Columnist: World Cup brings 'misery' to online gamblers

[The Buzz]

In case you missed it, there was a doozy of a column by Kevin McKenna in The Guardian last week regarding online gambling adverts.

The headline was "As the World Cup brings joy to fans, it brings misery to online gamblers -- Behind the greatest sporting show on Earth is a trail of greed and exploitation."

McKenna goes on to write the following:

The endless adverts for online gambling products that have wrapped themselves around ITV’s coverage are much more than an irritant. They grow up alongside the football coverage, choking it like weeds. We are never free of them and we know that several thousand poor families are imperilled by them. These are the ones whose lives have been disfigured by problem gambling, the hidden scourge that you can’t identify until it has already hollowed out the person that you love.

There are now dozens of online gambling firms spending fortunes in an obscene and frenzied race to get at their chief prey: working-class men on low wages who love football. Even more insidious than big cockney Ray Winstone telling us slyly to “have a bang on that” is the message that comes at the end of the endless procession of gambling adverts beseeching punters to “please gamble responsibly”. It’s nothing more than a cruel joke that subliminally says: “Please gamble…”

They know that their target audience is sitting at home with a few beers or in a pub and at their most vulnerable. Smartphone technology means they can be caught in the midst of those moments of euphoria when their side scores. These firms knowingly feed addiction or create new generations of addicts.

A bit dramatic, Mr. McKenna, no?

Anyway, here is a link to the entire column: https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...nline-gamblers

[lufc]

Probably not an opinion many will share on hear, but i dod think something needs to be done, especially with the mid-afternoon kick offs where in all liklihood it will be mostly kids watching

[JamieG1981]

Gambling is the 'In' thing for the UK government to attack.

I would be far more concerned with all the adverts for MacDonalds, Coke etc.

Obesity a far bigger problem and a drain on society thank gambling is.

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[JamieG1981]

*McDonald's

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[Malikbhai]

Gambling is an issue; will remain so. It's human nature.

We effers just want our cut, just like McDonalds wants its cut of the fatties, just like Heineken wants its cut of the alcoholics, just like xyx wants its cut of the people who can't get a grip.

If McKenna wants a promotion; he needs better stories.

[sweetbet]

Gambling is the 'In' thing for the UK government to attack.

I would be far more concerned with all the adverts for MacDonalds, Coke etc.

Obesity a far bigger problem and a drain on society thank gambling is.

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I agree. There are far more pressing issues that the government needs to address. Unemployment, homelessness, etc etc

[Cash Bonus]

Absolutely, sweetbet. The two other main issues that come to mind are better health care benefits, especially for the sick and elderly people and working on solving the pollution levels throughout the world.

[TheGooner]

A man who clearly doesn't gamble attacks gambling.

How is this different from teetotallers who campaign for prohibition?
Or non-smokers who want cigarettes banned?

His target is badly aimed - most bookmakers don't make a lot of profit from the world cup.
The get increased turnover - but the favourites tend to do well - and the novice gets rewarded.

[pokeraussie]

the favourites tend to do well - and the novice gets rewarded.

Hmmm yeah not so much with today's games lol

[a.harrison]

Every time you got nothing to write about, you can go throwing dirt on gambling, alcohol and tobacco companies, oil companies, meat farms (original list is longer). Luckily, choosing this way you don't have to operate boring numbers, such as GDP generated or tax paid, just do your thing.


I don't have a degree in journalism, but I'm sure this must be some of the basics they learn to pass first exams.

[Triple7]

I can imagine that gambling ads are annoying when you didn't ask for it and when kids are watching. Here it's not allowed during the day, but in the evening it's one gambling ad after another on tv. In some countries you see during the day gambling ads, also during or around programs that are watched by kids.

Also for affiliates it would be ok if companies like Kindred spend less in ads on tv. Would save perhaps some quota terms.

I agree it's subjective many times. Coca Cola isn't healthy neither, Mc Donald's neither, etc. Sugar and fat will perhaps soon be a bigger problem than smoking for example.

[Ladiepre]

Not at all, this is a cut-throat industry, but then again, so is real life. How about McKenna also covers the harrowing effects caused by food and auto vehicle adverts. They also pop up just as much as gambling adverts. Ultimately, these are the consequences and effects of aggressive advertising and almost every industry is in on that bandwagon. Just that the gambling industry takes first place.

That's my 2 cents on the matter