Betting and advertising.
I have been watching sky sports which is not surprising as I like most sports. What has screamed out at me is the number of advertisements which involve gambling of one sort or another. Then they end with that admonition " Please bet responsibly!" Or Winston accepting money for his advert and saying " I bet responsibly" at the end. There is no thought for those whose lives have been ruined. No mention of the families that have been torn apart by gambling losses. Think of the heartache and the strife. The cost to the rest of society of these broken lives.
I hear you say that we cannot ban gambling. That might be true but we have a moral duty to mitigate against the worst excesses of gambling addiction.
I think a first step is to ban all gambling advertising. This might not stop gambling but it will help to lower the level and the prominence of gambling on our television sets. Then the government could ban sponsorship by gambling organisations of all sporting activities. Don't say this will not work as all the gambling companies will surely claim. We have banned tobacco adverts and alcohol and despite protests from the companies these have stuck.
SO LET US AT LEAST BAN ALL GAMBLING ADVERTS AND SPONSORSHIP OF SPORT EVENTS, COMPETITORS AND TEAMS NOW!!!
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