To think People's Postcode Lottery is in really bad taste?

[ThatSunCreamSmell]

Adverts for this are forever popping up and I just think it's in really bad taste.

Problem gambling in this country has been well documented, but I think the premise of this is even worse.

We are in a cost of living crisis, problem gambling is a slippery slope yet they are wheeling out "celebrities" and adverts saying "you don't want to be the person on the street that hasn't entered".. talk about peer pressure. How is pressuring people into gambling allowed?!

Also not buying for a second that these people like to play it as they are "giving to charity". There are much more straightforward ways to do that.

Get a grip will ya. Its personal choice where people decide to spend their money, no one is forcing anyone to do anything. Should scratch cards be banned in shops too in case someone wins a fiver and the person behind them doesn't?

YANBU it is crap.

I di the free one. All legit but you have to check it every day, it doesn't tell you. Compared to the lottery though, the postcode lottery is probably cheaper. Although they do offer extra if you hold up a board saying you've won more than that like. Like take a break does.

Don't think it's the same as someone else buying a scratch card in a shop.

@gamerchick as in you win more money if you hold up a card?

There's a free one??

I don't think the postcode lottery is any worse than the national lottery or other lotteries. To an extent I dislike lotteries, bingo and fixed-odds betting machines, even casino games too, because it's purely down to chance. It's kind of like catering to the lowest common denominator and the chances of winning are so slight. At least with betting on the horses or playing poker there is a skill element.

I agree with you on the charity part, it would be better if the charity aspect was taken out of lotteries altogether. In the cost of living crisis this would reduce the ticket price without affecting the payouts.

I don't think it's any worse than the 80,000 betting adverts I have to sit through every time I watch a football match, or the Omaze house lottery adverts, or indeed the National Lottery adverts, or ads for online casino apps, or bingo ads. I suspect it's a lot less harmful than online casinos.

You cant dictate how people spend there money.

Do you drink? Eat junk food? Eat at restaurants or go to bars? Use a gym? Plenty of people struggle to afford those and may have weight or alcohol issues.

Do you have a history with someone close to you gambling? Because this has PROJECTING written all over it.

Not projecting or dictating whether people gamble or not. Saying that this specific lottery is using added pressure with the idea that you are missing out / all your neighbours are doing it so you should too. Different kind of approach than a lot of other gambling basing it on where you live and your neighbours who you know.

I don't see this as any worse than other gambling ads, or any more pressuring to join in. I've always vaguely associated them with the Daz doorstep challenge.

If you feel very strongly about it you could make a complaint to advertising standards. I don't think it's difficult to do and it can and does get ads investigated and pulled.

Pick My Postcode is free, you just have to sign up. There are daily prizes and you have to check everyday to boost your ‘pot’, but the prizes are significantly lower than the bigger Postcode Lottery. The two of them had a legal spat a couple of years ago and although PL won, there was a lot of bad press about where the money actually goes. I get your point about adverts, though - I’m always surprised to see people like Lee Francis promoting gambling on TV.

Let's ban booze and fags as well while we're at it. Both addictive and both can kill

I’m always surprised to see people like Lee Francis promoting gambling on TV.
Why would that surprise you?
A talentless and unfunny "comic" has to grab money wherever they can.

Their theme tune is criminal, but the lottery itself
is fine. It’s not hardened gambling

My road won - several of us had either holidays or new furniture. I know others whose roads won too and none of us paid more than the minimum per month. It's a game of chance - you might or mightnot get something, but the charities all get something anyway.

And for the condemnatory - we do give to charities by direct debit every month too, it's just that this one lottery was one my husband liked, so I keep it going for him.

Oh my goodness yes! I see exactly what you're saying. I heard an advert for it this morning on the radio and I had to check myself because I felt a bit if anxiety wash over me. I don't enter but what if my postcode won how would I feel then?? Perhaps I should do it. Can I afford that money every month etc. Had to give my head a good wobble!

This here.

You wouldn't say that if you won the cash!