingBogo]

I find it really interesting as there was a lead up of several years of “fun websites “ to gamble almost as if people were being groomed
It’s going to ruin a lot of people’s lives unfortunately like any other vice.

Many life’s have already been ruined, but the freight train is just starting to pick up steam on its path to destroying more. Continuous in game betting options has made sports betting much more similar to slot betting.

 

[blues10]

The ads will continue but big changes may be on the horizon. No more athletes, former athletes, celebrities etc… not sure when or if the changes may happen to but it does seem likely to happen.

 

[sipowicz]

The ads will continue but big changes may be on the horizon. No more athletes, former athletes, celebrities etc… not sure when or if the changes may happen to but it does seem likely to happen.

Can’t believe greedy Gretzky schilling for gambling sites like he’s hard done by, maybe he can do ads for flavoured cigarettes or porn sites next!

 

[Brominator]

Legalized sports gambling? Fine.

But the constant shoving it down our throats during telecasts? f***ing awful.

How do Cabby and Kevin Weekes feel about being relegated to simplistic gambling analysis every game? I'm sure they have more substantial things they could contribute than reminding us to bet on hockey games...

Maybe this garbage will finally stop when a player gets caught in a gambling scandal. With all of the legal betting on individual granular game events and in-game betting, it's only a matter of time before something fishy happens. Of course, when that happens, it might ruin the sport altogether.

 

[AlphaLackey]

“Gambling is not as destructive as war or as boring as pornography, it is not as immoral as business or as suicidal as watching television, and the percentages are better than religion.” - Mario Puzo.

Now of course, I'm going to have to apologize as I cannot be my usual objective self here. In this case, I think my logic is sound, but obviously I have a clearly understood position, both personal and professional.

And no, I am not oblivious for the potential for gambling to influence lives. I actually did some time in GA in my youth, and even when the onset of poker and other card-sharping opportunities changed the dynamic for me, I still saw plenty of people ruin their lives.

And if you or someone you know needs help with a gambling addiction, DM me personally. Maybe I can help, maybe I know where help for you can be had. You'd be surprised how much help it can be when someone you trust can provide you hard statistical knowledge about the inevitability of the usual house advantage

But I'm gonna have to apologize if I see my industry unfairly maligned when there's infinitely worse out there getting a free pass, and I ain't gonna say anything.

As long as a hockey team is allowed to have an insurance company sponsor an arena, when insurance companies are nothing more than gamblers that are far less likely to pay when they lose, I'm fine with the status quo. Google up what the insurance industry did with viaticals during the AIDS epidemic, and how they tried to go lousy on their bets when life-extending drugs changed their math -- they call them 'life settlements' now; they remain 'a multi billion dollar company will bet on when you die'

As long as "free to play" apps and other whale-hunting phone games are allowed to advertise during sports games *and* be marketed directly to underage people, when their entire MO is nothing but "gambling, except you can never cash out when you win", I'm fine with the status quo. Try loading up a popular Match 3 game like "Royal Match" or "Royal Kingdom"; see how many times you get advertized at to "it's like gambling but you can't cash out" during the course of a game; then see if Kevin Weekes talking about the Over/Under for 10 seconds is that bad.

As long as box stores can advertize on hockey games, where so much of their profit hinges on exploitatively marketed extended warranties to customers -- again, including minors -- I'm fine with the status quo. Every single online casino advertizing on a hockey game right now can't hold a candle in the exploitation department to Best Buy's relentless pressure to get non-tech-savvy customers to gamble hundreds of dollars on their TV dying it a certain year, with a house edge so high it would literally be illegal in most casino markets in the USA, including Vegas.

There's a lot of things that are simply "gambling, yet worse" and as far as I'm concerned, we can get rid of them before we go after an industry that has surely spearheaded more intelligent analysis of hockey than the jockocracy could manage in a lifetime of Sundays.

And as for the optics? Sure, they may be annoying. But for those of us who have struggled with alcohol, but have enriched our lives with our gambling skill, might just be at peace with something *else* literally appearing on every single commercial bumper for a change, the way liquor adverts used to be before things changed.

Finally, let me conclude by saying that I hold no enmity towards people who work in those industries (or similar). There ain't no rest for the wicked, and we're all trying to pay our bills. I get that.

 

[Brominator]

And as for the optics? Sure, they may be annoying. But for those of us who have struggled with alcohol, but have enriched our lives with our gambling skill, might just be at peace with something *else* literally appearing on every single commercial bumper for a change, the way liquor adverts used to be before things changed.

But that's one of the things I don't understand. Alcohol advertising has a code now... You don't see Ron MacLean espousing the benefits of an ice cold bottle of Bud Lite during the game, because it's not allowed.

But somehow it's ok to do it for gambling? When that type of advertising is integrated into the broadcast it is just sleazy. Why are we moving backwards?

 

[Eyeseeing]

Can’t believe greedy Gretzky schilling for gambling sites like he’s hard done by, maybe he can do ads for flavoured cigarettes or porn sites next!

Bow wow chicka chicka bow wow
Looking hard Gretz
Feeling hard Connor

But that's one of the things I don't understand. Alcohol advertising has a code now... You don't see Ron MacLean espousing the benefits of an ice cold bottle of Bud Lite during the game, because it's not allowed.

But somehow it's ok to do it for gambling? When that type of advertising is integrated into the broadcast it is just sleazy. Why are we moving backwards?

I think it’s naive to think that there won’t be attempts done through third parties to alter outcomes, there’s just too much money at stake.

 

[macmaroon]

But that's one of the things I don't understand. Alcohol advertising has a code now... You don't see Ron MacLean espousing the benefits of an ice cold bottle of Bud Lite during the game, because it's not allowed.

 

[Channelcat]

It's interesting how advertising has changed over the years, particularly with sports. Seems like alot more fringe stuff now, less staples.

 

[cbcwpg]

Ontario wants to keep sports stars out of gambling ads

Sports gambling companies in Ontario may soon have to advertise their services without the help of big-name sports stars or other celebrities. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) wants to ban the use of athletes and celebrities who might appeal to kids in internet gambling...

ca.sports.yahoo.com

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sports-betting-gambling-ads-gretzky-mcdavid-matthews-nhl-1.6710407

 

[Channelcat]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sports-betting-gambling-ads-gretzky-mcdavid-matthews-nhl-1.6710407

Maybe they can move on to flavored vapes.

 

[CorgisPer60]

I hate the sports betting ads with a passion. Gambling is an addiction, and I am not the target audience. The problem I have with averages is they ignore the problem gamblers that spend well in excess of the average. Seems like sports leagues are racing to catch up with gambling with how deeply integrated they are in commercial spots.

 

[cbcwpg]

I hate the sports betting ads with a passion. Gambling is an addiction, and I am not the target audience. The problem I have with averages is they ignore the problem gamblers that spend well in excess of the average. Seems like sports leagues are racing to catch up with gambling with how deeply integrated they are in commercial spots.

The University of Liverpool reviewed data from seven major online gambling operators. It showed that 86 per cent of what's referred to as gross gambling yield comes from just five (5) per cent of gambling customers in the U.K.

 

[Jet]

I think it's f***ing abhorrent, and I'm not at all anti gambling. I get free cruises by gambling on the ships, I really enjoy it - but I also don't suffer from addiction to gambling. I set limits, don't gamble at home or go to the casino in Tampa.

I think it's awful for those who struggle with gambling addiction and have to see those ads constantly while watching hockey. It's just not right.

 

[Channelcat]

I hate the sports betting ads with a passion. Gambling is an addiction, and I am not the target audience. The problem I have with averages is they ignore the problem gamblers that spend well in excess of the average. Seems like sports leagues are racing to catch up with gambling with how deeply integrated they are in commercial spots.

If we're going to do it, it should be all government operated in my opinion. At least revenues would be in the public pool.

 

[SLAYER]

I enjoy gambling as much as the next degenerate, but the ads are pretty extreme.

I'm opposed to most advertising in general... but these ads really take it to the next level. Wish I could get adblock for my sports streams.

 

[buggs]

The University of Liverpool reviewed data from seven major online gambling operators. It showed that 86 per cent of what's referred to as gross gambling yield comes from just five per cent of gambling customers in the U.K.

Pretty similar statistics to the RPG games on phones. I play a few and thank goodness for the whales because they prevent me from having to do anything to sustain the game. As @AlphaLackey points out, with those games you don't ever cash out, you'll only ever spend.

I play both SWGOH and Marvel Strike Force. Never spent a penny in the Star Wars game over I think it's 8 years now. Have spent in MSF, but I regulate it by having to buy physical gift cards - no impulse buys, no alcohol influenced purchases (don't eBay drunk my friends). Over 5 years I've spent about $500 which is probably $500 too much. FOMO marketing response mostly, which I usually regulate pretty well.

On Reddit guys have outed themselves as having spent over $100K on those games in a year! You can look at the rosters and see that there's truth to that - every character at max gear. It's complete insanity but ultimately it becomes the same thing as gambling, alcohol or drug addiction - poor impulse control coupled with or as a result of an addictive personality.

That said, I'm on the same page as most on here. They need to control the advertising and for heaven's sake, gambling information from commentators isn't content. It's to drive those with poor impulse control.

I long for the return of the house hippo. It's simple message is sorely missed in all aspects of society.

 

[sipowicz]

Maybe they can move on to flavored vapes.

Greedy Gretzky would have no problem doing those ads, even market them to kids, he no longer seems to have a moral compass!

I think it's f***ing abhorrent, and I'm not at all anti gambling. I get free cruises by gambling on the ships, I really enjoy it - but I also don't suffer from addiction to gambling. I set limits, don't gamble at home or go to the casino in Tampa.

I think it's awful for those who struggle with gambling addiction and have to see those ads constantly while watching hockey. It's just not right.

It's no just addiction issues, what bothers me is that with a lot of kids watching the game telecasts they are normalizing gambling which isn't right!

 

[cbcwpg]

Pretty similar statistics to the RPG games on phones. I play a few and thank goodness for the whales because they prevent me from having to do anything to sustain the game. As @AlphaLackey points out, with those games you don't ever cash out, you'll only ever spend.

The worst handheld games IMO are things like slots. Free to play and everything you win is fake. But, they make it so your minimum bet limits increase as you play and win , so you keep needing more tokens to play. Now of course if you are patient they will give you free tokens, but you are constantly sent ads to use REAL money to buy FAKE tokens to win FAKE money. Who in their right mind would send $99 of real money to get 1 billion fake tokens to win billions of more fake tokens. But people do....

You could end up with more money tokens than atoms in the universe and it's still worth $0.00

 

[macmaroon]

It's no just addiction issues, what bothers me is that with a lot of kids watching the game telecasts they are normalizing gambling which isn't right!

Remember when beer ads couldn't be viewed until after a certain time because of the children...

 

[AlphaLackey]

Hey, thanks for everyone who obliged my obvious desire to start an argument

Some points:

------

#1, and it's a big one: I don't think gambling content is unrelated to the game; in fact, anything but. We don't have an analytics revolution if we don't have fantasy draft sports advantage players and we don't have professional bookmakers. I mean, which is more relevant: A bumper line popping up telling us the current betting line -- and thus giving us a very solid ability to predict the winner -- or a panelist saying things truly stupid things like "this works to both team's advantage" or "turning the tide 360 degrees" or "hello, my name is Kevin Sawyer"?

See which, how betting markets outperform human pundits in predicting polls, given that the former is nothing more than the mass sum of countless cases of the later, but who are willing to put their money where their mouth is, in a way that naturally focuses better opinions by success rate.

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#2: I don't think the normalization of gambling is bad, because the essence of what gambling is (the ability to calculate the probability of uncertain future events, and balance risk and return considerations of those events) can be found everywhere. Literacy in this skill is extremely beneficial even at a young age, and in the same way we allow children to consume wine with their meals in local restaurants, if kids grow up learning how to evaluate gambling as an activity with a cost where you need to ensure you get value for the cost, we'll have less degenerates.

Children can enter Pokemon or chess tournaments. They have an entry fee and cash prizes that pay out less than the sum of their entries; in every way that matters, they are gambling. And kids who can be exposed to the cost and say "it's worth paying (or my parents paying ) because I get entertainment value out of the game" are a step ahead.

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#3: As I alluded to, I can understand the pervasiveness of gambling ads being a problem for those with gambling issues, because I saw the similar with alcohol ads. And I don't think Ron MacLean or Wayne Gretzky advocating liquor ads makes a difference; just showing three grown adults living a fantasy life where liquor never causes harm is enough for someone who struggles with alcohol addiction, and who wants to enjoy sports without associating it with their addiction.

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#4: One way in which gambling has potential to be far less exploitative: the ability to do it for extremely small sums. Most sites accept deposits as low as $5 and bets as low as $0.10; try having a drink or two at the game with a drinking budget of $5, see how far you get