betting

Tuesday April 25, 2023

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday April 25, 2023

From Sport Hero to Betting Shill

October 11, 2012

Promoting online sports betting using athletes is irresponsible and harmful. Many popular athletes, such as Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, or Wayne Gretzky, are seen endorsing sports books during NHL playoffs. These companies shamelessly leverage the popularity of athletes and celebrities to promote addictive gambling products. Recently, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) proposed banning athletes from participating in gambling marketing to address the negative impact on young people.

It is concerning that athletes with strong appeal to young audiences, such as McDavid and Matthews, are promoting sports betting. Gambling is recognized as addictive, yet it is advertised more prominently than other addictive products like tobacco or cannabis. 

The AGCO’s proposed amendments, which aim to ban the use of celebrities, influencers, and symbols that appeal to minors, are a positive step towards addressing this issue. However, there are still concerns about other forms of advertising, such as jersey patches and broadcast ads, that continue to associate athletes with sports betting.

News: How broader sports gambling has fared in Ontario and how it may change next  

July 29, 2020

In response to the growing concerns, a coalition of professional sports leagues has announced plans to develop consumer-protection policies, signalling a broader pushback against sports betting advertising. While the proposed regulations may bring changes to the types of advertisements, it is unlikely to significantly reduce their volume. It is crucial to prioritize consumer protection, especially for vulnerable populations like youth and young adults, and regulate gambling advertising with the same level of scrutiny as other addictive products.

The use of athletes to promote online sports betting is irresponsible and potentially harmful. Athletes should be aware of the negative impact of their endorsement on young audiences. The proposed amendments by the AGCO are a step in the right direction, but more action is needed to prevent athletes from promoting addictive behaviours. It is time to prioritize consumer well-being, particularly for vulnerable populations, and implement stricter regulations on gambling advertising. (AI)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give editorial cartooning a try.

 

Saturday April 21, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday April 21, 2017

Speculation Swirls Around Kathleen Wynne

Premier Kathleen Wynne is slapping a 15 per cent “non-resident speculation” tax on foreign investors to help cool down southern Ontario’s scorching real estate market, the Star has learned.

March 29, 2017

Wynne will join Finance Minister Charles Sousa and Housing Minister Chris Ballard on Thursday against a backdrop of condo towers in booming Liberty Village to launch a massive plan to improve housing affordability.

A key plank in that would be the 15 per cent surcharge on offshore speculators, who are estimated to make up just 5 per cent of the current market.

Modelled on British Columbia’s “foreign buyers’ tax” in Vancouver, the levy would apply to home purchasers in the so-called Greater Golden Horseshoe who are not citizens or permanent residents.

November 3, 2016

It would affect sales in and around the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Niagara, Kitchener-Waterloo, and encompass everywhere north to Barrie and Orillia and east to Peterborough. (Source: Toronto Star) 

Meanwhile, Speculation about whether Premier Kathleen Wynne can continue to lead the governing Liberals is at a f‎ever pitch.

Party stalwarts are hoping next week’s balanced ‎budget from Finance Minister Charles Sousa will tip the scal

September 9, 2016

es for Wynne’s teetering political fortunes.

But with public and private polling showing the Liberals languishing in third place well behind the Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats — even after Wynne’s 25 per cent cut in residential electricity rates — there is mounting uncertainty she will remain at the helm.

The Ontario Liberal Party’s chief fundraiser, Zak Bailey, has quietly resigned just seven months into a job made even more challenging by campaign finance reforms triggered by a Star series last year.

“You’d have to ask the party what their plans are,” Bailey said Monday, declining further comment. (Source: Toronto Star)