Celebrities seeming to promote gambling

I've never been interested in gambling but I know it's a serious addiction that can ruin lives. Opportunities to gamble are unlimited now with smart phones etc. It must make trying to stop even harder. I also think a lot of the adverts,especially those offering free games make it look fun and sociable with a small gamble aware warning. For some it will just be an occasional habit. Addicted gamblers will continue regardless. I do wonder how many people who would never have left there home to gamble are now experiencing problems.

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I think all gambling adverts should be banned. I appreciate that the majority of people gamble responsibly but for those who have a problem with gambling it is irresponsible to say the least. Encouraging people with 'free' bets. My Dad drummed it into me never to waste money betting. He used to say he had never seen a poor bookie.

It’s a nasty sleazy business, I don’t think it should be advertised on TV.

I completely agree with Marydoll

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I agree with duju. Celebrities make quite enough money without promoting gambling. I recognize there are lots of people who enjoy a flutter from time to time - and why not! I have no problem at all with that. However I have often thought about those who promote gambling on tv and wondered if encourages those already addicted or first timers who are lonely or depressed to become addicted. I have mixed feelings and can see and understand the argument ' why should everyone else be deprived because if those who
are or may become addicted' on balance I think celebrities promoting gambling is not a sound idea.

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I don’t like gambling being advertised on t.v. My Dad used to say it was a mugs game and always drummed into us as kids not to get involved.

duju
You are spot on!
They have banned cigarette adverts, only have alcohol adverts at special times like Christmas, yet gambling seems to have taken over our screens!
'Only £10' yeah, til it's not only £10 & suddenly you've overspent and can't pay your rent or mortgage!
'Stop when the fun stops' oh right, like these gamblers are going to just stop when the next shot could make them rich!
Unfortunately, I started to refuse to go out with my estranged husband as I was often sat alone in pubs, looking like a right plonker, while he and the fruit machines were having a relationship - "It's about to pay out, I can hear it....give me £1!"
Friends are constantly gambling on sports and are overjoyed when they win.
But how much have they put into the stupid machines or on the horses and football before they won? And how many times have they lost, or run out of money, before the wins?
Gambling shouldn't be advertised on tv, especially with celebrities pumping it up to be something great, or on Facebook/any social media as it soon gets way over their heads!!

Ultimately people have to take responsibility for their own actions but I agree gambling adverts should not be glamourised and promoted by celebrities. In fact I’m always irritated to see Ant and Dec and other sports stars promoting Santander and probably being paid obscene amounts of money when they pay me zero interest!

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i used to play bingo each morning in a 5p room, i talked to friends and had great support as i am going through cancer, gambling aware blocked my account and will not re-open it until i show 3 months bank statements, any benefits i get and any property i own, no celebs ever advertised it and you never see any adverts for it, no amount of celebrity advertising would make me want to bet on horses or play in a casino.

There is simply no need to advertise gambling anyone wanting to do it will find it and how
I abhor all the celebrities making more and more money from all the adverts they are all greedy so and so’s

I think all gambling adverts should be banned too.

As for celebrities endorsing these horrible businesses, I think they are greedy and unprincipled.

I agree-all advertising for gambling, wherever it is, should be banned IMHO. Addictive gambling is a terrible mental health problem for which there is little help. It ruins lives-I don’t know how these folk can sleep at night. They must know the harm it causes surely?

I agree the advertising of gambling on TV should be stopped. There are plenty of ways people can find out about gambling without it being encouraged by "celebrities". I have never been a much of a gambler myself (some would say I am too mean!), on a visit to a racecourse I took an amount of cash with the intention that when that was gone I would stop - in fact I came away with a slight profit! I always remember my father's advice to never gamble more money than I was prepared to lose.

On morning, and sometimes afternoon, itv programmes we are encouraged to phone a number with a chance of winning a big prize. Calls cost money. This is gambling. Where do we stop with promoting this culture? Is this any better or worse than promoting bingo?
Are Holly and Phil baddies too or Andy Peters?
Personally I am torn between calling it a bit of fun and we are all responsible for our own behaviour or calling it encouragement to addiction.
Having written that, the thought occurred to me that we don’t advertise heroin or cocaine. Another bit of fun to some, in control so no I wouldn’t touch it to others and the slippery slope to addiction for the more vulnerable.
Think I’ve now formed an opinion and agree with banning the advertising.

Oldwoman, your post reminded me of something my Dad used to say ‘you never see a poor bookmaker’.

duju, it seems to me that it's just the latest version of ads for addiction - replacing all the cigarette and alcohol ones - so I agree, and think these celebrities should be ashamed of themselves.

Hetty58

duju, it seems to me that it's just the latest version of ads for addiction - replacing all the cigarette and alcohol ones - so I agree, and think these celebrities should be ashamed of themselves.

Are Holly and Phil baddies too or Andy Peters?

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Advertising for gambling should definitely be banned. And even more so, advertising which gives away free bets to get people started and hooked.

I have seen first hand what happens when people get hooked- and know some who have destroyed their relationship, their family, and ended up in prison.