Gambling culture concerns ??

[Zetec-S]

skinnyman said:

Maybe, just maybe, we should allow people to be responsible for their own actions.

Whilst I do agree in principle, look at it another way.

Why not scrap all speed limits and let people drive as fast as they want? I'm sure most people's driving would not change massively and they'd still drive sensibly and responsibly, but I'm sure there would be some who would happily do 90 down a residential street because it's no longer illegal.

I know it's not a popular view, but sometimes a bit of regulation is a good thing.

[The Surveyor]

Zetec-S said:

Yipper said:

Gambling is just a bit of entertainment.

Spending £250 on the buzz of a slot machine for an hour is no different to spending £250 on the buzz of a skydive for an hour. You're simply paying for a temporary, fleeting experience where your money disappears forever and you will never see it again.

Except people don't tend to get addicted to skydiving. So even if they wanted to go again, they'd have to go through the booking process and wait for the next available session. Probably a few days/weeks. Even if one was available immediately afterwards there'd still be a bit of a wait, during which the "high" will have worn off. Spending £250 in an hour on a slot machine could easily become £500-£750 in 2 or 3 hours.

Oh and those who do get addicted to the adrenalin rush of sky diving eventually come crashing to earth as their luck runs out. Good analogy

[Some Gump]

FWIW I don't think gambling should be banned, far from it. However IMO it should be regulated properly, starting with the way they are allowed to advertise. A poster above says they've just done this which is IMO a good step in the right direction.

I also think there's a world of difference between betting on the races / football etc and the new wave of bingo / slots / etc apps - just like there's a world of difference between a bottle of Magners and a bottle of Electric White.

[Russian Troll Bot]

Donbot said:

There is currently a backlash happening in the computer games industry around what constitutes as gambling. Gamers are paying (real money) for a chance to win a reward in the game (random chance loot box - think slot machine). There does seem to be something wrong with current attitudes to gambling when games which have a young audience are inciting people to gamble.

China tried to bring in legislation that forced them to show the chances of winning and they actively sought a loophole to avoid doing so. As you rightly say, it's n insidious practice that targets children and should be regulated.