Celebs doing gambling ads.

[wombat42]

I recently saw Ray Winstone do a gambling ad with his authentic cockney "man of the people" accent. It is just sick. The level of gambling online must be soaring with lives ruined and Winstone is a parasite who must be earning big money.

Also Harry Redknapp doing gambling voiceovers to fund his Sandbanks lifestyle and Brian Blessed "where the country plays".

And we have this:
"Bet365 boss Denise Coates hits jackpot with £323m payday"
External Link/Members Only

[Liverpool]

Societies ills aren't the fault of the celebrity. So why shouldn't they make money from companies willing to pay? Surely the fact that you have addicts of any sort is the fault of the how that particular thing is regulated. The fact that you have a "when the fun stops, stop" at the end of an advert is no deterrent at all to the hardened gambling addict. The same could be said for alcohol. Who actually pays attention to the safe amount of units someone is allowed to drink a day? I would hazard a guess at not many.

[Corus Boy]

It's not just the celebrities, it's the whole gaming industries advertising campaign.

The Bingo adverts that seem to be designed to entice bored women to spend their days with their online Bingo friends.

But to be careful, if it get that you're spending too much time/money they recommend, 'Take yourself out of the game for a while!'

Hang on a moment, by then they are addicted!

[Blackpool Rock]

It's not just the celebrities, it's the whole gaming industries advertising campaign.

The Bingo adverts that seem to be designed to entice bored women to spend their days with their online Bingo friends.

But to be careful, if it get that you're spending too much time/money they recommend, 'Take yourself out of the game for a while!'

Hang on a moment, by then they are addicted!

I did read a few years ago that the biggest increase in problem gambling was women, this will be largely down to things like bingo sites and others which are specifically geared to attract women such as "Pink casino".

Years ago you had to walk into a dingy smoke filled betting shop which was full of blokes getting some "Me time" away from the wife but now almost everyone can bet online 24/7

The big fuss about FOBT machines and being able to bet £100 every 20 seconds or so got the stake reduced to £2 I think however that pales into insignificance compared to what you can stake on some online casino games.
I do gamble online and on some games i've increased the stakes to the maximum just to see how much can theoretically be gambled in one go, i've seen fruit machines at £600 per spin and £2500 per hand on blackjack however there were 5 boxes so £12500 could be bet and that's assuming you don't start splitting and doubling down, imagine if the dealer then gets blackjack 

[Londonpunter30]

Seems to be how the advertising industry goes, take the cigarette money as they pay loads , take pay day advertising as they pay loads, now it’s gambling .

Until they can’t advertise they will keep appearing

[Corus Boy]

Seems to be how the advertising industry goes, take the cigarette money as they pay loads , take pay day advertising as they pay loads, now it’s gambling .

Until they can’t advertise they will keep appearing

When I worked in the gaming industry no advertising was allowed, not casinos, not bookmakers nor bingo halls.  The only exception was for a new opening and to advetise jobs.

I do not know who relaxed the laws but it is now obscene in my opinion.

However there is always one winner;

Tax    Rate
GBD    15% for fixed odds and totalisator bets
3% for financial spread bets
10% for all other spread bets
15% of the commission charges charged by betting exchanges to users who are UK people
PBD    15%
RGD    15% before 1 April 2019
21% on or after 1 April 2019

The Government, wins whatever!

[wombat42]

I do not know who relaxed the laws but it is now obscene in my opinion.

It was a seriously insane thing from NuLabour and Tony Blair together with liberalisation of alcohol laws (consequently alcohol available just about everywhere 24/7 including convenience stores).

NuLabour had planned open dozens of new casinos including supercasinos but in the end toned it down a bit. The FOBT fiasco was born out of these reforms.

Blair just thought hey liberalising and allowing advertising for the gambling and alcohol industries would create jobs so it must be good.

[Xtro]

Surely the fact that you have addicts of any sort is the fault of the how that particular thing is regulated. 

Is this a fact?   

[winkywanky]

I hate the utter proliferation of gambling and gambling ads lately.

In accordance with that, I find the large role that Winstone and Redknapp play in all of this, pretty distasteful.

I can see large problems being stored up for the future, not dissimilar to those around the smoking industry a decade or two ago.

[Londonpunter30]

It was a seriously insane thing from NuLabour and Tony Blair together with liberalisation of alcohol laws (consequently alcohol available just about everywhere 24/7 including convenience stores).

NuLabour had planned open dozens of new casinos including supercasinos but in the end toned it down a bit. The FOBT fiasco was born out of these reforms.

Blair just thought hey liberalising and allowing advertising for the gambling and alcohol industries would create jobs so it must be good.

The alcohol law made sense.  It doesn’t mean ever pub is open 24 hours a day, like the press said was going to happen, just that the law covers the whole day.  No more waiting until 1100 in a supermarket to buy some beer etc.

Didn’t realise gambling ads were banned and then allowed again

[Squire Haggard]

I wish people would stop feeding these parasitic cunts.

External Link/Members Only

[NIK]

Societies ills aren't the fault of the celebrity. So why shouldn't they make money from companies willing to pay? Surely the fact that you have addicts of any sort is the fault of the how that particular thing is regulated. The fact that you have a "when the fun stops, stop" at the end of an advert is no deterrent at all to the hardened gambling addict. The same could be said for alcohol. Who actually pays attention to the safe amount of units someone is allowed to drink a day? I would hazard a guess at not many.

I understand where you're coming from. If they don't do it they will think well someone else will. I'd do it, but then again I need the money. They don't.
Just how much money do these cunts need?
It isn't just gambling adverts, you even get Hollywood A listers and the likes of Lineker, who must have more money than he will ever need, doing it.
If I had that kind of dosh I would have more dignity than to sell out bloody advertising.

As it is if anyone needs anything advertising I will snatch your hand off. 

[willie loman]

we have had gambling since the dawn of time, and gambling addicts since the dawn of time, there is of course no crossover, the act of gambling no more leads to being a gambling addict than the act of drinking leads to alcoholism, once you grasp this , there is nothing to worry about.The no of problem drinkers and problem gamblers is tiny, its unfortunate for them, but thats that, abolishing drink and gambling will not i am afraid sort their lives.

[wombat42]

I understand where you're coming from. If they don't do it they will think well someone else will. I'd do it, but then again I need the money. They don't.
Just how much money do these cunts need?
It isn't just gambling adverts, you even get Hollywood A listers and the likes of Lineker, who must have more money than he will ever need, doing it.
If I had that kind of dosh I would have more dignity than to sell out bloody advertising.

As it is if anyone needs anything advertising I will snatch your hand off. 

Some celebs, who already have more money than they know what to do with, are topping it up with income doing ads and voiceovers - such as Ant & Dec and Holly Willoughby. Why do they bother to put their name to promoting any old tat for extra dosh when they dont need it. Michael Parkinson was another one flogging rubbish life insurance. And Carol Vorderman is a serial offender doing ads for dodgy financial products.

[Xtro]

Some celebs, who already have more money than they know what to do with, are topping it up with income doing ads and voiceovers - such as Ant & Dec and Holly Willoughby. Why do they bother to put their name to promoting any old tat for extra dosh when they dont need it. Michael Parkinson was another one flogging rubbish life insurance. And Carol Vorderman is a serial offender doing ads for dodgy financial products.

How do you know these people don't have belief in the products/services they are advertising?

They themselves may be a victim of the overall scam.

[Blackpool Rock]

How do you know these people don't have belief in the products/services they are advertising?

They themselves may be a victim of the overall scam.

You would have hoped that Vorderman could have worked the maths out 

[wombat42]

How do you know these people don't have belief in the products/services they are advertising?

They themselves may be a victim of the overall scam.

They tend to be arbitrary products not anything intrinsically benevolent. Most likely they im sure are attracted by the big wads of dosh to me made which wd help massage their egos.

[winkywanky]

we have had gambling since the dawn of time, and gambling addicts since the dawn of time, there is of course no crossover, the act of gambling no more leads to being a gambling addict than the act of drinking leads to alcoholism, once you grasp this , there is nothing to worry about.The no of problem drinkers and problem gamblers is tiny, its unfortunate for them, but thats that, abolishing drink and gambling will not i am afraid sort their lives.

The difference now willie, is that seemingly every football team is sponsored by betting, and every other bloody TV ad is to do with betting. It's absolutely everywhere now. Loads of people have betting Apps on their phones, and there's a million and one ways to bet, it's getting so that you can bet on a certain player picking his nose in the 58th minute.

So many more people will become involved (obviously they are, otherwise all that advertising money wouldn't be going into it).

I don't know because it doesn't interest me at all, but the increase in people betting to some degree now, must be phenomenal. Therefore the amount of problem gamblers will become bigger and bigger.

[Matrix]

Who wouldn't take £20000 for sitting in a studio for a few hours?

[Xtro]

You would have hoped that Vorderman could have worked the maths out 

        It was either gonna be you or ww.   

They tend to be arbitrary products not anything intrinsically benevolent. Most likely they im sure are attracted by the big wads of dosh to me made which wd help massage their egos.

Indeed, but I wouldn't call the Pay Day Loans scam "arbitrary products not anything intrinsically benevolent", which some celebs advertised, including Kerry Coketona - External Link/Members Only

Mind you, at least we had some outcry from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, about the ethics and morals of these loan sharks, only then to discover that the CofE had investments in Wonga!
External Link/Members Only

Again, you couldn't make it up with these cunts!

[whiskyfan]

If you don't want to see TV adverts, watch the BBC. Problem solved.

[willie loman]

The difference now willie, is that seemingly every football team is sponsored by betting, and every other bloody TV ad is to do with betting. It's absolutely everywhere now. Loads of people have betting Apps on their phones, and there's a million and one ways to bet, it's getting so that you can bet on a certain player picking his nose in the 58th minute.

So many more people will become involved (obviously they are, otherwise all that advertising money wouldn't be going into it).

I don't know because it doesn't interest me at all, but the increase in people betting to some degree now, must be phenomenal. Therefore the amount of problem gamblers will become bigger and bigger.

I totally agree that more people will bet, i only began betting daily a few years ago, and i assume that ads were one of the reasons that i started, but you cannot by the act of daily betting become an addict, you need a certain type of personality, or to be brutally honest a  personality disorder to become an addict, remove all gambling and the gambling addict wont become a responsible member of society with realistic life ambitions etc that goes for alcoholics and and drug addicts as well,its the man or woman that is the problem, not the activity.

[Xtro]

If you don't want to see TV adverts, watch the BBC. Problem solved.

Plenty of product placement instead.   

[Corus Boy]

Some celebs, who already have more money than they know what to do with, are topping it up with income doing ads and voiceovers - such as Ant & Dec and Holly Willoughby. Why do they bother to put their name to promoting any old tat for extra dosh when they dont need it. Michael Parkinson was another one flogging rubbish life insurance. And Carol Vorderman is a serial offender doing ads for dodgy financial products.

I'm sure that the money is welcome but I'm guessing that they also enjoy keeping themselves in the public eye.

[winkywanky]

I totally agree that more people will bet, i only began betting daily a few years ago, and i assume that ads were one of the reasons that i started, but you cannot by the act of daily betting become an addict, you need a certain type of personality, or to be brutally honest a  personality disorder to become an addict, remove all gambling and the gambling addict wont become a responsible member of society with realistic life ambitions etc that goes for alcoholics and and drug addicts as well,its the man or woman that is the problem, not the activity.

So if say, four times as many people now bet than used to, logically four times as many would exhibit signs of problem gambling as do now, yes?

I'd say probably even more, because the sheer level of advertising now means that it becomes normalised, and the App on your phone makes it so easy.

And I would disagree with people with 'addictive personalities' having a shit life in any case, it just so happens the gambling got them. I've seen and heard plenty of stories where people with established and happy family lives have everything turned upside down and wrecked when they discover gambling.

The sheer level of it now is insidious and pernicious in society, and in the not too distant future it will be seen as just as damaging to society as smoking. Then the advertising and sponsorship will be severely curtailed. Alarm bells are already going off, and the sooner the better IMO.

[scutty brown]

all advertising for gambling should be banned
all online gambling should be banned
and all gambling should be taxed at 80-90% of turnover

[Xtro]

People have put forward some good points. This is why I believe Off-Topic is a good thing.

For a better understanding of addiction, look at some of work of Dr. Gabor Maté -
External Link/Members Only

[willie loman]

So if say, four times as many people now bet than used to, logically four times as many would exhibit signs of problem gambling as do now, yes?

I'd say probably even more, because the sheer level of advertising now means that it becomes normalised, and the App on your phone makes it so easy.

And I would disagree with people with 'addictive personalities' having a shit life in any case, it just so happens the gambling got them. I've seen and heard plenty of stories where people with established and happy family lives have everything turned upside down and wrecked when they discover gambling.

The sheer level of it now is insidious and pernicious in society, and in the not too distant future it will be seen as just as damaging to society as smoking. Then the advertising and sponsorship will be severely curtailed. Alarm bells are already going off, and the sooner the better IMO.

You believe the  narrative that they had fulfilled lives before they began gambling, drinking , taking drugs etc, but its not the  case, you will find that these people had from an early age displayed odd behaviour, they would have hit the skids even if they hadnt started gambling, the fact is millions gamble, almost everyone loses a little,its a hobby of sorts,usually quite cheap, or at least affordable, its a tiny per centage that loses the family farm, and while unfortunate, they would have lost it any way. No one wants to own up and say, i realised i was an arsehole from an early age, they prefer the narrative that they had wonderful lives before they walked into the pub , bookies, accepted a joint at a party, astonishingly people seem to believe their tosh.

[winkywanky]

Good luck with that, we'll see what happens to gambling in the next couple of years, perhaps we'll revisit this thread then  .

[Xtro]

Good luck with that, we'll see what happens to gambling in the next couple of years, perhaps we'll revisit this thread then  .

I actually think willie l has a point.
If we actually look at the "real" reasons why people are looking for fulfillment in their lives by latching onto their choice of additions, then we might realise that we would have to start dealing with quite a bit more than just banning the temptations put forward via advertising.
The government doesn't want to deal with the underlying shit of our broken society!

[willie loman]

Good luck with that, we'll see what happens to gambling in the next couple of years, perhaps we'll revisit this thread then  .

Fair enough, i predict more and more people will gamble, the bookies will take a per centage of each stake, i.e. for every 1000 i bet i will lose 100,but it will be money i believe i can afford to lose, they will make their real money off a small per centage of their clients, there will be as there are now, horror stories, suicides and prison sentences for those who have an addiction,there is nothing i am afraid that can be done about it. 

[winkywanky]

I actually think willie l has a point.
If we actually look at the "real" reasons why people are looking for fulfillment in their lives by latching onto their choice of additions, then we might realise that we would have to start dealing with quite a bit more than just banning the temptations put forward via advertising.
The government doesn't want to deal with the underlying shit of our broken society!

Of course they don't.

And nor does society. The less car crashes you have, the better.

[winkywanky]

Fair enough, i predict more and more people will gamble, the bookies will take a per centage of each stake, i.e. for every 1000 i bet i will lose 100,but it will be money i believe i can afford to lose, they will make their real money off a small per centage of their clients, there will be as there are now, horror stories, suicides and prison sentences for those who have an addiction,there is nothing i am afraid that can be done about it.

You're assuming everyone is like you willie. With your 'controlled and measured, pragmatic attitude to gambling'. They're not.

As for Bookies and gambling/betting sites making most of their momey off a relatively few, that's clearly wrong. Those relatively few were already gambling. They wanted to gamble, they sought it out.

They're going for the masses now, and with all the advertising and sponsorship and phone Apps and all the rest of it, they have them. Millions of them. Doing little bets here and there, every weekend. But being millions, a large number (perhaps small percentage) will become problem gamblers.

[winkywanky]

I actually think willie l has a point.
If we actually look at the "real" reasons why people are looking for fulfillment in their lives by latching onto their choice of additions, then we might realise that we would have to start dealing with quite a bit more than just banning the temptations put forward via advertising.
The government doesn't want to deal with the underlying shit of our broken society!

Also, I believe willie's point about they were going to be a carcrash anyway, so why blame gambling, is wrong.

There's plenty of people in their 30s and 40s who have already been exposed to stuff like drugs and drink by that point, yet it hadn't wrecked their lives. They'd got married, had kids, had a steady job, been basically happy and constructive members of society.

Then along came gambling. BANG!! And once you become addicted, everywhere you look, every street billboard, every TV ad, the App on your phone...so, so easy. A bit like there being a drug dealer on every street corner who knows you're a user, and grabs your arm as you walk by.

[Xtro]

Also, I believe willie's point about they were going to be a carcrash anyway, so why blame gambling, is wrong.

There's plenty of people in their 30s and 40s who have already been exposed to stuff like drugs and drink by that point, yet it hadn't wrecked their lives. They'd got married, had kids, had a steady job, been basically happy and constructive members of society.

Then along came gambling. BANG!! And once you become addicted, everywhere you look, every street billboard, every TV ad, the App on your phone...so, so easy. A bit like there being a drug dealer on every street corner who knows you're a user, and grabs your arm as you walk by.

Point taken.... so what should happen?
Ban gambling, alcohol, cigarettes, etc..... How's that war on drugs doing BTW?

[willie loman]

Also, I believe willie's point about they were going to be a carcrash anyway, so why blame gambling, is wrong.

There's plenty of people in their 30s and 40s who have already been exposed to stuff like drugs and drink by that point, yet it hadn't wrecked their lives. They'd got married, had kids, had a steady job, been basically happy and constructive members of society.

Then along came gambling. BANG!! And once you become addicted, everywhere you look, every street billboard, every TV ad, the App on your phone...so, so easy. A bit like there being a drug dealer on every street corner who knows you're a user, and grabs your arm as you walk by.

The narrative that you were walking happily  along the pavement of life, and suddenly fell through a pot hole called gambling is not true,  that is not how addiction of any kind works, but there is no convincing you.

[winkywanky]

Point taken.... so what should happen?
Ban gambling, alcohol, cigarettes, etc..... How's that war on drugs doing BTW?

Of course not, it's a free country (within reason, drugs are different, especially Class A drugs).

But I strongly believe that what happened with cigarette advertising/sponsorship, will happen to gambling and betting. If you really want to do it, it's there, and freely available. But stop TV advertising, stop the sponsorship of sports, and control the phone Apps much more tightly.

I think gambling and betting will reach a point where it's doing so much overall damage, something will have to be done.

This won't affect willie in any way, he can carry on doing what he wants. But the rest of Joe Public won't have it rammed down their throats every 5mins, by friendly, smiling faces they trust and identify with like 'Arry and dear old Ray W.

[willie loman]

6% of gamblers provide 60% of the profits for bookies, you have plenty of free time, read up and reflect.

[winkywanky]

The narrative that you were walking happily  along the pavement of life, and suddenly fell through a pot hole called gambling is not true,  that is not how addiction of any kind works, but there is no convincing you.

There isn't no.

And there was no convincing you either, about Covid being 'no worse than flu'. Who knows, you may still believe that  .

[winkywanky]

6% of gamblers provide 60% of the profits for bookies, you have plenty of free time, read up and reflect.

Reflect...  

I can't be bothered to look willie, but I assume your links are up to date because this proliferation has been relatively recent, and I feel sure that you'll make sure your info is current as time goes on 

[winkywanky]

6% of gamblers provide 60% of the profits for bookies, you have plenty of free time, read up and reflect.

Yes, and the other 94% provide 40% of the profit for Bookies! 

[Chorley]

I've never been a gambler, other than putting a few quid on the dogs at a works night out a few years ago.
I've only been in a bookies once,and that was to find a mate who I needed to speak to. I even went to Vegas for a family wedding and was utterly bored withn the first day.
However, I have seen at first hand the desctruction this addiction can cause. To my mind, the gambling industry are the biggest bunch of cunts I can think of. They are utterly toxic and predatory and whenever I hear a spokesmen (nee apologist) on the news saying how they care about gamblers I want to throw the tv out of the window. 

[willie loman]

Reflect...  

I can't be bothered to look willie, but I assume your links are up to date because this proliferation has been relatively recent, and I feel sure that you'll make sure your info is current as time goes on 

Its been a well known statistic for a while, the bookies operate like the inland revenue, once they have you as a customer you have to give them a certain per centage, thats why there are so many bookies, all trying to reel in customers, once they have you its a little income stream, as i said from the beginning you are confusing gambling , a mugs game, but not that serious a social problem if it is a problem, with gambling addiction, which is basically nothing to do with gambling per se, and more or less incurable.Dostoevsky, there was a man with a gambling addiction, and not a smart phone or advert in sight.

[willie loman]

I've never been a gambler, other than putting a few quid on the dogs at a works night out a few years ago.
I've only been in a bookies once,and that was to find a mate who I needed to speak to. I even went to Vegas for a family wedding and was utterly bored withn the first day.
However, I have seen at first hand the desctruction this addiction can cause. To my mind, the gambling industry are the biggest bunch of cunts I can think of. They are utterly toxic and predatory and whenever I hear a spokesmen (nee apologist) on the news saying how they care about gamblers I want to throw the tv out of the window. 

Your experience mirrors millions of others, its not remotely addictive per se.

[winkywanky]

Its been a well known statistic for a while, the bookies operate like the inland revenue, once they have you as a customer you have to give them a certain per centage, thats why there are so many bookies, all trying to reel in customers, once they have you its a little income stream, as i said from the beginning you are confusing gambling , a mugs game, but not that serious a social problem if it is a problem, with gambling addiction, which is basically nothing to do with gambling per se, and more or less incurable.Dostoevsky, there was a man with a gambling addiction, and not a smart phone or advert in sight.

I don't think I'm confused at all willie, you seem to be entirely missing the point that gambling and betting has gone absolutely ballistic over the last few years, and getting bigger by the week.

Gambling addiciton has nothing to do with gambling. That's a good one  . I can't know for sure, but do you work for William Hill or something? 

[winkywanky]

Your experience mirrors millions of others, its [Gambling/Betting] not remotely addictive per se.

What planet do you live on?

[willie loman]

I don't think I'm confused at all willie, you seem to be entirely missing the point that gambling and betting has gone absolutely ballistic over the last few years, and getting bigger by the week.

Gambling addiciton has nothing to do with gambling. That's a good one  . I can't know for sure, but do you work for William Hill or something? 

I have conceded from the beginning that gambling is increasing, and will indeed increase, its still mainly a masculine activity, but its clear you do not understand addiction, so lets leave it at that.

[Xtro]

I don't think I'm confused at all willie, you seem to be entirely missing the point that gambling and betting has gone absolutely ballistic over the last few years, and getting bigger by the week.

That says more to me about what society is lacking rather than anything else.

I think we agreed earlier that the powers that be will do fuck all about the real underlying problems and drag out any mechanisms to prevent or ban the "devise of the day" that allows their parasitic, corporate mates to bleed us dry. Consumerism is a problem too.

[jambo1874]

I don't think I'm confused at all willie, you seem to be entirely missing the point that gambling and betting has gone absolutely ballistic over the last few years, and getting bigger by the week.

Gambling addiciton has nothing to do with gambling. That's a good one  . I can't know for sure, but do you work for William Hill or something? 

I do believe it takes a certain personality to become an addict of anything. If a gambling addict hadnt found betting then they would lose their money elsewhere with another addiction, be it WGs, drugs etc. I've gambled all my adult life but have never come close to anything like a gambling problem as i dont think i have that certain type of personality.

I do think those with any kind of addiction are filling a void in their lives somewhere though

[willie loman]

I do believe it takes a certain personality to become an addict of anything. If a gambling addict hadnt found betting then they would lose their money elsewhere with another addiction, be it WGs, drugs etc. I've gambled all my adult life but have never come close to anything like a gambling problem as i dont think i have that certain type of personality.

I do think those with any kind of addiction are filling a void in their lives somewhere though

Correct in the sense that the activity will not make you an addict, an addict is created from his early life experiences, very unfortunate for him, but thats it.