I was just reading a post on the abundance of gambling advertisements on the telly and this is what I discovered when I checked out the profits that are made by the gambling companies:
"The UK gambling sector currently generates around £15 billion in annual revenues and is growing rapidly at up to 8% per year.
Of this total over a third (£5 billion +) is made from online gambling, with a rough split of 60% casino and 40 % sports betting".
Scandalous in my opinion.
The adverts are obviously misleading and don't warn of the risks involved in gambling.
On the contrary, the adverts try to make gambling look like harmless fun.
And celebrities who should know better, endorse these products for a few pieces of silver.
Shame on them!
Hi Stephen
how right you are. There are huge casino cities emerging all around the world as it is a lucrative business.
The tragic thing is that in most business if you invested thousands you would own a share of it.
Thanks for all your kind posts on my diary
And yes the adverts should be restricted
Thank you Lou Lou & Merry go round.
I don't consider myself to be particularly gullible but I was repeatedly caught in the traps set by the gambling companies.
Drawn in by the "Glitz & Glamour" and the promise of riches which I didn't have to work for!
Here in Gamcare I often heard people refer to gambling as an escape but I never realised that was me. I had always considered myself to be a shrewd gambler who was just waiting to come up with the right system.
It was as if I was blinded to what was blatantly obvious. There was always ever going to be one winner and that was the bookmakers.
Sorry if I am rambling a bit but I cannot for the life of me understand how I would keep making the same mistakes time after time, year after year and never learn from my mistakes.
I suppose really I just do not understand addiction.
Several months gamble free now though so hope and pray that it is all a thing of the past.
Best wishes to gamcare friends.
Stephen
An excellent post Aum
There was a great programme on Radio 4 today echoing and expanding on what you have said. People are aware and I feel the tide is slowly changing
If you get the chance to listen on i player or catch up its worth a listen.
Gambling was illegal at one stage in history...we have gone from that to a massive green light and deregulation.
A lot of that is for the political reason it makes billions and the figure is eye watering when compared with other taxes...its no wonder they are trying to cash in on it
The piece also raised the issue that its all focused on a cure for addicts and not prevention of the problem in the first place.
It is SCANDALOUS! A scandal of monumental proportions so I really have no idea how they are still managing to get away with it
All the best
Many thanks Joydivider for drawing attention to the Radio 4 program broadcast yesterday "Thinking Aloud - Gambling."
I have just been listening to it on BBC Sounds and thoroughly enjoyed the interviews featuring Emma Casey and Rebecca Cassidy who are very knowledgeable and seem to have a very good understanding of gambling and its effects on individuals and society.
Well worth a listen.
Stephen
I have written to a person in house of Lords about their comments on gambling? They actually said " they can see no link between advertising and problem gambling in the young". For legislation to improve and addiction to be addressed, comments like that show how far removed from reality the government are. An absolutely stupid - irresponsible remark buy a peer of the realm. If advertising has no link to anything then why do it in first place. ..after all do m&s advertise their lovely xmas food so that we look at it and think " nah think I'll starve myself over xmas". I think not!!
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