The Ongoing Sports Gambling Advertising Issue 

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!!

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…

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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.

I really appreciate that you’re one of the only hockey RU-vid 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The difference between THG standing by his values and SDPN selling out for the extra dollar with these sorts of shady advertisers.

Sports betting and fantasy has ruined how people view sports.

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.

So much respect for this video. These advertisements are disgusting and so harmful. I'm sick of seeing them and knowing how many kids are getting hooked on this terrible addiction especially with influencers they look up to promoting it to them. Thanks for speaking out against this.

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

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

There’s a reason 90% of tv ads are sports gambling, lawyers, and pharmaceutical. Those industries are insanely profitable.

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... 🤦‍♂️

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….

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

Appreciate you talking about this! The advertising being so prevalent is really damn annoying. Also Sportsnet having a gambling odds segment during intermission is horrendous

Thanks for this! As someone who doesn't watch sports but sees the ramping advertising everywhere I appreciate you eloquently putting this to light. It's sad people are falling for it

I love that THG isn’t a sellout

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

I'm a baseball nut and I can't get over how many of the ads on Bally Sports are promoting gambling. I'm 72 and, as a musician, I literally lived at "The Dunes Casino" once for almost 6 months. I have seen, and participated in, gambling. It's a flipping cancer. I haven't bought a lottery ticket in 30 years. This gambling stuff is totally out of control - it's so crazy.

Such an important issue. Appreciate you talking about this. What are we teaching our kids when all the ads are for alcohol and gambling? Now they even talking about it during the game!

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.

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

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.

The fact gambling can lead to the destruction of a person's life and whole families, how it is so heavily promoted on something that needs families/kids watching and participating, is gross to say the least.

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.

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

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

Thank you for having some integrity. I worked on a gambling documentary and let me tell you some of the stories I heard were insane. Gambling like this should be looked at like a drug, because it's just as addictive and unlike drugs the only thing stopping you is going broke.

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 RU-vid channels I watch are shoving these ads in our faces. Your integrity is worth more than anything they could pay you!

You are literally the only major hockey RU-vidr 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).

Thank you Shannon for addressing this. No one is really talking about how sports betting ads are everywhere and how much of a problem it has become.

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

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

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.

im so glad others are paying attention to this. I remember last year getting back into hockey after covid and seeing draft kings odds and thinking "what the hell is this legal? how is this allowed? why are people pretending this is ok?" gambling is worse than drug addiction.

As a sports fan who doesn't gamble, thanks for providing a rare spot to avoid those advertisements.

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.

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.

When I was a kid, I was taught that gambling was on the same line as smoking or alcohol. "Once in a while is fine, but if you depend on it that's a problem". I can't imagine how younger me would've been drawn to sports betting when Kevin Garnett and others said it was cool.

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

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

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

100% and good on you for calling out these issues that are being ignored.

I'm glad to see someone like you talking about this. The sheer amount of sports gambling ads I've seen over the past few years has left a real bad taste in my mouth and not a lot of people seem to be concerned, which is in and of itself concerning.

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

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.

as a 22 year old who has been around gambling my whole life i find it concerning that its allowed to be this hardly advertised

Drug dealers don't give free samples. They never need to look for customers. I really appreciate you taking this stand. Gambling addiction is one of the most destructive addictions and having it on your phone in your house is going to hurt so many people.

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

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 .

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.

"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.

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.

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.

We've turned the avg sports fan into a bingo player. It's really sick.

I'm a 29 year old man with a history of impulse issues. I've done a great job at staying away from the casinos over the past 5 years or so. That is until sports gambling became available in my pocket. I've lost thousands of dollars these past few months, money i really need, and still I have a hard time putting it down. Not sure what I'm going to do.

they’re supposed to be family friendly, not allowed to swear, but they’re shoving gambling in the faces of every kid watching

Australian TV is pretty good. After every gambling commercial, sports betting segment, there's a black screen that says "You lose more than you win"; "Think about what else you could be spending your money on."

I'm 23. I like sports. Every ad I get is a sports gambling ad. So sick of it, it has poisoned sports. why can't we just enjoy it for the love of the game?

great video. some years ago I interviewed for a job at Draft Kings (at the suggestion of a former coworker). this was a relatively senior technical position and not only did they insult me personally on the phone repeatedly (granted, unintentionally because they're just clueless about social moors apparently) but worse than that was just like... the banal evilness that just radiated from every person I talked to. down here in the states people will tell you that people who lose their money deserve it, like these betting organizations are just sitting their minding their own business and people are seeking out self destruction. man these companies all literally have researchers on staff whose explicit job is to get as many people addicted as possible.

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

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

Thank-you @TheHockeyGuy I really appreciate you taking a stand on this issue. You are 100% correct. Less is less. No the house never loses which means you the average person you are the one who pays the winner. For those thinking oh there is a winner out there. While your into reasurch look into what happens to the winners of major money 1 year after winning it big. If you find out they are in worse financial condition; YES very much worse Financial condition 1 YEAR after winning major serious money and this is 99% of the cases of major lottery winnings. But as for the officiating of late taking a bribe on the side would explain a lot of the complete garbage calls we've seen.

100% agree with this. I cringe whenever I see anything regarding odds or betting on games whether it's the NHL or the NFL. Last year, my wife and I went to a Penguins game and there was a young man behind us with some of his friends. He frequently said things about how the team needed to do better to cover the spread or that player needed to win more faceoffs or other little things like that. All because he had money on the game. It wasn't enough to be annoying, but it was sad to hear him talk so much about gambling. The worst part was during the 3rd period where a buddy of his said he was going to go get a beer and asked the young man if he wanted one. The young man said yes but asked if his buddy could cover him because he didn't have any money on him. My wife and I just looked at each other and laughed. Funny situation, yes, but also really sad.

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.

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

The worst part about the betting phenomenon is how many people now watch sports only for the betting, it’s starting to become hard to find people that watch for the enjoyment of the game which is what is truly sad

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