Gambling logos and ads seen up to every 13 seconds during big sports games in US
19 hours ago
- #gambling-ads
- #sports-betting
- #NHL
- Hockey fans see gambling ads as often as every 13 seconds during TV coverage of high-profile games.
- A study by the University of Bristol found 3.5 gambling marketing messages per minute during the Stanley Cup finals.
- Since 2018, sports betting has surged in the US, now legal in 39 states and Washington DC.
- Critics accuse the gambling industry of turning sports games into continuous gambling opportunities.
- Congressman Paul Tonko warns that gambling ads are dangerous for young and vulnerable groups.
- The study recorded 6,282 gambling-related marketing instances across 13 NHL and NBA finals games.
- 94% of gambling ads were during NHL broadcasts, averaging 3.5 per minute, peaking at 4.7 per minute.
- NBA broadcasts had fewer gambling ads, averaging 0.26 per minute, possibly due to stricter YouTube ad limits.
- In-stadium visuals like rinkside boards and jersey patches were the most common gambling ad formats.
- Experts call for federal legislation to regulate gambling ads in sports to curb addiction risks.
- A 2024 survey found nearly 20 million US adults reported problematic gambling behaviors.
- Representative Tonko introduced the Safe Bet Act to establish consumer protections.
- Experts doubt gambling ads will be curtailed soon due to lucrative state tax revenues.