June 27, 2024

Celebrity Gambler-Connor McDavid is Ontario’s face for responsible gambling

Connor McDavid promotes gambling! He is now the face of BetMGM’s responsible gambling advert for the online sports betting platform. How so, when in Ontario, athletes face restrictions on appearing in gambling ads?

Consider this, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) bans active and retired athletes and celebrities from appearing in advertising campaigns for internet gaming and gambling. So, could the shining star of the Edmonton Oilers and arguably the NHL’s best be in trouble for associating with the top Ontario online casinos has?

The answer is an emphatic “No!” But before you scream “double standard,” here is the catch.

Yes, AGCO banned celebrities from featuring in ads but it has an exception for responsible gambling. The new regulation, which intends to protect minors and prevent gambling harm and took effect on February 28th, reads:

“At a minimum, materials, and communications shall not use active or retired athletes, who have an agreement or arrangement made directly or indirectly between an athlete and an operator or gaming-related supplier, in advertising and marketing except for the exclusive purpose of advocating for responsible gambling.”

Conor McDavid appears in the 30-second video ad engaging in a casual conversation with a friend in a room, introducing the concept of “responsible gambling tools” provided by BetMGM. He emphasizes the importance of these tools in helping players maintain control over their betting habits. This ad airs on television across North America and digital platforms.

So, you see, Connor McDavid hasn’t done anything wrong! He is legally promoting gambling! But definitely, BetMGM is riding on McDavid’s popularity to keep its image alive among sports fans. Literally, the adverts bolsters BetMGM brand awareness in the industry to ward off competition from new online casinos Canada entrants.

Connor McDavid’s off-chart performance is not limited to off-field activities but in the field, too! In his last game, he continued his flawless run, adding his assist tally to a century this season!

His milestone assist came when he fed his winger, Zach Hyman, against the San Jose Sharks on Monday evening. Hayman swiftly capitalized to add his goal tally to 54 goals this season.

Hyman’s goal was a significant milestone, making McDavid only the fourth player in NHL history to reach 100 assists in a single season. Conor is now in the same book as three of the greatest players in ice hockey history. He tallied one goal and one assist in the 9:2 win over the Sharks

As he acknowledged the achievement, McDavid recognized his team, highlighting their perseverance through a challenging year and expressed confidence in their position as they approached the most crucial part of the season.

But it’s not surprising! The ice hockey fans saw it coming! Last season McDavid recorded 89 assists, the highest until this new one. He had rejoined the first team for the home game against San Jose after missing three games due to a lower-body injury. With 99 assists in 74 games, he aimed to join the ranks of Hockey Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr, the only NHL players to achieve 100 assists in a season.
Orr was the first NHL player to hit 100 assists in a season, back in the 1970s. Lemieux would do it over a decade later. But the one record that McDavid might find hard to break is Wayne Gretzky’s!

Wayne Douglas Gretzky made it a habit to clock a century of assists every other season, doing it 11 times, and still holds the record as the all-time NHL leader in career assists with 1,963. He is also the last player to achieve this feat, in the 1990-91 season.

McDavid has broken the over 30-year old wait. But he may not be alone, as another NHL star, Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, has 99 assists in 80 games with a game to go!

Other than breaking records of assists, McDavid also scored his 32nd goal of the season, as the Oilers defeated the Sharks 9-2 to keep their Pacific Division title hopes alive.

Connor McDavid Statistics

McDavid’s impressive statistics are noteworthy, much like his association with BetMGM Casino—the low-deposit casinos Canada offers. From dominating the NHL with his exceptional skills to breaking records, McDavid’s legacy as one of hockey’s greatest players has never been in doubt!

Nick Name	Connor Andrew McDavid
Real Name	Arye
Born	1997
Birthday	January 13
Citizenship	Canadian
Career	Ice Hockey Player
Achievements	NHL Draft: 2015, 1st overall NHL Debut: 2015 NHL Awards: Hart Memorial Trophy (3 times) Art Ross Trophy (5 times) Ted Lindsay Award (4 times) Maurice “Rocket” Richard Ontario Minor Hockey Association championships with York Simcoe Express GTHL Player of the Year and Tim Adams Memorial Trophy winner with the Toronto Marlboros Exceptional player status granted by Hockey Canada at 15 Dominated the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Erie Otters NHL All-Rookie Team selection in his debut season Youngest NHL captain in history Multiple-time NHL scoring champion and MVP Second-ever unanimous winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy Fastest Skater at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition (4 times)

Connor McDavid Achievements

Conor McDavid is not only popular because of assist or association with the Canadian online casino, BetMGM. He is a phenomenal player and his growth in the game is a story to admire. Coached by his father, McDavid began his journey with childhood hockey against older peers, Winning four Ontario Minor Hockey Association titles with York Simcoe Express. He later moved to the Toronto Marlboros, earning GTHL Player of the Year.

Just at 15, he had guaranteed scouts and coaches of exceptional skills, joining Erie Otters, and dominating the OHL. Afterwards, he joined the Oilers in 2015. In his debut NHL season, McDavid, despite missing 37 games due to injury, showcased remarkable talent, accumulating 48 points in 45 games. His exceptional speed, vision, and skill were evident, leading to high expectations, and earning the trust of his team to become the youngest NHL captain.

But it is 2016 –17 that was his breakout season. He dominated the league, and he went on to win numerous awards and break records. He clinched the Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies, and followed them with consistent displays even with the Oilers’ playoff misses. Not even the pandemic could stop his form to tally100 points in just 56 games in the 2020–21 season.

His profound impact made him the second-ever unanimous winner of the Hart Trophy to reach milestones such as 900 career points in just 602 games.

But McDavid’s relentless excellence is not by chance. He trained under his father as a child and has moved from strength to strength. Praised for his lightning-fast speed, he claimed the Fastest Skater title at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition four times. McDavid is now one of the NHL’s elite, drawing comparisons to legends like Crosby and Gretzky.

If the Oilers win the Pacific Division title, it will be down to his unparalleled scoring prowess and ability to elevate his team’s performance

BetMGM and Connor McDavid partnership

BetMGM and Connor McDavid did not start with this responsible gambling commercial. Previously, McDavid teamed up with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky in another BetMGM ad. This latest ad further solidifies McDavid’s status as a recognizable figure for the company’s betting services, including online casino Canada real money gaming.

Some observers are concerned about BetMGM creatively ducking the law to promote its brand using celebrities. Before this ban, McDavid and hockey great Wayne Gretzky appeared in adverts promoting the online betting company’s services. However, since under the new tighter regulations, athletes can only advocate for responsible gambling, the company has switched McDavid’s role to promoting BetMGM’s responsible gambling features.

According to AGCO, the new standards will “protect minors and reduce the potential harm associated with igaming advertising.”

But do you believe that seeing McDavid on-screen on behalf of BetMGM positions him as a voice advocating for responsible gambling, or does it predominantly remind gamblers of the company behind the advertisement?

McDavid says his ad with BetMGM is about ensuring you stay in control whenever you choose to bet. He argues that this is “super important” to him. And he hopes everyone heeds his advice.

The core message of the ad is “MGM has committed to making gambling safe and fun with responsible gambling tools so you don’t get carried away.”

While McDavid seems to promote tools designed to prevent excessive gambling, the ad doesn’t name these tools.

The director of Responsible Gambling at BetMGM Richard Taylor said BetMGM remains dedicated to leading the best online casinos Canada has ever seen in promoting responsible gaming, and they are happy and proud to do it in association with one of hockey’s greatest players.

As the legalized sports betting and online casino industry continues to grow and evolve, MGM says it intends to furnish players with information, tools, and resources to help them play responsibly and sustainably.”

What is surprising, though, is the ad has no mention of responsible gambling tools. None of it! No self-exclusion programs, betting limits, time-out features, or any other responsible gambling initiative that we know.

BetMGM is an exclusive sports betting and online gaming platform owned by an American media company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. It provides sports betting and gaming courtesy of Entain’s US license. BetMGM is also related to minimum deposit casinos Canada has, including Borgata Online (in New Jersey), Party Casino, and Party Poker.

Closing Thoughts: Beyond the Face of the BetMGM Brand

Connor McDavid continues to make headlines on and off the ice. His partnership with BetMGM has sparked debate with some seeing it as a crafty way for BetMGM to keep advertising using celebrities. While it is important for the industry to keep players informed of responsible gaming tools, BetMGM leaves a lot to be desired with this ad. The ad may be classified as promoting safe and sustainable gaming practices, but it does little to highlight those tools in an industry experiencing rapid growth.

BetMGM refusing to let loose McDavid even after the new regulations just tells you how much of an influence this Canadian ice hockey star wields. As an ambassador for safe gambling practices, his on-screen appearances could be an example for other athletes and celebrities to use their influence positively.

McDavid’s legacy as an iconic figure in Canada and beyond is sure to endure for years to come. Just at 27, he still has three or four more seasons and he can continue to break records and continue to inspire fans and shape the future of sports and entertainment.

Citations

Media Site	Link
Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario	AGCO releases guidance to support implementation of revised Standard for igaming \| Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
BetMGM	BETMGM DEBUTS NEW RESPONSIBLE GAMING SPOT FEATURING NHL STAR CONNOR MCDAVID (mgmresorts.com)