Sportsnet getting out of Sports Betting?

[Virgil_Hiltz]

Personally the ads and shows were tiring!

https://yyzsportsmedia.com/sources-rogers-sportsnet-to-pull-the-plug-on-snbets/

 

Developing….

 

You have to know when to hold them and when to fold them. Or in this case, perhaps just take their money and provide a voiceover for their content.

 

I believe that both the choice of words and the underlying intention will be intriguing to observe in the upcoming days. Despite receiving diverse information from reliable sources, all of it seems to converge on the same fundamental facts.”

 

Less than a year after it was launched, the brand SNBets will be erased, wiped completely.

 

For those of you on social media who despise the entire concept of sports betting and its increasing presence in our media, especially in hockey, don’t get too excited yet.

 

Initially, one source informed me that Sportsnet was completely withdrawing from the gambling business, but a different source advised me to hold my horses.

 

It appears that the SNBets name, which is very odd and confusing, will be phased out. Instead, all betting content will be endorsed by a paid sponsor, such as Bet365 or MGM. Cabbie Richards will reportedly be the sole face of this content, except for the numerous ads that you all enjoy, which will remain in full effect.

 

Any work previously branded as SNBets by staffers and freelancers, including social and linear work, will cease under the SNBets name and come to a conclusion within three weeks. Unfortunately, freelancers and those who worked on the SNBets project may not have guaranteed work beyond the next three weeks.

 

The social media channels and website for SNBets, according to my source, will disappear soon.

 

It will be fascinating to watch the phrasing and actions of these changes. This was supposed to be a major, game-changing initiative for Rogers, and for many, it was the next frontier for Sportsnet. According to my source, the company is internally viewing the changes as a way to remove customer confusion, but externally, it is being seen as an admission of missing the mark. The only thing that all sources agree on is that no one knows what the betting platform is without a betting book ad revenue mechanism.

 

One industry source summarized the situation for me this evening, saying, “The original plan was for SNBets to be a standalone platform that would generate significant engagement, data, and revenue while creating a lot of excitement. What it will become in the near future is an improved ad platform for sportsbooks, nothing more. If it is wildly successful, it could replace previous lost ad revenue streams.”

 

This seems far from the original plan, but intelligent companies learn to pivot quickly when things don’t work out. On the bright side, it seems that we may get more Cabbie content away from betting. To many, the betting content has been pretty dull so far, and we all miss the old Cabbie content.

 

All current sponsorship agreements, such as the Monday night hockey bet MGM and the Blue Jays Bet365, will continue through their respective agreements.

 

I will provide more details as I become aware of them

[TheHurl]

I wonder if Rogers will re-brand to a new name and stay in the business. I know their director of gambling (not the real title) was paying $300K and the department was supposed to be over 150 employees. Seem like a big expense to give up on so quickly.

[Jonn]

Is it weird that I have been a sports fan for 30+ years and have never used a betting website, app, or service in my life lol. Any bet I have made has been strictly peer to peer lol.

[wilko]

Is it weird that I have been a sports fan for 30+ years and have never used a betting website, app, or service in my life lol. Any bet I have made has been strictly peer to peer lol.

 

Not even a proline?

[Virgil_Hiltz]

Is it weird that I have been a sports fan for 30+ years and have never used a betting website, app, or service in my life lol. Any bet I have made has been strictly peer to peer lol.

 

Same here....I enjoy the sport for the wins and losses of my teams not my financial losses!

These betting sites are just an easy tax grab by the government, those MF'rs get enough of my money.

[Spanky99]

Is it weird that I have been a sports fan for 30+ years and have never used a betting website, app, or service in my life lol. Any bet I have made has been strictly peer to peer lol.

 

I had a bookie up till about 10 years ago. lol

[Sorrow]

I genuinely hate the sports better commercials. I don't partake so it's just annoyance lol.

[Deadpool]

I'm not a gamblin' man, so I find the whole thing irritating. But capitalists gonna capitalist.

[Spanky99]

I'm not a gamblin' man, so I find the whole thing irritating. But capitalists gonna capitalist.

 

It's reeeeeeeeally annoying, actually.

[JaysAllMighty]

KC won me some money!

[Abomination]

I really enjoyed the larger tournaments on DK and FD ... until Doug Ford decided to ban them. I rarely bet now.

[Spanky99]

KC won me some money!

 

I won 150 in a squares comp.

[TheHurl]

I had a bookie up till about 10 years ago. lol

 

4 years ago for me.

[BTS]

Thank f***ing Christ. Hockey games on SN are a 3-hour gambling ad at this point

[Spanky99]

Thank f***ing Christ. Hockey games on SN are a 3-hour gambling ad at this point

 

Truth, same as any sport though.

[jaysblue]

I have Bet365 and use it once in a while. Though yeah all of a sudden this past year realized how much Sportsnet and TSN were promoting gambling and all these betting apps, which was becoming annoying.

 

Like every Sportsnet or TSN broadcaster now has to mention the odds on this team, or player props etc. They're all just advertising for Fan Dual or Bet365 which is kind of sad.

 

I think it's definitely a slippery slope. You're having major networks like Sportsnet and TSN promote gambling like every commercial or heck even during their news segments postgame etc. I understand commercials for Bet365 or Fan Dual, but Sportsnet or TSN broadcasters should not be promoting gambling IMO when they're on air. Just my two cents.

[Dr. Dinger]

It’s so f***ing annoying to watch these douchebag cokehead 30-something white guys telling me about live money lines between innings and quarters. f*** OFF.

[jaysblue]

It’s so f***ing annoying to watch these douchebag cokehead 30-something white guys telling me about live money lines between innings and quarters. f*** OFF.

 

Agreed, its overkill. Annoying now to watch any sports game on TSN or Sportsnet. They shouldn't be promoting gambling like that.

 

Sure, air a Bet 365 or Fan Dual or Bet MGM ad during commercials but there is no need for Evanka Osmak or Ken Reid during a commercial break or during their show to tell us about live money line odds or player props etc.

[jays4life19]

I don't gamble, so I'm pretty indifferent to this.

[The_DH]

Betting on sports was always a guaranteed loss for me so I just don't do it. For those who do -- fine. This is live and let live as far as I see. Government regulation just isn't necessary.

[gruber92]

A responsible government should never promote gambling like it is. So many young men are being crippled, financially and emotionally. It affects your family life negatively, creates anxiety. I'm still f***ing stunned on how our government allows the amount of advertising as they do.

[Yorkshire Blue Jay]

Originating from the UK with a betting shop on every street corner. Betting has been a staple for those that wish to do so my entire life. Thankfully I have always seen it as a bit of fun, sadly that's not the case for every individual but there is more available help for people that need it these days.

I am used to betting company adverts but the in-program betting updates are too much IMO. Sadly though in a relative new market there is much to fight for in a very lucrative business sector. You never see a poor bookmaker!

[Virgil_Hiltz]

Sadly a friend's son was lost is job a cpl months ago and needed money fast. He thought sports betting would be his salvation.....ended up in hospital. Tried to commit suicide thinking his wife would get insurance money.

[jaysblue]

I never recalled ever watching a Leafs, Raptors or football game and seeing in-program betting updates during a game or even during a halftime show or intermission etc. That's too much IMO.

 

I don't have an issue with a Bet 365 ad during a commercial break, though I don't think networks like Sportsnet and TSN should be promoting/encouraging gambling during their programs.

[jaysblue]

A responsible government should never promote gambling like it is. So many young men are being crippled, financially and emotionally. It affects your family life negatively, creates anxiety. I'm still f***ing stunned on how our government allows the amount of advertising as they do.

 

I think it's gone too overboard IMO. I don't ever recall this much in-program advertising during a game. Programs on Sportsnet or TSN should not be encouraging gambling like they do. I understand advertising during a commercial break, but when you have Jay Onrait talking about betting odds during his program, or a TSN/Sportsnet broadcaster talking about betting odds during a game, I think that's too much.

 

I don't have an issue with a Bet 365 ad during a commercial break, that's fine. But Sportsnet or TSN themselves should not be encouraging gambling.

[Dick_Pole]

So many f***ing sensitive squares. Society is a cesspool of immorality and we just have to accept it. But gambling turns legal and ads are broadcasted and now...NOW this is where all you douchebags draw the line. Those ads help pay for the now bloated salary the Jays have in order to field a good team. If you don't like them, just ignore them. If enough people do, they'll give up. But it's obviously a lucrative business right now or it wouldn't be so saturated. It'll probably normalize anyways. Look at the cannabis industry. Couldn't get away from that s*** 3 years ago now a ton of operators are either going out of business or consolidating. In a couple of years you'll see a few ads here or there by two or three companies instead of the dozen we see now.

[WryNGinger]

So many f***ing sensitive squares. Society is a cesspool of immorality and we just have to accept it. But gambling turns legal and ads are broadcasted and now...NOW this is where all you douchebags draw the line. Those ads help pay for the now bloated salary the Jays have in order to field a good team. If you don't like them, just ignore them. If enough people do, they'll give up. But it's obviously a lucrative business right now or it wouldn't be so saturated. It'll probably normalize anyways. Look at the cannabis industry. Couldn't get away from that s*** 3 years ago now a ton of operators are either going out of business or consolidating. In a couple of years you'll see a few ads here or there by two or three companies instead of the dozen we see now.

 

This is a s*** take. Gambling is an addiction for many. There is a reason that there are no tobacco ads on TV etc. It's not about protecting 30 year old f***tards. It is about stopping kids etc from thinking gambling is cool.

 

Seeing Gretzky, St-Pierre and many others whore for these companies makes me totally disregard anything good they have done. They f***ing sold out. f*** them. The worst is all these asshats don't really need the money..just f***ing greed.

[Abomination]

This is a s*** take. Gambling is an addiction for many. There is a reason that there are no tobacco ads on TV etc. It's not about protecting 30 year old f***tards. It is about stopping kids etc from thinking gambling is cool.

 

Seeing Gretzky, St-Pierre and many others whore for these companies makes me totally disregard anything good they have done. They f***ing sold out. f*** them. The worst is all these asshats don't really need the money..just f***ing greed.

 

So is alcohol. So can video games. Some people are addicted to driving. Some are addicted to seeing movies. Some are addicted to the stock market. Anything can be addictive. The difference between those and most tobacco is that substances aren't being added to cause a physiological change in people to force them to be addicted, nor do they have direct health consequences to other people in their vicinity.

[RobinThicc]

Im up 64 dollars in 2023 !

[jaysblue]

It's the encouragement of gambling during in-game program that is the issue. It's easy to differentiate that versus regular commercial ads IMO. There is nothing wrong with an ad for Bet 365 during a commercial break. Regular commercial ads are fine. I don't have an issue with Wayne Gretzky appearing in a Bet MGM ad during a commercial break as well. Though if your watching a Leafs/Raptors or Blue Jays game, you shouldn't have actual Sportsnet/TSN broadcasters telling you live odds and encouraging you to bet during their programs. I just kind of find that going overboard. That's the issue IMO.

 

It's like beer ads during commercial breaks. No problem with those ads, though take it a step further, imagine Jay Onrait cracking a beer open on set and saying grab yourself a cold Bud or Canadian during Sportscentre haha.