Even if life isn't hard enough for us CG's, we have to watch adverts on TV about how gambling will make us s**y.
I've just seen an advert on TV for brokelads which is like some cheap version of 'Lock Stock and two smoking barrels' - it's called 'living the l*dbrokes life' - one of the characters is called 'Mr Brightside' - and having followed the 2014 Challenge since it's start I found that really ironic: Almost like the gambling companies are taking the P**s.
I haven't had a bet for 5 years now, except for one slip up. I don't often post, but the whole Bingo/Slots adverts aimed at women who would never have normally walked into betting shops before the internet, but now get adverts like 'Love the Buzz - You'll find friends here who are single mums too', etc...
...Or Male focused adverts that are designed to play to 'd**k-swinging' egos. It's really troublesome and disgusting. I can't predict the future - but USA usually predicts what will happen in the UK by 5 years. USA has banned all TV advertising and internet gambling - I can only hope it follows here. It plays to the most base psychology of us all.
Unfortunately, gambling adverts have escalated in the last couple of years. Who would have thought we would have an entire Sky channel dedicated to roulette, say 10 years ago. I do get angry with the way they try and glamorise the whole thing, but that's not going to change any time soon. Luckily, I watch most of my programs on catch up, therefore no annoying adverts of any kind!
Discusting!!
Im sick of seeing Ray Winston at half time on EVERY live match shown on ITV. Kids will be watching and im no expert but surely thats just building up problems for the next generation.
Why do gambling companies ram the opportunity to place bets down our throats.... well I guess thats a stupid question... but my point is it shouldnt be allowed!
Evening folks,
Words really can't express my feelings about the advert - thanks for calling it out Molehole........I hadn't seen it.
I've been avoiding any adverts for gambling........or just mentally switching off. I took a look online at the advert MH refers to........I just fail to see how the name even fits in with the advert?? I agree MH, does feel like they are taking the p1ss, albeit it will just be a very unfortunate coincidence.
Just another great example of the lengths the industry will go to in order to lure people in. All just pathetic.
Marching on everyone.
Mr Brightside
Totally agree with all posters on this. Sorry for getting on my rocking horse about it, but it really bugs the s**t out of me.
The Ray Winston ad especially rankles because he's a multi-millionaire Hollywood player now and certainly doesn't need the money (whereas at least Babs Windsor may be on hard times these days with work drying up, so doing Jackpotnojoy ads. 😉
I think the whole marketing TV ads suck massive a*s.
It's fair enough if people want a gamble. I choose not to because I have an issue with it. Some people do and enjoy it - good luck to them. But to give it the hard sell and to actively seek to turn people into addicts, employing psychological buzz-words and images and NLP (NeuroLinguistic Programming) subliminal techniques and celebrity endorsements just seems one step too far to me. Don't turn a dirty habit into a societally accepted 'innocent normal bit of fun'. Urgh!
It could be argued, why not ban adverts for booze too, as people get addicted to that? Where is freedom of choice? But I don't agree. At least with alcohol you get something out of it - a drink, a social gathering, a chemical buzz. But I see gambling ads in the same light as tobacco adverts which are now illegal - because gambling is like tobacco - designed to get you addicted, give you nothing in return and ultimately kill you.
Respect to all of us who, despite this media onslaught, still refuse to give in and gamble.
And massive respect to you personally Mr. Brightside - I've followed the 2014 challenge from the getgo. I've never joined because , touch wood, I haven't been tempted these last few years (expect once), but you are an inspiration sir for the time and effort you've put in collating stats and keeping the whole thing going. Big up yourself. Respect.
Molehole x
I think this is one of the hardest things I found during my initial months of being gambling free.
But then I took a different view and used it to add to my Will power. I work within advertising so have a fair understanding of costs involved.
To advertise on TV you need millions. To advertise at half time of a FA cup final/Champions league final you need multi-millions. I have funded these adverts, we all have funded these adverts.
Now, with these multi-million pound adverts they also use 10/20/50 free bet, costing them further millions.
So we are now talking big multi-millions, all funded by gamblers.
HOW MUCH MONEY MUST THEY MAKE TO GET A RETURN FROM THIS!!??
For each bet made, another TV campaign is funded, another new "give a try" gambler will sign up, another compulsive gambler is made. I wouldn't wanna be held responsible for anyone else getting into gambler and needing this website/GA ect.
Those adverts aren't going anywhere for now. The government could change policies and laws, but they make millions on tax from bookmakers and the such, they won't cut that stream of money.
The government will tell you the problem is the people at the bottom, but whilst we are fixed in a life of gambling they are at the top creaming of tax's, expenses and people stop challanging.
THE UK GOVERNMENT ARE HAPPY WITH A HOMELESS AND DEPRESSED NATION.
I don't want to be part of the above or there happy game.
This is why I will stay gambling free.
Hanzsolo
Onwards and upwards
Hanzsolo - I agree totally. But I've never met anyone who's signed up at half-time or come in from the pub and fancied a spin who hasn't always ended up betting more than they wanted. The whole industry is designed with one purpose in mind - to separate you from your hard earned as beautifully and quickly as possible.
Imagine street muggers were allowed to advertise on TV - "Come to this multi-coloured alleyway, it's full of great tunes, Moet and beautiful people, stay awhile - you'll feel like a winner and get a chance to break out of your mundane humdrum boring life for a few hours, at the end obviously all your money will be lifted off you, but I promise you won't even feel it..." 😉
Something interesting I found online!;
Gambling advertising on television has increased nine-fold since the rules on gambling ads were relaxed, according to research from the broadcasting regulator, Ofcom.Foxy Bingo: bingo accounted for 38.3 per cent of gambling ads on TV in 2012
In 2006, before the Gambling Act of that year came into force, there were 152,000 gambling advertising spots on TV. This increased to 537,000 by 2008 and then to 1.39 million in 2012, over nine times more than in 2006.
All the figures are based on analysis of Barb viewing data.
The research categorises gambling ads into four types: online casino and poker services; sports betting; bingo; and lotteries and scratch cards.
Of all gambling ads on television in 2012, there were 532,000 bingo ads; 411,000 ads for online casino and poker services; 355,000 ads for lotteries and scratch cards; and 91,000 sports betting ads.
In terms of shares of each type of gambling service in 2012, bingo accounted for 38.3 per cent of ads; online casino and poker services for 29.6 per cent; lotteries and scratch cards represented 25.6 per cent; while sports betting ads accounted for 6.6 per cent of the total.
Gambling accounted for just 0.7 per cent of all advertising spots across commercial television in 2006, this rose to 1.7 per cent in 2008 and 4.1 per cent in 2012, an almost six-fold increase from 2006.
The Gambling Act 2005, which came into force on 1 September 2007, allowed gambling on TV. Prior to this, the only gambling advertising that was permitted on television was for football pools, bingo premises and the National Lottery.
The number of times gambling advertising has been seen by viewers has also increased.
In 2006, there were eight billion impacts. This grew to 30.9 billion impacts in 2012, with gambling ads accounting for 3.2 per cent of all advertising seen by an adult audience.
Exactly.
Especially that whole 'Foxy Bingo' schtick (Or Any Bingo/Slot) advert that is aimed directly at single mums who are naturally stuck at home feeling lonely and marginalised, desperate for company and chatty chat, who would never have naturally walked into a betting shop in a million years before the internet and TV gambling advertising.
It's sick.
It's real cynical advertising preying on those who don't even realise they are being suckered in.
mx
Bumped up for anyone who may find this an interesting read.
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