SMF Gambling review

I think that the spike in people reaching out to organisations like gamcare will force their hand! I knew as soon as lockdown happened and all you saw on TV were casino adverts it was going to mean trouble! And changing their campaigns to ones of Responsible Gaming made no difference as they were still forcing their names in our faces! I’m not saying it’s the government’s fault or casinos advertising all over the TV but it’s been made harder and for me, just added fuel to my addiction fire! 

Yep agree with what you're saying frankie. I do honestly think that there is a lot more culpability on behalf of the government/ advertising/ gambling companies. When you think no adverts for drug addicts very few adverts about alcohol and no adverts for smoking. But we have to put up with the adverts, at the height of lockdown they were most frequent I've ever seen. I know we are going to notice them more now obviously but still one night in one ad break there were 3 that's got to be wrong ?

I think I’ve actually seen more than 3 in one break....and they think they are doing their bit with changing to responsible gambling twist! They are still encouraging people to play. During lockdown (Shielding) I’ve just worked out my debt has gone up in the high thousands! But at least I’m trying to break the cycle! 

Yes frankie never give up hope of staying gamble free, have you got blocks inplace ?

I signed up for gamstop but found a way around it! I’m now self excluded from every online casino I have ever found, I’m having CBT and plus I’ve just done an income and expenditure with StepChange which has knocked some sense into me! Plus all the support on here is wonderful! ??

Hiya Frankie 

I think there is ways round everything if you want to spend the time looking for it but what I was told is that when you have the urge your at a mega high but by the time you work your way round it the urge has lessened that way you work out the damage it can do therefore decide not too. But if you go look you will always find away 

That’s very true....I’ve stopped that one too! 

Well yesterday felt like a tough one but I got through it!! My sister brought up the fact I’d been disinterested in conversations the last couple of months and I know why and aches right! Yesterday felt like a ‘win’ but the right kind of win! 

Well its an outdated act which has been completely overshadowed by deregulated gambling on a massive scale.

Make no mistake this is hypocrisy on a monumental scale. The pushers dont regulate their income stream and the government are in on it.

I heard recently that they are already bypassing the £2 limit by using something called fortune spins. This can cost a gambler anything from £2 to hundreds just to enter the game with a slight to non existent odds bonus.

I will be writing to the gambling commission  because that needs stopping NOW.

What should happen is way more regulation on gambling. It should be well away from the main high streets and each gambler should be on a forced limit based on a sign in process and information held.

I was secretive and would not have been comfortable if they had asked for id, limits and information....so that would be a good thing to reduce gambling

Im not sure how that would work effectively and its a grey area. I would rather ban it all but I would certainly stop the people making regular trips to the servicetill which is a very dangerous sign.

The fact is they could see I was a problem gambler and nothing was done apart from a half hearted screen message which just mildly irritated me for 20 seconds.

I can spot an addict almost immediately but we know the pusher wont spoil an income stream.

All advertising needs to be banned in line with tobacco and other drug products.

I wont hold my breath as I dont see it changing soon but we can chip away at it. One day this will be seen as a massive scandal...mark my words! it will be seen as a very bad time in history

Best wishes to everyone on the forum