PK Subban's father trying to get gambling ads banned from NHL games

An Ontario based group headlined by Karl Subban, father of former NHL superstar PK Subban, is asking the NHL to remove or at least regulate the amount of sports gambling ads on Sportsnet, at least in Ontario

If you've watched any playoff games on Canadian broadcaster Sportsnet this season, then you've been subject to nearly 10 minutes of gambling ads per game, says the group.

"It's a big problem. Gambling is very addictive," said Subban, who's also a school principal. "A lot of the marketing is focusing on grabbing the attention of the most vulnerable, the youngest of our population."

Subban spoke to CBC on behalf of the Ban Ads For Gambling campaign, a group who aims to have gambling ads removed entirely from the airwaves.

"Harms from gambling include financial problems, stress to families, youth and children, mental health issues including addiction and even suicide – among other documented economic and social issues that negatively affect Canadians," the website says.

More from Subban and CBC:

"They catch the attention of young people," Subban said. "It's a powerful way of marketing to them, which we know can have a harmful effect on young people realizing their potential and really reaching their dreams."

Lesley Oliva, an elementary school teacher and parent in Vaughan, Ont., says her current students are much more aware of sports gambling than those in the past. Nevertheless, she agrees the ads are harmful.

"Kids should not be exposed to this at a young age," Oliva said. "It's just the wrong messaging to be imprinting on them. It's not healthy for their long-term growth."

Currently, the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission has limited restrictions on how gambling ads are shown in the province. The group maintains that those restrictions don't even come close to having a positive effect. And frankly, I'm inclined to agree. It seems like every time I turn on a hockey game all I see is gambling ads. Enough already...

And it's not just the sheer amount of ads that pose a risk, especially to young people. It's the fact that the gambling industry employees celebrity spokesmen like Connor McDavid, Wayne Gretzky, Auston Matthews and Chris Pronger to pimp their garbage. Just imagine McDavid doing an ad Molson Canadian beer or Gretzky doing an ad for Marlboro cigarettes. Shameful...