The Issue of Gambling: Who's The Real Winner

What do you think of when confronted with the word addiction? Drugs, alcohol and gambling. Now think of this. Have you ever seen advertisements for cocaine, ecstasy or heroine? Of course not. It would be repulsive, a scandal, degrading for the country. The same is true for gambling advertisements, with UK gamblers losing over £14 billion in 2017, we are faced with mountains of debt and the destruction of countless families. These deceptive displays promise glory and riches beyond their wildest dreams in exchange for a fraction of their time and only a small bet, simple. But that's precisely the problem, at the time it only seems like a little bit of money, you were so close that time, surely you could just play again, one more try and you'll stop. Illusions become reality until you're stuck in a wasteland while you dwindle away every last pound and every relationship earned over the years. Meanwhile these games, or more fittingly named, parasites, are feeding on your undying desperation. Throughout this essay the deviousness of advertisements and the dire need for the banishment of these adverts will be disclosed to truly reveal the hideous underbelly of the gambling industry.

A fact unknown to most of the public is the brilliance of gambling companies, their advertisements are deviously aimed at specific audiences that they know they can make money from. Picture a conniving crocodile waiting in the depths of a watering hole, a group of gazelles venture towards the water's edge, the crocodile won't attack the strongest male of the herd, no, it will clamp its murderous jaws around the most weak and vulnerable for an easy kill. This predatory technique is one implemented by some of the gambling companies such as Ladbrokes, SkyBet, 888 and Casumo. These cunning companies operate intensive Data analysis to ensure the firms are appealing to the right audiences. One technique is to use recruited data houses to collect a range of intrusive information on age, income and debt to pursue people based on earnings. Their aims? To destroy and exploit as many lives as possible, while pocketing as much filthy money as possible. One particularly revolting advert from Skybet features the line: 'William had won over 30 times his annual salary in a single spin, his debt and financial worries came to an abrupt end'. Unquestionably, these companies are targeting not only the financially unstable but also ex-gamblers. For example, the gambling giant '888' allowed 7,000 people (who had voluntarily, and successfully, quit gambling) to access their accounts, thus dragging them back down into the oblivion that they just recently saved themselves from. Undeniably this highlights the vile intentions of these companies and their manipulative marketing. These barbarian strategies are one of the many reasons that advertising must be stopped on all platforms, to protect the vulnerable from delving into the unrelenting underworld of gambling.

Additionally, the impact of problem gambling to family and friends cannot be ignored. Due to the fact that many addicts don't realise the severity of their obsession until it has reached a dangerous stage, family members are left unaware of the torment and havoc going on inside their loved one. Shockingly, according to 'The Independent', problem gamblers will have severely sabotaged the lives of 15 other people to support their gambling. Gambling Commission executive director Tim Miller said:'such growth comes a great responsibility for operators to prevent gambling-related harm to all consumers and the public,' however the question is do they adopt responsibility or exploit their players for all they're worth? Consequently families are left in dire financial states, however the costs aren't exclusively financial as many partners struggle to deal with the deceit and betrayal, destroying trust, creating conflict and influencing separations. Additionally The neglect and violence faced is crucial, as between 2.5 million to 4.3 million people affected by gambling related harm in the UK alone. In one case, Dave, a father of one, admits; 'Gambling turned me into a zombie', the effects were disastrous, he estimates to have lost around £40,000 and caused many conflicts with his loving partner and son. Terrifyingly, gambling starts to replace all that is important in people's lives, including their loved ones and jobs, the highs achieved from genuine happiness or success don't compare to the highs of gambling even when they're losing a fortune. Clearly these advertisements must be removed to save families and friends from poverty and heartbreak.

Furthermore these adverts don't only target vulnerable people but are also designed to appeal to children. With vivid adverts plastered all over social media and TV it's not hard to see how, according to The Gambling Commission, half a million children under 16 gamble every single week. Not only do companies ram the adverts down their throats but they also use dazzlingly colourful images and characters to fool them to falling into their trap; the witch in 'Hansel and Gretel' comes to mind. Characters such as Top Cat, Peter Pan and Goldilocks are implemented to lull them into a false sense of security. With such beloved characters how can children be expected to differentiate between the fun of cartoons and the deceitful world of gambling when the truth is covered with such a fluffy facade? Opinions vary however, as Sky Betting and Gaming boss Richard Flint says bets placed by children are 'wasted' and have to be returned according to the Guardian. This cold remark fully underlines the sadistic nature of the companies and their incredible lack of morals affecting children and teenagers like University student Ryan Archer. His love of gaming drove him to losing £1000 of his student loan, at times he says; 'There have been points where I could struggle to buy food, because this takes priority.' Children begin to succumb to the sweet taste of gambling from small bet websites so search for bigger highs achieved from bigger bets, only to become sucked deeper into the chasm of addiction. Is it any surprise that 25000 children across the UK are identified as problem gamblers? The least we can do as a country is protect children from this appalling addiction so they can grow to live without the worries of debt and have a normal childhood.

Despite all these injustices, it is claimed that if advertisements were banned, a decrease in gambling activity would greatly impact the already insecure economy. The gambling industry generates £2.3 billion towards the UK GDP and supplies over 100,000 jobs, many feel we would be better off with the gambling industries supplying the economy with a steady cash flow. But is this really the case? As usual, societies' judgement is corrupted by money, yes there are over 400,000 problem gamblers in our country alone, yes it shatters the foundations of families and yes these corporate serpents are preying upon the very people we should be protecting but isn't money more important? Who cares if our schools, medical care and military service are funded from greed ridden money, manipulation and addiction? The fact is that these gambling companies grow because the government does little to restrain them, they're wrapped around the companies' finger. This is no reason to keep advertisements, we would be better off without such money running through our societies. Sustain the morals, cast out the greed.

In conclusion, I believe that because of TV and social media brain washing the country, we have been led to believe that gambling is a normal practise, one that can be depended on when you're at rock bottom, for 'harmless' entertainment and as an escape from whatever injustices you face. This is something that must come to an end and one way of tackling widespread addictions is to remove these sickening advertisements so we don't promote such an addictive past time. If not controlled, advertisements will sprawl across all platforms until having nights at the casinos will be as normal as buying a scratch card.