The NHL embracing sports gambling was a major mistake

[Darcy Tucker]

You could argue that gambling is less destructive than social media apps and tiktok because you actually have to pay attention and use your brain when gambling or sports betting. Doom scrolling mindless propaganda seems way more harmful.

 

[ItWasJustified]

You could argue that gambling is less destructive than social media apps and tiktok because you actually have to pay attention and use your brain when gambling or sports betting. Doom scrolling mindless propaganda seems way more harmful.

Plague or cholera.

 

[boredmale]

The NHL embracing sports gambling was a major mistake​

​

I wouldn't bet on that personally

 

[JPT]

You could argue that gambling is less destructive than social media apps and tiktok because you actually have to pay attention and use your brain when gambling or sports betting. Doom scrolling mindless propaganda seems way more haharmful.

I suppose you could argue that, but we don't have a bunch of mid-play talk about doom scrolling IG so it is kind of beside the point. If you see a Meta ad, it's going to be during the commercial break when you should be ignoring the TV to doom scroll IG.

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

Just saw this and couldn't agree more. What a breath of fresh air it has been without being totally flooded with trash ads at every break. The experience of watching the Olympics has been really pleasant, can't really say the same for the NHL or NFL as of late.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I live in a small town in VA Ceasers just opened a casino last year. The influx of money into this community is damn near unbelievable. Are there same people who cant control themselves falling into hard ship? Maybe I don't really know. What I do know is the tax revenue and the money that Ceasers is putting back into this small town of 40,000 is 20 years worth of revenue before they opened.

Exactly who should they be "responsible to?"

You realize the "money = good" argument can be deployed in support of all sorts of awful things, right?

You do get people have been gambling on sports for as long as sports have been around. And if all the leagues pulled out of it today, it would still happen at the same level.

Sports gambling has massively increased in recent years.

 

[Hippasus]

The gambling (by association tobacco use/drug use/etc.) debate has blame enough for everyone. If it all comes down to a matter of personal choice and personal responsibility, then every advertising agency should be sued for fraud. If we are all fully susceptible to manipulation by others, then life little more than a multi-dimensional board game.

Reality is paradoxical in that we have free will in a deterministic world.

I think the first edge of your dichotomy is backwards, in a way. If we knew human freedom was an unconditioned part of our nature and absolutely fundamental for us, then advertising could be argued as harmless. It's all a matter of personal responsibility grounded in our freedom anyways. On the other side of the dichotomy, if there is no human freedom and we are completely determined, then advertising could be argued as anathema to our completely nurtured-by-the-environment selves.

In my view, what your dichotomy does suggest, like the nature-nurture debate, is that the matter is not a strict either-or, but rather the truth might be somewhere in the middle. As individuals, we assume there is human freedom in our social interactions without knowing that this is a well-grounded supposition. On the other hand, we are clearly affected by our environment in a substantial way.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

I will admit, when the NHL first started partnering with these gambling sites, I was excited about it because I liked sports gambling at the time. But as more time has gone on, I think it has become abundantly clear that it has caused massive detriments towards fans, players and the game itself. And this isn't just a NHL thing, it's all NA pro sports that are guilty of this.

Just a couple of examples:

1. The Jeff Marek situation was covered in another thread, but for a quick write-up of what happened, Marek was leaking draft picks in the 2024 draft and was fired for it. This kind of stuff has been done for years, but he was fired this time because of the gambling impacts of his leaks. The Nevada Game Control Board has questioned him for if he was using insider information to help people make money, which could result in him going to jail. He was doing what insiders have done for years, but now since the NHL is in bed with gambling, it could result in him getting arrested.

2. There is a large segment of fans who have become addicted to sports gambling and often harass players if their bets lose due to players. The most recent example (that prompted me to make this thread) was this situation with the Mariners:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1818802436439785879

https://x.com/i/web/status/1818834979553452400

This isn't a new thing either. I can't remember the exact player, but I remember a player had a clear path for a TD but went down to burn out the clock rather than score the TD. This caused the over/under to not be hit, so that player received a ton of death threats on social media because of it. It's disgusting behavior that is being fueled by addiction.

3. On a similar topic to the previous one, both players and fans are ruining their lives by getting addicted to sports gambling. You've had numerous players in all sports getting suspended, with some guys getting lifetime bans from the sport and losing their livelihoods. You can say "play stupid games, win stupid prizes" all you want, but these sports are actively encouraging people to gamble on their games. I have a friend whose brother has lost thousands to gambling and is in Gambler's Anonymous to get help now.

Nothing will ever change in these sports because they're getting a ton of money to get in bed with sports gambling, but I really feel like it's a massive detriment both towards the sport and to the fans/players of the sport as well. I used to love sports gambling like 5 years ago, but the oversaturation of it and the clear detriments of it make me wish these leagues never would have embraced it in the first place.

I’ve stated my views once before on this subject in a thread about the future of the NHL.

The gambling house's will eventually become so wealthy that they will be buying up all the arenas and stadiums.

They will then place betting kiosk inside those venues.

The integrity of sports will be compromised.

Remember the NBA Scandal years back withe the Warriors

Quick story: many years ago I was at Yonkers Raceway.
1st race a 6-1 shot won the race. The para mutual board showed the money that was wagered on that horse and the favorite in the second race was extremely heavy for the Daily Double.
2nd race starts and immediately the favorite pulls off to the side. The crowd gave off a moan then the gambler's started screaming and yelling.
If the driver of the favorite would have pulled out before the start of the race anyone holding that horse would have received a refund but because the driver waited until the start, everyone holding that horse lost.
Got in my car, left, never returned.

These examples were before online sports betting and minuscule compared to now. Also sports gambling back then was limited to the State of Nevada and illegal bookies.

Does anyone really believe that MJ left the NBA because he wanted to play minor league baseball or was it to protect a sport and it greatest star?

 

[Breakers]

The intermissions are unbearable

Live odds changing and parleys

 

[JianYang]

When the nhl locked out the players in the name of “partnership”, stole at least 1 billion dollars from them in the process and denied fans an entire season of play, the took on the moral & ethical obligation to grow revenues.

That’s their end of the Partnership, raise the HRR every year. If they don’t, they fail in their obligation to their player Partners (as they coined the term to white wash their PR spin).

Gambling is a mega source of revenue for the league, they would be derelict in their fiduciary duty to not capitalize on this stream of income.

That all said, it’s not their problem if people don’t have self control of their free will. Gambling has been part of humanity since the cave man. Its not the NhL’s fault or responsibility to solve.

Hey most fans begged for a cap and now the big market teams are getting fatter and fatter at the expense of the fans and the product.

So be it, most of you are getting what you wished for!

The fact that the owners went in a revenue partnership with the players in the cba is not relevant.

Every for profit business uses year over year revenue growth as one of their prime metrics for performance.

The pervasive inclusion of sports gambling as a revenue source was inevitable regardless of the cba structure once sports gambling went mainstream.

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

The fact that the owners went in a revenue partnership with the players in the cba is not relevant.

Every for profit business uses year over year revenue growth as one of their prime metrics for performance.

The pervasive inclusion of sports gambling as a revenue source was inevitable regardless of the cba structure once sports gambling went mainstream.

Sure I don’t disagree.

I’m simply emphasizing the additional fiduciary duty they took on through their labour actions means that they didn’t have the option to not take on these significant revenue streams.

 

[Nick Lang]

You could argue that gambling is less destructive than social media apps and tiktok because you actually have to pay attention and use your brain when gambling or sports betting. Doom scrolling mindless propaganda seems way more harmful.

100%, those just cause brain rot.

 

[Satans Hockey]

The more concerning thing to me, despite all the gambling adds, logos on jerseys, new tv contract, expansion teams, and massive inflation going on, the salary cap isn’t making any sort of massive jump that you’d expect.

I didn't read the whole thread so someone might have said this already but what should be more concerning is that despite all these extra revenue streams teams still raise prices to more and more ridiculous levels every year, even if they miss the playoffs prices go up most years. It's gotten completely out of hand and compared to a league like the Premier League in England it's insane how much our tickets cost in comparison.

 

[Lshap]

Sure I don’t disagree.

I’m simply emphasizing the additional fiduciary duty they took on through their labour actions means that they didn’t have the option to not take on these significant revenue streams.

The league's fiduciary duty doesn't include a limitless free-for-all on advertising. Revenue streams go only as far as viewers are willing to tolerate them. Fan backlash against digital board ads was strong enough for Bettman to actually address it. Supposedly, the league has stated it will respond to the negative reaction. Hopefully the same backlash will force the league to reconsider its relationship with gambling ads.

The other factors are morality and brand association. If gambling is found to be associated with a big enough scandal or a spike in addictions, the NHL will probably moderate how, when, and where it buddies up with gambling.

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

The league's fiduciary duty doesn't include a limitless free-for-all on advertising. Revenue streams go only as far as viewers are willing to tolerate them. Fan backlash against digital board ads was strong enough for Bettman to actually address it. Supposedly, the league has stated it will respond to the negative reaction. Hopefully the same backlash will force the league to reconsider its relationship with gambling ads.

The other factors are morality and brand association. If gambling is found to be associated with a big enough scandal or a spike in addictions, the NHL will probably moderate how, when, and where it buddies up with gambling.

Sure I agree. I have said it in this thread that fans can vote with their eyeballs and wallet. One poster mocked me “telling fans to stop watching”.

As long as consumers accept the product, they will continue to get the product. Hands in our pockets!

Doesn’t change the leagues role in the Partnership is to grow revenue channels.

 

[2CHAINZ]

You could argue that gambling is less destructive than social media apps and tiktok because you actually have to pay attention and use your brain when gambling or sports betting. Doom scrolling mindless propaganda seems way more harmful.

I don't know any people who pissed their entire lives away on social media. I do, however, know many people who have lost marriages, destroyed their families, lost all their money, houses, life savings, investments, friendships, jobs, and everything else over gambling.

I find it funny that you think people who are addicted to gambling are using their brains. It's because of how sharp gamblers are at using their brains that the most profitable thing in a casino is slot machines. People who think when they gamble love slot machines for sure. Honestly, I know people who have lost everything over sports betting, so I know there is not a lot of rational thinking over there as well.

 

[SJSharksfan39]

I understand how much of a money maker Gambling is, but I just want an option to turn that off. We have all these streaming services but for some reason we can't get a gambling free version of a sporting event or something. I'm not sure how that would work, but I know when I watch a TNT telecast and they are all about the gambling, it is a turn off.

 

[Nick Lang]

Sure I agree. I have said it in this thread that fans can vote with their eyeballs and wallet. One poster mocked me “telling fans to stop watching”.

As long as consumers accept the product, they will continue to get the product. Hands in our pockets!

Doesn’t change the leagues role in the Partnership is to grow revenue channels.

People who think they can control stuff like or waste their own time not watching are clueless though. No one cares, $100 is meaningless.

The league is correctly trying to grow their business and increase capital. Regular people who aren't consumed with being angry over nothing and who like/love hockey like myself will continue to watch and enjoy the sport. .

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

People who think they can control stuff like or waste their own time not watching are clueless though. No one cares, $100 is meaningless.

The league is correctly trying to grow their business and increase capital. Regular people who aren't consumed with being angry over nothing and who like/love hockey like myself will continue to watch and enjoy the sport. .

No doubt about it!

 

[Ianturnedbull]

While we're on the topic:

Can someone explain to me what a parlay is?

Don't answer that.

Let me tell you right now how difficult it is to win on several games. Especially NHL hockey.

 

[Nothingbutglass]

I’ve stated my views once before on this subject in a thread about the future of the NHL.

The gambling house's will eventually become so wealthy that they will be buying up all the arenas and stadiums.

They will then place betting kiosk inside those venues.

The integrity of sports will be compromised.

Remember the NBA Scandal years back withe the Warriors

Quick story: many years ago I was at Yonkers Raceway.
1st race a 6-1 shot won the race. The para mutual board showed the money that was wagered on that horse and the favorite in the second race was extremely heavy for the Daily Double.
2nd race starts and immediately the favorite pulls off to the side. The crowd gave off a moan then the gambler's started screaming and yelling.
If the driver of the favorite would have pulled out before the start of the race anyone holding that horse would have received a refund but because the driver waited until the start, everyone holding that horse lost.
Got in my car, left, never returned.

These examples were before online sports betting and minuscule compared to now. Also sports gambling back then was limited to the State of Nevada and illegal bookies.

Does anyone really believe that MJ left the NBA because he wanted to play minor league baseball or was it to protect a sport and it greatest star?

Sports gambling has been legal forever in England and none of this has happened. Its taxed and regulated. Its the gambling houses that are discovering any of these "compromises" and alerting the leagues. The leagues are putting the hammer down on any bad actor that gets caught involved. It is in no one's best interest for game fixing to happen. As far as the intrusive advertising, I agree, but again the league is getting paid for them. There will be morality debates and ad restrictions like they did with cigarettes and alcohol. but its better than off-shore or illegal bookies. I mean, where I am, I'd argue lottery ticket players are more of a nuisance and more addicting than sports gambling but our state runs them.

 

[Nick Lang]

Just saw this and couldn't agree more. What a breath of fresh air it has been without being totally flooded with trash ads at every break. The experience of watching the Olympics has been really pleasant, can't really say the same for the NHL or NFL as of late.

View attachment 900140

It's been pure sport? Like B Boy break dancing? I'd rather watch gambling adds for an hour straight myself.

 

[thesandman77]

I am sorry but gambling is sports it the future of sports .if we so worry about addiction that has nothing to do with the ads but the person themselves.

Now we have seen the slow decline of cigarettes ads but it took nearly 4 decades to see if these ads have influence in children.

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

I am sorry but gambling is sports it the future of sports .if we so worry about addiction that has nothing to do with the ads but the person themselves.

Now we have seen the slow decline of cigarettes ads but it took nearly 4 decades to see if these ads have influence in children.

Found Big Gambling's burner account

 

[thesandman77]

Found Big Gambling's burner account

Yeah no sorry it true.