from Jack Todd at the Montreal Gazette,
The Saturday evening tussle between the Canadiens and the Edmonton Oilers marked the first time this season I’ve watched a hockey game on the CBC, and I felt like I’d hopped a flight to Las Vegas and landed in the midst of the MGM Grand Race & Sports Book.
Wall-to-wall gambling ads doesn’t even cover it. There were times when the face of the oleaginous Cabbie would appear to offer in-game updates or various betting parlays. Almost overnight, Hockey Night in Canada, one of our most sacred institutions, has become a gambling website. It’s not even NHL hockey — it’s FanDuel hockey.
HNIC isn’t alone. The wholesale takeover of the sports world by gambling interests has completely altered the simple experience of watching the game with your family on a Saturday night. ESPN, TSN, Sportsnet, TVA, now the CBC — they’re all in it, and the experience is the same whether you’re watching the NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB or (for all I know) professional lacrosse.
Gambling is a multi-billion dollar business. Why else would every sport out there find a way to continue during the pandemic. No fans in the stands didnt stop them. Its all about the big money. Its disgusting to have to listen to my favorite broadcasters literally pimp for any gambling sponsor/entity. Its turning me off to sports.
"If the problem gamblers dont get anyones attention, perhaps the threat of massive scandals that will threaten the most powerful sports leagues will. Were already at the point where a long list of athletes and former athletes, including Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, flog gambling sites. Athletes being bribed, threatened or blackmailed into throwing games is the next logical step."
Preach Jack Preach!!!
Many of us here had said the same thing when gambling was legalize for sports. Its nice to see it in print by a major paper (Canadian or not).
Its hard enough watching the game with the rolling ads on the boards but all the gambling propaganda is nauseating. I said years ago that one day i will eliminate sports from my viewing diet all together. I am getting very close. I only watch Redwings games and no other sports. I have not owned a television since 96' so for me to watch a game i have to stream, go to the bar or family and friends.
Most of my family and majority of my friends now do not have cable tv. This is the same path i started on. All of the sudden, you start whittling down the shows you watch and realize it is not a need. It is not a need. Then you realize the freedom and time you gain.
This gross, dIsgusting tsunami of gambling is another huge money grab for Corporate Sports owners. Ah, but this is America. Land of milk and honey. Imported from China.
The Gambling ads are just enabling a sickness. Disgusting.
How long before they have kiosks in the arenas to place your bets?
If you have a phone they don't need Kiosks
Its also all over every hockey podcast. Just totally saturated. Very greedy. People will ruin their lives with this crap just because they started out liking sports and never thought theyd place a bet. Absolute garbage.
But yes, more to the point, its not relevant to me or the game at all. Its like if they started talking about hot air balloons during every broadcast. Likewhy?
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