Gambling adverts everywhere

Did anyone see Joey Bartons statement after he was found guilty of gambling on football by the FA? I dont think it excused what he did, but it certainly raises awareness of the above issue which I totally agree has gotten out of hand. You cant watch a match on TV any more without being bombarded by betting adverts.

Without being in anyway antagonistic the ads are everywhere - and even snooker players wearing waist coats sponsored by a betting company for example. I don't like it either but what can you do if you want to watch a game/ match etc.?

I think the volume of adverts and temptations are totally out of control. It's disgusting how they try to lure people in with there offers, all they care about is extracting as much money as possible whatever the consequences. I think eventually something will be done but not for a long time yet.
Also the charade of promoting responsible gambling is just beyond a joke. It's terrible what these companies get away with

Agree again but what as a recovering gambling addict can you do whether you are on day one of your journey or 1,000? I'm not being dismissive at all but they are in your face on telly, walking down the street past 5 shops in 200 yards, ads on Facebook, Youtube etc. etc. Personally I just see them as an annoyance I have to deal with - nothing to do with temptation. Of course, I understand the frustration of other forum users be they recovering CGs or partners. My biggest beef - and I was never into machines - is how the £100 per spin to £2 a spin legislation has disappeared from the media. But I think personally I will concentrate on my day to day life with some background garbage....one day at a time. Best wishes, Phil.

Some good points there but something I've always thought was that the tiny intervals between being able to spin again are far too small and give you know time to think about your actions and the consequences.
I know the industry would clearly be against it but I believe it would make a huge amount of difference if say you had to wait 2 minutes before being able to spin again.

Good post Sech7.

I glanced at an advert in a window which was simply stating "£500 for £1". I did a bit of a doubletake as they seem to be getting more brazen with the advertising in that arcade. No other wording on the poster just a picture of a machine in the background.

In what sense is that guaranteed or implied as a simple statement?

I will be complaining to the authorities but we all know whats completely wrong and immoral about that. No mention of the odds or the reality of anything to do with gambling. Not any mention of it may happen once in a blue moon or its extremely unlikely to happen. No mention that in all probablity it will never happen.

I dont actually know how that gets past the advertising standards authority. There may have been some tiny print at the bottom but who reads that?

It washes over me but I am saddened that it promotes gambling and creates misery

I'm shocked that the government allow all the TV adds. They put up tax on cigarettes and alcohol to discourage addicts , are they implying that gambling doesn't destroy life's also

If you go into a newsagent today, check out the front page story in The Times.

all over the radio today as well

Radio and the web mostly.

It's quite rare I see casino adverts on TV.

I sometimes catch these adverts and I watch them through to analyse them. They dont cause urges in me and if anything they serve as a warning to the steps they will take to attract people in. Know your enemy and what they are capable of.

Clearly its all about the winning angle as they focus on who has won the local lottery for example. Obviously the recipient of the cheque is going to recommend it and be good advertising for the gambling industry

What bothers me is there is no balance to the advertising. Yeah it "worked" for me is no balance againt the countless players who WILL play for years or even a lifetime and never win anything.

Similarly I dont equate the "fun" that is advertised to reality. Once addicted I wasnt really having fun. It was more a chemical urge which soon turned into a grim determination to keep playing and inability to stop. Its difficult to describe but I wouldnt call it a fun activity. It was a hit of escape to lose myself. Being rejected at a job interview or some other bad news would lead me straight to an arcade to get feelings of love and also punishment from a machine.

I dont like the way they casually brush over the risk by hiring celebrities and performing a sketch as though its all just a big party.

I didnt put the machine in that chip shop but I was easily attracted to the flashing lights and promises of money. Thats strong advertising in a localised way. I instantly kidded myself that is was a money making opportunity. It was there and I was there to take advantage of it so what could go wrong? (apart from a lifetime of addiction and binge misery) I cant deny there was a buzz and a certain sense of something exciting to do. In a way you cant blame me...this was pre computer games and there wasnt a lot to do in the evenings in a sleepy holiday village. From then on I would sneak out in the evenings with pockets crammed full of coins.

If it wasnt there I would have had to overide my boredom and perhaps had another evening walk on the beach. I might have met some new friends. I should have joined the sailing school or anything to do something positive with my time. Gambling wasnt the answer to the emptiness within me Trying to escape led to a total lack of control and a full blown addiction.

It saddens me that all the advertising will lead to new addicts and more misery.

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

Cannot agree more...

Honestly, I think it's disgusting the amount of advertisements there are for gambling on the television at the moment. I barely watch an hour of TV a day, but I can be sure to see Ray Winstone or some other muppet pop up and tell me how to lose some money on the football.

When I research, I keep seeing stupidly small statistics saying "only 5% of people that gamble on FOBTs are problem gamblers" and things like that; you only need to go into a bookies to work out that's a complete f**n lie. And don't get me started on the amount of bookies that are around.. there's SEVEN in my cities high street within 500m.

So why is this acceptable? Why is it acceptable to take advantage of us, the compulsive gamblers, when it's not allowed to advertise smoking cigarettes, and other addictions?

Well, it isn't acceptable. Actually, I use it as my main form of motivation to NOT gamble. I won't be exploited.

f**k you Ray Winstone, f**k you.

Disappointed to hear my childhood England Hero, Stuart Pearce, endorsing Come on.com on talksport over the World Cup. I actually had an awful experience on that website, won £15 and couldn’t withdraw unless I had about 8 forms of id, looking back I’m so glad I binned them off as I’d have lost a lot more than £15 in the long run!

I can’t see this advertising being allowed for much longer, fingers crossed.