Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Blughbablugh · 27/04/2023 17:39

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.

The OP is talking about a ban on online gambling not all gambling.

Deadpalm · 27/04/2023 17:46

Have anyone passed by some if the betting shops? Even Dh wouldn't dare to go in let alone me. Like this I can safely put a fiver on next X president. For fun. Or put that 2.50 once a blue moon on euromillions etc.
While I understand some people have issues, many not. And yes, banning online gaming would effectively ban gambling for quite a few people who have no issues otherwise.

I think stricter self exclusion rules and automated breaks after x spend would be better.

BarelyLiterate · 27/04/2023 17:56

Good idea, OP.

As well as banning gambling, while we are at it, let’s ban tobacco, too. Nasty, toxic, addictive stuff. If we’re banning tobacco, we should definitely ban alcohol which is also addictive & causes massive social & medical problems. Talking of medical problems, we should absolutely ban sugar, which is causing an epidemic of diabetes & obesity. And let’s ban unhealthy fast food, too. How many heart attacks are caused by people pigging out on KFC & Greggs’ sausage rolls?

Or, alternatively, in what’s supposed to be a free country, we could treat people as adults who are capable of making their own informed choices about what they choose to do with their disposable incomes, what they choose to inhale or stuff into their mouths and how much exercise they choose to take and do not require patronising nanny state to curtail their freedoms and control every aspect of their lives.

Mardiarse · 27/04/2023 18:31

BarelyLiterate · 27/04/2023 17:56

Good idea, OP.

As well as banning gambling, while we are at it, let’s ban tobacco, too. Nasty, toxic, addictive stuff. If we’re banning tobacco, we should definitely ban alcohol which is also addictive & causes massive social & medical problems. Talking of medical problems, we should absolutely ban sugar, which is causing an epidemic of diabetes & obesity. And let’s ban unhealthy fast food, too. How many heart attacks are caused by people pigging out on KFC & Greggs’ sausage rolls?

Or, alternatively, in what’s supposed to be a free country, we could treat people as adults who are capable of making their own informed choices about what they choose to do with their disposable incomes, what they choose to inhale or stuff into their mouths and how much exercise they choose to take and do not require patronising nanny state to curtail their freedoms and control every aspect of their lives.

Most of the things you’ve mentioned there are now heavily taxed, in an attempt to reduce consumption, what’s wrong with more regulations to prevent vulnerable people destroying their lives.

Northernsouloldies · 27/04/2023 19:01

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/04/2023 10:57

As with anything we have to expect some level of self responsibility. But I do think that heavier regulation needs to be in place around gambling advertising and UX (user experience) of interactive online gambling. For example, Foxy Bingo / Pink Casino and their ilk which advertise to particular demographics, promoting their platforms as places to make friends, have fun, play executing little games to win cash, chat to other people online and thus targeting lonely, socially isolated people - often retired and unemployed people stuck at home, with few friends - with the promise of company and connections and quick cash. It’s disingenuous and the consumers who end up in difficulty are often particularly vulnerable.

Ooo the fun, fun adverts. The reality would be more like some poor sod on their phone /laptop gambling their last at 3 in the morning. And not a foxy insight.

GPTec1 · 27/04/2023 19:07

Well, the Gambling Industry has welcomed the Govts proposals..

That to me says it all, along with further "consultations"

Whoever some wish to blame, as tax payers we are all picking up the fall out from addiction.

Saz12 · 27/04/2023 19:26

We tax most social ills (tobacco, alchol, sugar, petrol, deisel...). We tax income. But we dont even tax winnings (itd be impossible, really). So the gambling industry overall is offering relatively low taxes. And it is a social ill, just like alchol and sugar are (yes, I drink and yes, I eat cake).

I dont think online gambling should be banned. But advertising should be tightly controlled, access limited, etc (we can do that: just like cigarettes - not foolproof enough to make people quit, but enough to stop most people starting). Although how itd be defined is impossible - buy lottery tickets online? A raffle for pta with tickets via SeeSaw? Omaze house?.

At least if you went to a bookies there's real interaction with real people out of the house. Same for lottery tickets, etc.

mogsrus · 27/04/2023 19:36

I work in the gaming industry. It would be illegal to give someone money or free spins to start you off, but that’s how they hook you in, not sure how they get round that
Seen many problems with gaming machines, it puts food on my table but it is a horrible industry & really needs to be looked into, again I have no answers as to how

Daydreamer123456 · 27/04/2023 20:46

Mardiarse · 27/04/2023 18:31

Most of the things you’ve mentioned there are now heavily taxed, in an attempt to reduce consumption, what’s wrong with more regulations to prevent vulnerable people destroying their lives.

Show quote history

Absolutely nothing with more regulations, but that wasn’t what the OP said, they stated gambling should be banned.

Daydreamer123456 · 27/04/2023 20:53

Northernsouloldies · 27/04/2023 19:01

Ooo the fun, fun adverts. The reality would be more like some poor sod on their phone /laptop gambling their last at 3 in the morning. And not a foxy insight.

Show quote history

Reality for who?

Not everyone who gambles is someone who would spend their last penny on a bet as a lot of posters are suggesting.

I bet maybe once a fortnight, have never spent more than a tenner on one bet and once that bet is on - win or lose I don’t have go on to have another.

Northernsouloldies · 27/04/2023 21:02

And the gambling industry is a multi billion pound one because people bet no more than a tenner. Its a problem for a lot of people and the adverts are in a lot of cases aimed at women.

sofabedsofa · 27/04/2023 21:16

Daydreamer123456 · 27/04/2023 20:53

Reality for who?

Not everyone who gambles is someone who would spend their last penny on a bet as a lot of posters are suggesting.

I bet maybe once a fortnight, have never spent more than a tenner on one bet and once that bet is on - win or lose I don’t have go on to have another.

Show quote history

@Daydreamer123456 Not everyone who gambles is someone who would spend their last penny on a bet as a lot of posters are suggesting.

No one has suggested this. No one.

Daydreamer123456 · 27/04/2023 21:28

sofabedsofa · 27/04/2023 21:16

@Daydreamer123456 Not everyone who gambles is someone who would spend their last penny on a bet as a lot of posters are suggesting.

No one has suggested this. No one.

Show quote history

Ooo the fun, fun adverts. The reality would be more like some poor sod on their phone /laptop gambling their last at 3 in the morning. And not a foxy insight.

This was the post I quoted- I think this suggests it

However, I stand corrected having read back through the replies in that not a lot of posters had suggested it

JohnnyRollins · 25/05/2023 09:32

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

HatchetJob · 25/05/2023 09:35

Someone sent me a friend code for online bingo in lockdown. I thought I’d give it a go as I was bored.
I didn’t really get it and there were loads of games going on at once and I wasn’t very interested.

It was absolutely impossible to close the account. I went round and round in circles and ended up in a bit where I said I was a gambling addict to get it to close. Ridiculous.

SalvadorSaunders · 31/05/2023 10:31

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 31/05/2023 10:42

I'd support a limit in terms of how much you can deposit, and that limit being quite low, but not an outright ban. I play poker online, I enjoy it and it costs me less than a lot of other things I could be doing for entertainment, so why should I be stopped from doing that because some people are addicts? We don't ban alcohol completely just because some people are alcoholics, what's the difference?

Gtsr443 · 31/05/2023 10:47

dottypotter · 27/04/2023 12:05

Far to much advertising on tv for gambling which idiot said it was OK?
Ray Winstone etc and the owners of Bet365 etc are making money on the back of people's misery.

This. Ban it from sponsorship of televised sporting occasions. My son grew up thinking that gambling on football matches was an integral part of the game.
I hated buying him a football shirt which was basically a bloody advert for a betting company.

MMMarmite · 31/05/2023 10:49

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/04/2023 10:57

As with anything we have to expect some level of self responsibility. But I do think that heavier regulation needs to be in place around gambling advertising and UX (user experience) of interactive online gambling. For example, Foxy Bingo / Pink Casino and their ilk which advertise to particular demographics, promoting their platforms as places to make friends, have fun, play executing little games to win cash, chat to other people online and thus targeting lonely, socially isolated people - often retired and unemployed people stuck at home, with few friends - with the promise of company and connections and quick cash. It’s disingenuous and the consumers who end up in difficulty are often particularly vulnerable.

Completely agree. Advertising, sponsorship deals etc by gambling firms should be banned. The firms prey on those vulnerable to addiction.

Beezknees · 31/05/2023 10:51

Disagree. I like to place the odd online bet. It's like saying ban alcohol or fast food because some people are addicted to that. I don't think it should be so heavily advertised though.

powershowerforanhour · 31/05/2023 11:44

"the owners of Bet365 etc are making money on the back of people's misery."
The b365 website is actually the least pushy of the 3 online accounts I have. They do have a casino on the homepage menu but it is very easy to ignore and they don't advertise free spins and things like that. I can go straight into the horse racing section (which is the only thing I'm interested in) without being bombarded by other stuff.
The company is registered in the UK and pays a lot of tax here, unlike some. I believe Denise Coates (who built it up from her dad's few betting shops) gives a lot to local charities in Slough and further afield, and the adoption authorities thought she was fit to adopt several children. She still could be an absolute monster but I think it unlikely.

powershowerforanhour · 31/05/2023 11:49

I agree the wall to wall advertising on TV during sporting events is a bit much though. Although I suppose if that was banned, the TV rights wouldn't be worth as much and the smaller football clubs and racecourses could suffer.

CurlewKate · 31/05/2023 11:53

I'd happily see it banned too. No benefit to anyone except the sharks making money out of other people's misery.

Thesharkradar · 31/05/2023 12:16

CurlewKate · 31/05/2023 11:53

I'd happily see it banned too. No benefit to anyone except the sharks making money out of other people's misery.

Those sharks won't give up their vast profits without a fight and they have a lot of money behind them 🦈

GasPanic · 31/05/2023 12:28

Banning stuff is great.

Provided they ban stuff I don't like.

When they ban stuff I do like, it's not so great.

I'd prefer people to not do stuff they don't like. And not have people try to ban stuff I do.