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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.

 

Thursday October 11, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 11, 2018

Privacy advocates have plenty of questions about how data from buying marijuana online will be handled

When Canadians go to buy their first grams of legal cannabis next week, many of them will do so through the internet, creating huge quantities of data as a side effect of their purchases.

But with only one week until legalization, privacy advocates say they still have plenty of questions about how that data will be handled.

And the answers could have serious ramifications: The United States still considers cannabis to be an illegal substance and concerns have been raised that Canadians could be blocked from travelling to the U.S. if customs officials find out that they have purchased the drug, or been involved in legalized production.

“It’s going to be an issue, and it’s going to present problems and challenges in terms of how that data is used, how it’s protected,” said Matt Murphy, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who is now vice-president of compliance for Khiron Life Sciences, a Toronto-based cannabis company.

“I’m not aware of much guidance relative to how that data is protected, how it’s used, how it’s stored. These are all interesting questions that I think we’re going to have to deal with — probably sooner rather than later.”

Murphy downplayed the concerns about the U.S. going to great lengths to figure out who bought a gram of cannabis — he said they’re more worried about terrorists and illegal migrants — but he said that potential privacy breaches could affect people’s employment, or simply cause public embarrassment. 

But then there’s the credit card companies. (Continued: Financial Post)