I am probably not alone when i write this complaint. I have had a severe gambling problem over the last several months and have had a lot of support from my family and general practitioner to overcome the addiction. However, the addiction is very hard to overcome especially when all you see on television are the adverts such as **** Bingo, ***** Bingo, **** Bingo and now ***** Bingo and many more. These adverts are being shown during my most enjoyed programmes of which i am now finding that i have to try to avoid my programmes or i am frequently running away from the advert breaks. I am aware that i cannot stop the TV Broadcasters showing the adverts but more should be done to perhaps cut the number of adverts being shown. There must be so many other people who are at home all day with time on their hands who are enticed to play bingo because of these adverts. The adverts make you believe that you can win lots of money and even worse, they offer free money to play with! I know that this is how the addiction starts because eventually you just think “I will just put on a tenner”. Then you lose it. Then another tenner and another until it gets worse. In the end a lot more than a tenner was being put on, in my case anyway. Surely, i am not the only one who has/is having this problem. The Bingo adverts are not to be taken lightly because they must be having a big impact on peoples lives or perhaps i am the only one who believes dreams can come true by being “IN IT TO WIN IT”. Don’t be fooled like i was. Something must be done to stop these adverts and to stop gambling being thrown in our faces all day long!
Complaint on Bingo Adverts
I was going to say, really it’s up to you to control yourself that in this day and age we can’t build a world just around you to protect you from people who want to extract money as this is everywhere from drink adverts to buying a car, you have to start taking a little responsability for your own actions. However, while I still think this is the case Gambling is quite simply a dangerous addiction, in fact people have gone to prison for it and worse, died as they find inventive ways to feed their expensive habbit.
Clearly, Gambling adverts should have the same tight controls as smoking and drinking adverts and be proportionate and honest about the possibility of actually winning (such as %) I really can’t see that happening though.
If I felt as you do, I would perhaps think about starting something that could change the law? . seriously, some sort of pressure group from ex-gamblers, a letter is fine but you could do so much more if you put your mind to it.
Good luck fella and I wish you well with your recovery.
Christopher Marson
I think it is horrible. I think gambling adds should be banned in the manner that cigarette adds are banned.
Well done on battling your addiction, it is so hard and I have so much respect for you in trying to do it when you are having all these adds flung in your face.
Gambling addictions destroy lives. It isn’t a joke or something you should just be able to control.
Good luck,
I hope it all goes well for you!
I too am SO fed up with bingo adverts. I don’t have or never have had a gambling habit but I can fully understand previous comments. I would just like to know why all these adverts have appeared in the last year. Is it because of the recession ( I think that’s how you spell it) and they think everyone is going to be stupid enough to better themselves by playing bingo. It disgusts me.
me also i have’nt got an addiction but my wife has she plays and loses a lot i notice when ads of this kind come on and progs like deal or no deal she gets the urge,its sickening as there is no escape [even in your own home] unless i cut off the internet,get a divorce or live on an island away from it all i know ppl should have self control which she has a but but money is hard to come by and as you say a tenner then another tenner chasing your losses its horrifying
I spend most of my time on facebook trying to get rid of bingo sites,you click on something and a bingo sites comes up instead,I don’t ever and will never be interested in playing bingo.It’s annoying trying to get rid of them,how many times can you say I’m not interested?