First Nation chief writes to Gretzky, other stars over appearances in gambling ads
CTV
If you’ve tuned into a hockey game or any live sports event in Canada over the last year, you’re sure to have noticed a stacked deck of gambling advertisements. Now, the Chief of The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation has written a letter to the hockey superstars appearing in them.
If you’ve tuned into a hockey game or any live sports event in Canada over the last year, you’re sure to have noticed a stacked deck of gambling advertisements.
The commercials are flush with some of the biggest stars in hockey, and the influx of airtime has some concerned about the influence the ads will have on young fans.
The Chief of The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Kelly LaRocca, has - like many families across Canada - seen the advertisements with her husband and two young children while tuning into NHL games.
Sitting down with CTV National News, LaRocca calls the commercials “intrusive” and “irresponsible.” The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation have now taken the step of writing an open letter to Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, who have all appeared in gambling ads.
“I hope that they stand down from advertising iGaming,” said LaRocca, who added, “Our youth look up to them. They're being told that it's okay to just pick up and gamble whenever you feel like it.”
The letter, written on April 17 and posted to social media on May 16, asks the trio of hockey superstars to "not promote the iGaming agenda any further."
Just over a year ago, Ontario went all in - regulating the first internet gambling market in Canada. Anyone of age can now place a bet on almost any aspect of a game, or spin an online slot machine with the flick of a finger on their phone. The Canadian Gaming Association is arguing that regulated online gambling is safer than illegal sites that have operated unchecked across the country for years.
