New study finds that gambling adverts are linked to addiction

[The Buzz]

Warning: Here comes another "gambling is evil" report from the mainstream media.

A study by Sheffield and Glasgow universities has found that the more people are exposed to betting advertising, the more likely they are to gamble and the greater the risk of them developing an addiction.

The research, published in the journal Public Health, concluded that restrictions on gambling advertising could reduce harms caused by betting including debt, relationship breakdowns, physical and mental health problems and crime. It added that restrictions would most help those in vulnerable groups, such as children.

From The Glasgow Times:

The conclusion of the study was that “gambling advertising restrictions could reduce harm and lessen the impact of advertising on gambling-related inequalities”.

It stated: “Public health harm prevention strategies should include policies which limit exposure to advertising, particularly among children and vulnerable groups.”

On children and young people, it found “higher exposure to advertising is associated with higher gambling rates and severity".

James Grimes leads Gambling with Lives, which runs The Big Step campaign, calling for a ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship in football.

Mr Grimes said: “There’s now an abundance of evidence that clearly links advertising to addiction, as the millions of us harmed by gambling already know.

“The gambling industry spends £1.5bn a year on marketing - infecting our screens, our sports and our streets with a misleading representation of addictive gambling products.

Read more here: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/gl...115727432.html

[edgarf76]

I hear that, but at the same time if they did the same research on let's say food. Would there be evidence of addiction?

[danielapuestas]

I saw a research on Coca Cola - 90% of kids in the world are familiar with the brand before they reach 1 year of age. It's part of their marketing plan - raising the next generation of customers. Most of the 90's kids have played around a McDonalds clown so they know the brand from a very young age. And obesity is as big of a problem as the gambling addiction. But if they stop the ads of all addictive things, there's pretty much no business remaining to advertise.

[Pokerface]

Same goes for all products. Show me ads for cold beer, wine, snacks, great food, etc and I start craving them.

[outreach_nätcasino]

Branding for the subconsious mind is immensly powerful - and yes it is done mainly through advertisement.
Currently the different laws of countries decide what the inhabitants "can get exposed to", meaning in directly that they set the rules of what addictions are fine or not.