This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/11/banning-ads-is-not-the-best-way-to-protect-gamblers
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Banning ads is not the best way to protect gamblers | Banning ads is not the best way to protect gamblers |
| (2 months later) | |
| Many people within the gambling industry would agree with one contention in your editorial (Live gambling ads during sporting events are a sure bet against the vulnerable,9 June): that there is too much advertising of gambling products around live sport. | Many people within the gambling industry would agree with one contention in your editorial (Live gambling ads during sporting events are a sure bet against the vulnerable,9 June): that there is too much advertising of gambling products around live sport. |
| The more intractable question you don’t address is what to do about it, given the significant dependence that certain national broadcasters and sports have on the revenue derived from gambling advertising, and the anti-trust law restrictions placed on companies in discussing or formulating proposed remedies. | The more intractable question you don’t address is what to do about it, given the significant dependence that certain national broadcasters and sports have on the revenue derived from gambling advertising, and the anti-trust law restrictions placed on companies in discussing or formulating proposed remedies. |
| You also rightly point out that gambling is moving inexorably online, but the technology you decry for creating compulsion is in fact now part of the solution. The vast amounts of data accumulated on player behaviour, from time of play to customer deposits, creates a powerful tool with which to both identify problem gamblers and to intervene. | You also rightly point out that gambling is moving inexorably online, but the technology you decry for creating compulsion is in fact now part of the solution. The vast amounts of data accumulated on player behaviour, from time of play to customer deposits, creates a powerful tool with which to both identify problem gamblers and to intervene. |
| Sports betting promotions have undoubtedly proliferated, and change may be necessary, but a prohibitionist approach to gambling regulation has been proven throughout history to fail. In a data-driven society there are now many better solutions to balance freedom of choice with safety and responsibility.Gillian WilmotChair, Senet Group (promoting responsible gambling standards) | Sports betting promotions have undoubtedly proliferated, and change may be necessary, but a prohibitionist approach to gambling regulation has been proven throughout history to fail. In a data-driven society there are now many better solutions to balance freedom of choice with safety and responsibility.Gillian WilmotChair, Senet Group (promoting responsible gambling standards) |
| • Why did you add “before the watershed” to the next-to-last sentence in your editorial? What’s the watershed got to do with it? Vulnerable gamblers watch television at all hours of the night. At a stroke, you undermined the excellent argument of the rest of the article. This advertising should simply be banned. Full stop.Geoff WoodhouseLondon | • Why did you add “before the watershed” to the next-to-last sentence in your editorial? What’s the watershed got to do with it? Vulnerable gamblers watch television at all hours of the night. At a stroke, you undermined the excellent argument of the rest of the article. This advertising should simply be banned. Full stop.Geoff WoodhouseLondon |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Gambling | Gambling |
| Advertising | Advertising |
| World Cup | World Cup |
| World Cup 2018 | World Cup 2018 |
| Fixed-odds betting terminals | Fixed-odds betting terminals |
| Television | Television |
| Health | Health |
| letters | letters |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |