In Your Face Gambling

October 10, 2007

With so much going on in the world of online gambling, it is no wonder that many countries are taking a good long hard look at the way they handle it. The United States has chosen to try and stop all online gambling by blocking financial transactions, a move that they have found to not be so successful.

France is also looking to limit online gambling – putting tough regulations on slot machines and poker, and now looking to possibly ban online gambling altogether in a move that mimics the US. Many say that there seems to be two camps – one that tries to keep their residents from participating in online gambling, unsuccessfully, and one that puts it everywhere so that even your twelve year old can tell you the names of the online casinos.

UK is one of those countries that have gone the in-your-face route of advertising gambling. They have passed a law regulating the amount of televised commercials for gambling – making them only accessible after nine pm, however, if you watch any sports at all you will note that the number of gambling advertisers at the Premier League grounds have made gambling very accessible to all ages.

Sports have become the new advertising venue for online gambling companies, and no one is saying a word about it. This leaves many wondering why pass legislation not allowing it before 9 pm and then allow children to see it each time they watch a match. Are we to keep our children from watching sports as well now so as to shield them from it?

With England looking at losing £10 billion in 2008 according to a recent survey, the government might want to rethink its policies. Not only is it on the TV, but it was almost on the garb that the children wear to emulate their favorite sports heroes. Gambling advertising in sports should be eliminated according to many, and the sports teams will have to find another way of making money.
 

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