Gambling Debts

[topten]

On the TV news program "This Morning" a young woman told how she finished up in debt to the tune of £45.000 due to her addiction to TV gambling ads. She was losing up to £500 a day. My question is should these gambling sites advertised mainly on daytime TV be monitored, yes I know there is no one forcing you to use these sites but there is a lot of vulnerable people out there that should be protected.

[Johnny Lee]

I feel that internet gambling, related TV ads. Scratch cards, etc. etc. should be controlled and reduced . It is a bit like the Credit Card situation.

Too easy and too much temptation and many many people do not have the willpower to resist and I think it will become another major problem , (if not already).

It is just far too east now for the average person to literally blow their money.

[Hedge-fund]

I have no sympathy for these people. Gamblers, alcoholics, obese.

They say they have an addictive personality.............................well get addicted to water and salad then!

[fatouche]

It's not that simple Hedgefund. Addiction is a tenatious mental illness which is very much misunderstood.

Addicts do not need sympathy as it does nothing to further their plight. Neither do they need to be judged.

[ardstrawray]

Surely addiction and obesity are personal choices, not to be blamed on any one but themselves.

[Geoff1131]

Well that two budding psychologists we have on the forum. What about anyone suffering from depression? oh i know tell them to pull themselves together!!!!!!

[ardstrawray]

Well that two budding psychologists we have on the forum. What about anyone suffering from depression? oh i know tell them to pull themselves together!!!!!!

Depression was never mentioned,until now.

[Geoff1131]

ardstawray, i do beg your pardon, but the thread was taken off topic in post 3. we went from debating whether gambling advertising should be moderated, to drunks and obese people having no self control. But if you agree that depression is in fact an illness would you not accept that obese people may have a clinical condition? or that someone dependant on alcohol has a problem that they would rather not have?

[ardstrawray]

ardstawray, i do beg your pardon, but the thread was taken off topic in post 3. we went from debating whether gambling advertising should be moderated, to drunks and obese people having no self control. But if you agree that depression is in fact an illness would you not accept that obese people may have a clinical condition? or that someone dependant on alcohol has a problem that they would rather not have?

Agree that depression is an illness.but fail to see that if a person chooses to consume copious amounts of alcohol or food, or squander their money can be classed as a medical condition.

[topten]

ardstawray, i do beg your pardon, but the thread was taken off topic in post 3. we went from debating whether gambling advertising should be moderated, to drunks and obese people having no self control. But if you agree that depression is in fact an illness would you not accept that obese people may have a clinical condition? or that someone dependant on alcohol has a problem that they would rather not have?

Agree that depression is an illness.but fail to see that if a person chooses to consume copious amounts of alcohol or food, or squander their money can be classed as a medical condition.

This again is not the point of the thread what I wanted to debate is, should gambling advertisements be allowed to be shown on daytime TV. When there may be lonely depressed people that are vulnerable being targeted, myself I think gambling adds should get the same treatment as tobacco adds.

[Dalartokat]

Topten, it won't make gambling go away treating it the same as tobacco ads. Bet Fred in the High Street sees to that. People havn't stopped smoking due to packaging or lack of adverts. We had all this years ago with the Lottery, that hasn't gone away either.

[Geoff1131]

topten, sorry for taking your post further off topic. But as long as gambling and on line betting is legal, maybe the betting industry itself could help by letting people set amounts that they are comfortable losing when they set these accounts up? If a person is actually setting limits then hopefully they will realise that they can not afford to lose more. I do see that the bookmakers may not want to accept the limits so maybe it should be done by governments. Also maybe a ' loss limit ' of say £100 so that if an account has had a loss of £100 in one week ( or one day or one month ) then the account is suspended for a period of time to allow a cooling off period.

[ardstrawray]

topten, sorry for taking your post further off topic. But as long as gambling and on line betting is legal, maybe the betting industry itself could help by letting people set amounts that they are comfortable losing when they set these accounts up? If a person is actually setting limits then hopefully they will realise that they can not afford to lose more. I do see that the bookmakers may not want to accept the limits so maybe it should be done by governments. Also maybe a ' loss limit ' of say £100 so that if an account has had a loss of £100 in one week ( or one day or one month ) then the account is suspended for a period of time to allow a cooling off period.

So the "nanny state" should take over gambling, cannot it be left to the individual how they run their life.

[topten]

Topten, it won't make gambling go away treating it the same as tobacco ads. Bet Fred in the High Street sees to that. People havn't stopped smoking due to packaging or lack of adverts. We had all this years ago with the Lottery, that hasn't gone away either.

No I agree with you it does not take it away, but portray it in a way that points out the dangers of gambling as in cigarette advert pointing out the dangers of smoking. And you know also that cigarettes are at a price now that on its own is a deterrent.

[gates]

we all take a gamble every day first moving here next driving on the roads so i would say we have all gambled and lost £100k just being here
So who is the biggest gambler life or the bet ?

[brian24001]

I think one issue here is that the UK has become a world leader in unaccountability, it's always 'someone else' fault.

I would suggest the root cause is along the lines of [poor] education, family role models (maybe they have deteriorated over the years?), and peer pressure.

At the end of the day, unless you are quite seriously mentally affected, or extremely young, and I am talking single figures here, we should all take responsibility for our actions.

Many people however want a 'blame someone else' get out clause.

[ardstrawray]

Totally agree.

[Hedge-fund]

Well that two budding psychologists we have on the forum. What about anyone suffering from depression? oh i know tell them to pull themselves together!!!!!!

Depression is an illness that requires treatment usually with balancing drugs and counselling.

People that were lazy at school, are lazy at work and therefore make no progress in their lives end up with the hump and blame "depression". These people need to pull themselves together as they give genuine sufferers a bad name.

Going back to the original point - if people want to bet themselves to poverty, eat themselves to obesity and/or drink themselves to alcoholism fill your boots but don't then blame anyone but yourself.

[ardstrawray]

Well that two budding psychologists we have on the forum. What about anyone suffering from depression? oh i know tell them to pull themselves together!!!!!!

Depression is an illness that requires treatment usually with balancing drugs and counselling.

People that were lazy at school, are lazy at work and therefore make no progress in their lives end up with the hump and blame "depression". These people need to pull themselves together as they give genuine sufferers a bad name.

Going back to the original point - if people want to bet themselves to poverty, eat themselves to obesity and/or drink themselves to alcoholism fill your boots but don't then blame anyone but yourself.

A very good summing up.

[niceone]

I think it should be illegal to gamble using a credit card, people could then only gamble with money they actually have !

[bargainboozeandwines]

I have no sympathy for these people. Gamblers, alcoholics, obese.

They say they have an addictive personality.............................well get addicted to water and salad then!

in fact get rid of page 3,it makes my mother want to go topless !!

[Keithcaley]

Oh dear, are you lot totally lacking in the 'Milk of Human kindness' department?

Have you no compassion for anyone who has got themselves into a 'fix' simply because of their own actions (or foolishness )?

How wonderful it must be in that Ivory Tower, looking down on the unwashed masses, and feeling superior!

I just hope that you never 'slip up' and need rescuing from a mess of your own making!

[Hedge-fund]

Oh dear, are you lot totally lacking in the 'Milk of Human kindness' department?

Have you no compassion for anyone who has got themselves into a 'fix' simply because of their own actions (or foolishness )?

How wonderful it must be in that Ivory Tower, looking down on the unwashed masses, and feeling superior!

I just hope that you never 'slip up' and need rescuing from a mess of your own making!

I mess up loads of times.

I get things wrong regularly.

In fact I get more wrong than I get right.

But I take ownership of my mistakes, learn from them - and move on.

I don't blame an advert.

[Kavenkoy]

Humans fall on hard times ,humans also create hard times.
But we can't judge people and their living habits unless we have walked in their shoes.

My friend just lost his 19 year old daughter .....just died no accident ,no warning .

He has hit the bottle to blot out .....he his grieving yes I know that ......he is seeking counciling....but he is still drinking and that has created a habit forming ....his fault ? Walk in somebody's shoes before we judge .

Self harming ,gambling ,addiction ,over eating .......I am not trained but as I foster kids I see some society problems that are not the kids or the adults of the kids fault .....I don't judge I try to help ......been abused ?if I had I may drink,take drugs ,over eat ,self harm .......
Let's not prejudge every case .

Ok I saw the programme and yes for me somebody sat there running away with it gambling was chasing the high of it but should have gone for a walk or sat down in work etc rather than that .

But hey ho lets not judge

Kav

[Hedge-fund]

I'm sure I speak for everyone on here in saying your friend has our sympathies and prayers.

More importantly he has you as a friend and best of luck helping him through these tough times.

[johnerebus]

Well said Keith K. Compassion is the key.

Gambling addiction is recognised by health experts in the UK. As gambling is an addiction for some then as heroin is addictive for some it needs to be controlled. A fact you may or may not know is that nicotine is the most addictive substance known, even more addictive than heroin.

People do they best they can with the resources available to them. I'm a qualified Life Coach and Counsellor and do not judge others. How can I judge if I do not know the inner circumstances of their lives? i.e what has been done to them, what they may have suffered, what inner resources they may have or be lacking. We are all, every one of us, wired differently and what for some may be an easy challenge to overcome for others may be impossible without support and love and care.

I also agree with the comments made on this post about people taking responsibility for their own thoughts and actions and not to blame others. As a Life Coach this is one aspect that I work on very successfully with people.

On a lighter note. "Do not judge another person 'till you've walked a mile in their shoes. You're then far enough away to steal them."
I Wish You Well. John

[Keithcaley]

...Walk in somebody's shoes before we judge...

...Or, as the late Terry Pratchett said: -

"Before you criticise someone, walk a mile in their shoes, then at least you've got a good mile head start..."

[bargainboozeandwines]

Oh dear, are you lot totally lacking in the 'Milk of Human kindness' department?

Have you no compassion for anyone who has got themselves into a 'fix' simply because of their own actions (or foolishness )?

How wonderful it must be in that Ivory Tower, looking down on the unwashed masses, and feeling superior!

I just hope that you never 'slip up' and need rescuing from a mess of your own making!

I mess up loads of times.

I get things wrong regularly.

In fact I get more wrong than I get right.




But I take ownership of my mistakes, learn from them - and move on.

I don't blame an advert.

Very well put hedge fund

[topten]

Oh dear, are you lot totally lacking in the 'Milk of Human kindness' department?

Have you no compassion for anyone who has got themselves into a 'fix' simply because of their own actions (or foolishness )?

How wonderful it must be in that Ivory Tower, looking down on the unwashed masses, and feeling superior!

I just hope that you never 'slip up' and need rescuing from a mess of your own making!

I mess up loads of times.

I get things wrong regularly.

In fact I get more wrong than I get right.




But I take ownership of my mistakes, learn from them - and move on.

I don't blame an advert.

Very well put hedge fund

Worried that the next Anti could be the Evils of alcohol!!!!!!!!!!