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AIBU?

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Original poster

Ban all on line gambling

105 replies

Tallcurves · 27/04/2023 10:05

Don't bother with new weak rules just ban it.
even with VPN's so your computer looks elsewhere you can still do it!

it's causes to much pain and has no real controls.

OP posts:
DPotter · 27/04/2023 13:31

Well you could try - but it's global so I don't see how you could. It is very harmful

Advertising could be banned though, just as cigarettes and tobacco advertising was banned

SorePaw · 27/04/2023 13:38

Tigofigo · 27/04/2023 12:09

Agreed. Imagine cigarette manufacturers sponsoring football teams, making comedy adverts and being praised on Twitter for their funny content, or seeing whole sections of newspapers telling you what the best fags to buy this weekend.

Show quote history

I can't tell if you're joking or are just very young?

SilverCatStripes · 27/04/2023 13:39

My SIL is a recovering gambling addict, she is generally a very sensible women who doesn’t take risks etc, she got herself in several thousand pounds worth of debt because of online slots , and it all started with her dabbling in matched betting when she was on maternity leave. (It’s one of the reasons I absolutely hate it when people post about matched betting on threads about how to make money )

Online gambling is destructive- it’s designed to pull people in and the marketing is very aggressive. I would support a ban of online gambling.

SorePaw · 27/04/2023 13:47

@Tallcurves

would that be including the lottery?

..asking for a friend

SorePaw · 27/04/2023 13:53

In all seriousness, I'm not sure.

I think I'd prefer to see some of the regulations in place as outlined above re international betting/advertising/etc

I'm not keen on the government banning more & more 'stuff'. But it's a fine line between personal choice & protecting the vulnerable.

Original poster
Tallcurves · 27/04/2023 15:02

@GPTec1

i agree qnd Sykes still when only in shops or casinos it was better monitored !!

at home with Internet booze and CC!

need stp be banned

OP posts:
scorpio32 · 27/04/2023 16:34

Can I just ask that people who say gambling addicts should exercise self-control please stop. It's no different to telling someone suffering from depression to 'cheer up'

It is crass and offensive

Daydreamer123456 · 27/04/2023 16:47

Better regulation - absolutely

Complete ban- absolutely not

Coyoacan · 27/04/2023 16:50

I agree with you OP. Gambling is addictive and caused huge damage to families

Deadpalm · 27/04/2023 16:55

I like my bingo couple of times a month though. Also like to bet fiver on politics when something big is happening.

This is what self exclusions are for, not outright ban.

Deadpalm · 27/04/2023 16:58

Hereward1332 · 27/04/2023 12:52

Banning gambling simply won't work as you can only ban UK based companies. Numerous offshore bookies operate from Malta, Gibraltar or pretty much anywhere you can name. There are better ways to crack the nut.

  1. Tighter regulation on UK bookmakers - more like Financial Services firms have to observe. Affordability checks, rules about treating people fairly or publishing statistics on losses

  2. Outright ban on any form of credit, whether granted by bookmaker or credit card

  3. Force payment processors (Visa, Mastercard) to refuse to process card payments to offshore bookmakers. Similarly put the onus on the payment processors to prevent payment wallets (Paypal, Skrill) from sending money to offshore sites.

Gambling addicts will find ways to gamble. Pushing them towards tighter regulated, onshore bookmakers will give them an outlet without driving them to use unregulated, more dangerous offshore firms.

I think this is very reasonable

leilani83 · 27/04/2023 17:00

I agree, 100%, and also ban online pornography which is way too easily accessible to absolutely anyone and has a detrimental impact on people & how they view/treat each other.

CheriseNuclearNuland · 27/04/2023 17:01

Tallcurves · 27/04/2023 10:05

Don't bother with new weak rules just ban it.
even with VPN's so your computer looks elsewhere you can still do it!

it's causes to much pain and has no real controls.

It’s a bit like crack in that people keep going until they keel over. No real off switch. With gambling there’s also no off switch, only running out of money and by then someone can be completely broke, in debt and homeless.

Daydreamer123456 · 27/04/2023 17:04

CheriseNuclearNuland · 27/04/2023 17:01

It’s a bit like crack in that people keep going until they keel over. No real off switch. With gambling there’s also no off switch, only running out of money and by then someone can be completely broke, in debt and homeless.

Show quote history

And what about the plenty of people who just enjoy a bet every now and again?

Not everybody who gambles ends up like this…

Alcoholics- should we ban alcohol too?

sofabedsofa · 27/04/2023 17:08

SunnySaturdayMorning · 27/04/2023 12:33

Don’t be ridiculous. We can’t ban things just because some people can’t regulate themselves.

That’s their problem.

Christ almighty Hmm You’re actually proud of your ignorance.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/04/2023 17:09

CheriseNuclearNuland · 27/04/2023 17:01

It’s a bit like crack in that people keep going until they keel over. No real off switch. With gambling there’s also no off switch, only running out of money and by then someone can be completely broke, in debt and homeless.

Show quote history

But not everyone who gambles is an addict. Plenty of people just play the odd £10 occasionally, or buy a scratch card or lottery ticket once a week.

I don't think an outright ban will achieve what people think it will achieve - many websites are based overseas anyway, so UK law is irrelevant.

sofabedsofa · 27/04/2023 17:12

SorePaw · 27/04/2023 13:38

I can't tell if you're joking or are just very young?

Show quote history

And I can’t tell what you mean with that slightly odd question. Confused

sofabedsofa · 27/04/2023 17:16

I’m going to hide this thread now. I can feel rage rising all over me. People who are susceptible to gambling addictions are hugely vulnerable. Policy changes aside, dismissing gambling addictions as a lack of self control just demonstrates a posters lack of knowledge and humanity.

Propensity to compulsive gambling is a biochemical issue, not a moral failing.

Ponoka7 · 27/04/2023 17:16

CheriseNuclearNuland · 27/04/2023 17:01

It’s a bit like crack in that people keep going until they keel over. No real off switch. With gambling there’s also no off switch, only running out of money and by then someone can be completely broke, in debt and homeless.

Show quote history

If that was the case, the industry wouldn't be worth what it is because it wouldn't continually pull in revenue. There's people who only bet a few times a year, on Cheltenham, the national etc. Eurovision can be bet on. The people I know who gamble, besides from Bingo, is those betting on football. I occasionally put the lottery on, it hasn't had the effect of using crack. Utterly ridiculous.

Ponoka7 · 27/04/2023 17:19

Coyoacan · 27/04/2023 16:50

I agree with you OP. Gambling is addictive and caused huge damage to families

If we start with addictive and harmful, gambling wouldn't be the first to go.

So people are forced offline and have to rely on fruit machines etc?

ShanghaiDiva · 27/04/2023 17:24

I’m a matched better and use multiple betting sites. There aren’t really any controls put in place: you can have multiple accounts (I use about 10 different sites at any one time), if you haven’t placed a bet for a while you often receive free bets or bet and get offers. You can set limits on the amount of time you spend gambling or are logging into the site, or the amount you bet but that’s up to the individual. I don’t put any limits on my accounts and this doesn’t seem to be reviewed and there are times eg during Cheltenham where I will be gambling every day and with some offers eg the Bet 365 Grand National Offer that I am gambling every day.

ShanghaiDiva · 27/04/2023 17:26

Forgot to add-£200 in a day.
of course I am not gambling as I offset all my bets, but you can’t know that by looking at my activity on the site.

Laughingnome1 · 27/04/2023 17:28

I absolutely agree. I am not usually in favour of banning recreational activities but having had a family member who struggled with addiction and pretty much lost everything, I saw how he was bombarded with email and texts offering "free bets" which intensified in frequency on the days he managed to abstain. The problem which is unique to gambling is you cannot escape the temptation and engage with distractions if you have a smart phone. Absolutely it would not be the whole solution as he could go to the bookies or supermarket for a scratch card but he said that this made him feel that he had to face the perceived judgement of the person serving him. Online is completely anonymous.

My DH works with someone who used to work for one of the big gambling sites , and he explained that these companies employ "psychology experts" who advise on strategies to keep people engaged with the site.

Maybe an overall ban is not possible but there certainly needs to be waaaay stricter regulations.

I would be interested to know how many donors to the various political parties are shareholders in these companies as the appetite to regulate appears lacklustre at best.

MelchiorsMistress · 27/04/2023 17:34

A complete ban on gambling would mean that people couldn’t even buy the occasional lottery ticket or sort out their harmless work syndicates.

Like banning alcohol, it would be punishing the majority of people who can use it safely for the sake of the small minority who are predisposed to struggle with it, and I can’t agree with doing that.

SainsBrie · 27/04/2023 17:35

Online gambling has zero benefit to anyone other than the directors/shareholders of the company and ergo the government. Oh and the moral-less ‘slebs that get paid to advertise jt. It’s absolutely abhorrent that something so harmful is allowed to be pedalled and promoted everywhere you go.

I’m not sure an outright ban is the way to do it but it should be slowly phased out, like smoking.

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