Yep, it pretty much was the same when cigarette advertising was banned – doom & gloom, the death of both sport & radio/tv, etc, etc. In fact the situations were very similar – radio, tv, advertising, & sports industries weren’t sticking by the existing voluntary code, the government proposed a more restrictive code, radio/tv/sport claimed it would have “serious consequences” for them. Gambling Should Not Be Banned Debate The minimum deposit for other offers that require a deposit will be clearly communicated. Maximum bonus offered will be communicated in the details of each specific promo. The whistle-to-whistle ban should be enough to address the issue of advertising volume. The only answer beyond that is better marketing. For more in-depth analysis on the state of UK gambling adverts, click here for the full GI Huddle Podcast. TAGS: Industry Sports Betting Feature.
What are the adverse effects of gambling? How does it affect society? Should gambling be legal? We don’t think so and here we bring you an article that discusses the reasons why gambling should be illegal.
Gambling refers to the process of staking money in view of gaining more. When it comes to making money, one has to draw a line between need and greed. Gambling is something that blurs this line. It tempts you to risk more in an attempt to win more and the cycle does not seem to end. In case you lose money, you want to earn it back and if you earn money, you are tempted to gain more. Caught in the cycle, you keep gambling for hours. And then you do it regularly. It becomes a habit you cannot break.
Over time, you may get addicted to gambling. In the process, you end up losing large sums of money. Even if you win, your greed to win more might never end. The activity that started as a game of winning or losing money might take a bad turn and lead you to criminal activities. Gambling may breed ill-practices that have adverse effects on your family and social life. Perhaps, a good solution to prevent the damaging effects of gambling is to make it illegal.
Why Gambling Should Be Illegal
Gambling Invites Problems
Gambling is meant to serve as a recreation. People engage in gambling activities to get rid of their problems, stress, and loneliness. But most often, the contrary happens. Gambling often turns out to be a thoughtless splurge of money and a waste of quality time. It invites problems.
Gambling Leads to Crime
Gambling can lead people to crime. Those addicted to it fail to think wisely before taking any decisions in life. The addiction forces them to risk huge amounts of money. It may lead them to a stage where they cannot stop themselves from betting money and valuables, in turn leading them to bankruptcy. Those addicted to gambling are often seen giving up their jobs and careers, thus spoiling their lives.
Compulsive Gambling can Ruin Life
Problem gamblers or compulsive gamblers as they can be called, feel compelled to bet money with the intent to win more. Irrespective of whether they lose or win money, their addiction to gambling forces them to continue staking it. It may land them into huge debts. Lack of funds to repay the loans may leave them incapable of shouldering responsibilities towards their family. In this case, the family members have to face hardships and economic problems, or they may decide to separate, sharing no responsibility of the money lost.
It’s Addictive
Gambling is so addictive, that it won’t be wrong to compare it with drugs. Similar to how substance abuse has devastating effects on a personal and social level, even gambling is detrimental to both these aspects of living. That’s one reason why it is wise to outlaw it.
Gambling Affects Finances
Though one may argue that gambling is only a means of recreation and that it should be taken as a form of entertainment, truth is that it is seldom taken that way. Gamblers consider it to be a business, an investment, or a way to earn money. They take irresponsible decisions about staking money and risk amounts they don’t even have. This leads to huge debts they may never be able to repay. The prohibition of gambling by law is an effective measure to discourage people from its damaging effects.
It’s Fruitless
Money that could have been invested in better ways or put to better use is lost in gambling. Money just changes hands between the gamblers and is never really put to any worthy use. It keeps circulating between those involved in gambling, and they keep switching between rich, richer, poor, and poorer. Gambling can make the rich poor and the poor rich, within seconds; that too only out of luck. It is tempting to bet money, hoping for a bigger win every time. The allurement is not easy to overcome. And hence it’s best done by law.
Gambling Leads to Malpractices
Gambling leads people to borrow money and take secret loans for betting. These practices can best be prevented through law. Generally, people fear to do something that is illegal. They prefer to remain away from anything that is banned by law. Thus, if gambling is made illegal, its detrimental effects may be substantially reduced.
Making gambling illegal can solve many of the problems associated with it. Crime is best curbed through the use of law and order. If addiction to gambling is entitled to punishment, gambling practices will become less prevalent or may even stop completely. Strict laws against gambling, punishments or penalties to those caught, and surveillance, can prevent the number of people engaging in gambling activities.
A bishop is calling for stricter controls on betting adverts amid fears children are being 'groomed' into gambling - with sponsorship deals such as Norwich City's in the firing line.
The Church of England General Synod will debate a motion later this month calling for the Government to rein in the spread of gambling advertising to protect children.
Nine of the 20 Premier League teams and 17 of 24 Championship teams have a gambling company as their main sponsor.
That includes the Canaries, whose shirts are emblazoned with the logo of Sweden-based company, LeoVegas.
The motion was brought by the Bishop of St Albans Alan Smith who said legislation was needed to combat the quantity of gambling adverts.
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But Dr Smith said action was also needed to stop football players having gambling logos on their strips and betting adverts on pitch-side hoarding.
When asked if he would like to see a ban on gambling adverts on football shirts, Dr Smith said: 'I think that would be a really good idea.
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'My personal view is we need to get far, far more radical. You simply cannot live in this country without being confronted endlessly.
'I know families who will not let their children watch football matches on TV because they feel their children are being groomed into gambling.'
Should Gambling Advertising Be Banned Debate 2020
Dr Smith told reporters about a young boy who had branded the football shirt his parents gave him for Christmas not a 'proper one' because it did not have betting logo on it.
Dr Smith added: 'That was a real wake up call for me.
'A whole generation of young people have taken on a range of views and attitudes about the norm of gambling.
Should Gambling Advertising Be Banned Debate Arguments
'We have changed the enjoyment of sport from sport in itself to something that's to do with money and betting.
Should Gambling Advertising Be Banned Debate Moderators
'Our worry is we are as a nation sleepwalking into something by normalising and socialising a whole generation of people with no idea where it might go.'
A Gambling Commission audit from last year revealed the number of problem gamblers aged 11 to 16 rose to 55,000 over two years.
The General Synod debate will also consider a call for a mandatory levy on gambling firms to fund research, education, and treatment programmes for addicts.
Dr Smith is urging the Government to review the levels of gambling adverts children are subjected to and draw up new legislation focused on to reducing it.
Should Gambling Advertising Be Banned Debate Against
But he also called on the gambling industry and FA to do more to limit the damage of gambling adverts to young people.
Dr Smith added: 'We need research data, we need proper treatment. The gambling industry should contribute towards that.
'The best thing would be for the gambling industry to self-regulate.
'The FA and others need to wake up very quickly to how damaging this is going to be.'
The General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England which has 478 voting members across three houses - the bishops, clergy and laity.
It will meet at Church House in Westminster, from February 20-23.