Mad-Max wrote:
What can we do about it? I've got a 12yr old niece who showed me today her ipad asking if her parents could put their credit card details in so she could buy new skins for her to gamble.
I'm being serious this needs to stop. It needs to stop.
What can we do about it? Anyone want to get a govt. petition going? I'd do it myself but not sure it'll make any difference.
Max
I think getting a government petition going is a brilliant idea and I'd be one of the first to sign. So yes, please do it Max.
You'd be crazy to think the standard sports betting adverts shown inbetween football game aren't targeting young 20 somethings to have a good time, chuck a few quid on the football and a chance to win big.
All gambling ads are bad, they all target a certain group, the problem with the bingo ads is that it is something new and different, we can see it easier.
We are desensitised to b****5 and w**********l, l*******s etc
urgh - I agree completely. My issue with these specific new style of ads targetting women is that whereas the historic betting ads shown between football matches (for example with Ray Winstone's fat yabbering face spitting out half-time odds) were an extension of a bloke walking into the bookmakers to have a random punt after a few pints; these are presenting bingo as a gateway drug to "slots" and showing it all as a potential support network for lonely/vulnerable women; an emotional blanket to wrap themselves in as a reward after a bad day, etc.
It's the psychological needy angle that I despise. Stoopid pished-up men like me in the pub watching a match wasting a few quid before a kebab - we deserve what we get; Single mums on benefits hunched over their Brighthouse laptop, curtains drawn, baby crying, desperately trying to escape their hum-drum existence for a few hours with the promise of friendship and flashing lights, psychologically marketed to them, is "cruel & unusual punishment".
Max
An interesting post, Max and I'd have to agree with you as this is how I got sucked into gambling. I was a single mum, in full time work and in the evenings I would lead a lonely, isolated existence and saw one of these ads you mention and thought, 'why not? It's just a bit of fun and will give me something to do when my daughter is asleep'. This is where my hell began and started playing slots. 10 years down the line, I'm battling this horrible addiction from watching a stupid, glamourised advert that tricked me into thinking it was a harmless pastime. The worst decision of my life, like so many on here. This is also the reason that statistically the proportion of female gamblers now in comparison to many years ago is so high.
I have never been to a casino or would have any inclination to go into a bookies but online sites take all of the seediness and embarrassment away, along with lives families and homes.
An interesting post, Max and I'd have to agree with you as this is how I got sucked into gambling. I was a single mum, in full time work and in the evenings I would lead a lonely, isolated existence and saw one of these ads you mention and thought, 'why not? It's just a bit of fun and will give me something to do when my daughter is asleep'. This is where my hell began and started playing slots. 10 years down the line, I'm battling this horrible addiction from watching a stupid, glamourised advert that tricked me into thinking it was a harmless pastime. The worst decision of my life, like so many on here. This is also the reason that statistically the proportion of female gamblers now in comparison to many years ago is so high.
I have never been to a casino or would have any inclination to go into a bookies but online sites take all of the seediness and embarrassment away, along with lives families and homes.
Absolutely agree, married female, got caught up in the online gambling a year ago. Trying to stop and seeing these ads targeting women really doesn’t help. One in particular is like “ladies come and play, while your getting ready to go out or having a drink before you go” like it’s perfectly normal to do!
It’s hard when your trying to stop, seeing these ads, all off them as well not just those aimed at women, the ones that make it look like it’s more like a game than gambling!
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
