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BetMGM, a prominent sports betting and iGaming operator, unveiled a 30-second advertisement featuring reigning NHL Most Valuable Player Connor McDavid. The ad focuses on BetMGM's array of responsible gaming tools.
McDavid shared the ad on Instagram, stressing the significance of responsible gambling:
"All about being responsible if you choose to bet – staying in control and not getting carried away. That's super important to me. And I really hope it's advice that everyone follows."
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Some fans expressed concern over McDavid's association with a gambling company, citing potential influence on vulnerable audiences.
One tweeted:
"Sorry Connor, but I was disgusted when u started doing gambling ads with Gretzky. Too late to walk that back now. Please make better decisions about who/what you represent."
Here are some of the top reactions:
The ad's release coincides with BetMGM and MGM Resorts' participation in the National Council on Problem Gambling's efforts to raise awareness about problem gambling throughout March.
Connor McDavid's gambling ad controversy: Celebrities still allowed to promote responsible gambling per Ontario's new regulations
While the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario aimed to curtail the use of celebrities and athletes in online gambling advertisements to safeguard minors, loopholes in the regulations permit their continued presence.
The AGCO's guidelines, before taking effect, restrict active or retired athletes from conventional ads but allow exceptions for "responsible gambling" promotions. BetMGM, for instance, could maintain Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid as ambassadors for responsible gambling initiatives.
The AGCO allows sportsbooks to use athletes for promotions that don't involve responsible gambling. Sponsorships, like the agreement between FanDuel and TSN's show, and the segment of Sports Interaction on Sportsnet's Hockey Central Saturday, aren't impacted.
Even though ads that attract kids are forbidden, unclear rules give leeway, allowing for varying interpretations. Some say that the updated laws might miss a big issue. Data from businesses hints at fewer betting commercials during big sports shows.
Paul Burns, CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, says that public objections were primarily due to ad volume, which has decreased since the initial surge in advertising.
