to think that if smoking adverts are banned then so should gambling adverts?

[Bogeyface]

I dont want my kids growing up thinking that spaffing all your wages on a gambling site or app is considered normal and desirable. There has been a huge upsurge in the number of gambling ads in the last few years along with a huge upsurge in payday loan adverts, coincidence?

These ads seem to give the impression that gambling is cool, fun, and perfectly normal but it isnt! A couple of lines on the lottery is one thing but spending ££'s on a poker website or virtual fruit machine is a one way ticket to bankruptcy.

I know someone who ended up in prison after stealing almost £60,000 from his employer due to a gambling addiction. It destroys families and is as much of an addiction as heroin, smoking or alcoholism and can cause just as much damage, so why is it legal to advertise it?

I know that the government make £££ on the tax from it, but they do on fags too.

Yanbu I detest those gambling and bingo adverts

You are right. I hate those bingo ads where the young mum is having a coffee with a friend but is gambling on her phone at the same time. As if to say 'See! It's perfectly normal! You can gamble away your food budget at lunchtime and it is just the same as having friends. It is all a lovely game!'.

Gambling is not a game. It is a fraud in my opinion.

YANBU.

I agree. I hate all those ads - and the payday loan ads.

Yanbu! Why the hell are they allowed?

I totally agree, I think it's disgusting that they are allowed.... It's far too easy now to gamble online in secret and get into massive problems which undermines lives and families ....

So, how so we stop them? Shall we start a campaign ?

Perhaps it could be an MN campaign?

I can't understand why Fiona Phillips took the job of advertising that lottery or whatever it is. She must have been desperate for work.

I am also one who dislikes advertising an addiction. When you set light to a cigarette you might as well roll up a £5 note and set light to it. You lose your £5.

With lotteries, there is the vague possibility that you might win the odd £2.50 or so but you spend so much more than you win that it's just a waste of money. People do become addicted to gambling such as in horseracing because there's so much excitement at the prospect of a big win. I agree that advertising for what are, let's face it' gambling projects should be banned. We could well see fewer ruined lives.

Premium bonds now .... well, they are a lottery but at least your 'investment' is safe.

Xpost!

dh and I were just talking about this the other day, we were wondering if the normalisation of gambling and the ease with which you can do it discreetly via your mobile will lead to a rise in gambling addiction. Gambling terrifies me, I think it would be by far the easiest thing in the world to become addicted to.

So pleased to see so many others feel the same! I'm really shocked by the normalisation of gambling adverts and betting shops. The disconnect between the happy normal people on the adverts and the punters in the shops.
Gambling addiction creeps up on a society and isn't noticed until families sink. Australia now has a huge problem.

Yanbu. The advert are awful and they are clearly targeting vulnerable people during the day. My dh hates the Ray Winston one that comes on during half time during football matches because he often watches with the dc.

I think we should share a campaign.

yyyyyyyyyy

Yanbu the online bingo ads really annoy me and the super slots game or what ever its called the promise of double money if you pay a fiver tut. Bookies on the high street are not allowed to have their gamblers on view so why is it ok for tv

Maria Miller (former SoS for Culture, Sport and...something else ) said in March that she contacted the Advertising Standards Authority about the gamblings ads. Apparently there is a loophole that allows ads to be shown at any time of day during a sporting event. It has been suggested that the ASA may ban the ads altogether.

However, she has since been forced to resign due to over claiming expenses [sigh] and I cant find anything about it since then.

Perhaps MN could start our own campaign and contact the ASA ourselves?

You know the other day on stv I saw a bingo ad followed by a satsuma loan advert so once you have spent all your money playing online games its fine you can just get a satsuma loan

Yanbu. It's horrible how prevalent they are. People can get themselves into real trouble.

www.asa.org.uk/News-resources/Hot-Topics/New-gambling-advertising-rules.aspx#.VBAJ72OaZY0

Taken from the above site, it seems to me that every single advert breaks the first one....

Among the key clauses, the rules state that advertisements for gambling must not:

portray, condone or encourage gambling behaviour that is socially irresponsible or could lead to financial, social or emotional harm; 
be likely to be of particular appeal to under 18s, especially by reflecting or being associated with youth culture; 
suggest that gambling can be a solution to financial concerns, an alternative to employment or a way to achieve financial security; 
exploit the susceptibilities, aspirations, credulity, inexperience or lack of knowledge of children, young persons or other vulnerable persons; 
link gambling to seduction, sexual success or enhanced attractiveness.

There's gambling and gambling isn't there?

With one, you pick your horse, dog, numbers, team etc, and then watch the action unfold in a real, live environment.

With the other - you are pitting your wits (and money) against an anonymous computer. Call me a cynic, but would I trust a computer to play fair? Possibly not...

Yanbu

In betting shops rules are very strict. You couldn't even take a baby or child in for two seconds to use the toilet or collect your winnings in order to protect them from any influence. Yet it's ok for it to be advertised any time of the day

I hate them however while the national lottery still raises millions in tax and good causes you won't get gambling adverts banned. If the government wants to advertise state gambling you have to allow other businesses to as well.

taxi well quite. I know there are rules about odds etc but how often are companies checked to make sure they are following them?

I think you have to be incredibly naive to think that you will ever win against these computers, those companies make millions because most people will lose and those that do win will put it all back again.

I think that all gambling adverts should be banned from TV between 6.00 am and 9.00 pm

Gambling companies do try to make their advertisements interesting. I have to admit that I like the satsuma one - the way the satsuma opens its 'mouth' and makes the 'ooo' shape when it's singing. Other than listening and watching the satsuma's movements, there is nothing in it for me though.

Those advertisements where women's hair is blown by fans when they find out that they've won something is just ridiculous. the way they open their mouths in pleasure as if they've never had anything before is just plain silly. No one behaves like that if they win anything. I don't if I win £25 in a premium bond draw.

Those presented with a huge cheque at their front doors are expected to shriek with glee and climb over the caller ....... How naff!

Frankly, the advertisements are a deterrent from gambling.

YANBU

I think it's crazy that gambling companies are allowed to sponsor football teams and leagues. How are you supposed to tell your kids gambling is bad for them when their fave teams and players are wearing the logos?

I think that all gambling adverts should be banned from TV between 6.00 am and 9.00 pm

But then you wouldn't catch the unemployed who caved on to the wonga ads they are blasted with all day

nothing like skint people being convinced they can double their money all day