Campaigns

Self Excusion A seems to be merely a form filling exercise. I self excluded myself from all the major chains operating locally. Apart from the locations that I signed the original forms I have not been excluded from any shops. This needs fixing.

I don't gamble, not a penny, never have and never will. I am however a cricket fan and I am driven to register my concern and indeed my hatred of gambling apps adverts on sports tv platforms. At the end of virtually every over there is at least one such advert, that's potentially 100 of these pointless ads per 50 overs game. My response to this attack on my otherwise pleasurable hobby is to cancel my tv subscriptions to Sky sports and BT sports and to let them know the reason for my actions. Damned if I'm going to pay to watch this dangerous rubbish and, just think of the money I'll save. I encourage others to do the same. Perhaps if enough of us do, the loss of income to Sky and BT will cause them to reconsider their advertising policies in favour of common sense. Until they do, as far as I'm concerned they can quiff their acca's and quiff-off.

I’m 37yrs old been in the Army for 20 years and was doing really well. Had my own house and living well. Now I find myself lost and don’t know what I can do.
I started gambling after I left my partner, we were together for15 yrs. I found myself being bored and to keep my mind away from things I started gambling. This wasn’t for money at the time, I just wanted to keep entertained. Obv I lost money playing on games so it changed and I then wanted to play for money to win it back. I took a loan out to win it back, I won a little so decided I’d risk it and try and win big... this never happened. So I took another loan, won then lost again, then another then another.
I’m now about to sell my house to pay of my Debts. I can’t tell my family and friends what I’ve done, right now I’m praying the house sale goes through soon, otherwise I’m in a bad way.
I hate seeing foxy adverts on Jeremy Kyle... especially when the person being questioned has had a gambling problem.
I really want to help people with this addiction when I am in a good place.

Just watched an 8 hour gambling ad interspersed with short bursts of cricket. If this government card about anyone but themselves they would act. They won't of course.

Gamblind advertising should be banned from TV advertising , they banned cigarette ads and alcohol adds, gambling is in the same category as drinking as far as I'm concerned it ruins family's and people's life's.

I am horrified by the relentless way my son is targeted by gambling sites and loan companies.
I am about to pay for him to go to rehab but am terrified that I've lost my son.
His latest devastating gambling episode led to him stealing thousands from my bank account.
Online gambling sites have turned him into an isolated friendless alcoholic criminal.
His phones rings and beeps constantly with offers for money or free gambles.
I fear I have lost my son for good and I am determined to do what I can to protect others

I've got the same gambling issues with my son. He is only 13 and is already starting to show symptoms of gambling addiction... Although he does it only in his video game, by opening so-called "lootboxes" which give him an extremely small chance to win a random valuable in-item. Even if he gets "lucky" he often goes to bet the said item on video game betting websites (I'm not quite sure how these work) and most of the time just lose it... I tried to talk to him about it but he claims that "its a normal thing"... Maybe for him and his friends, but not me!

Best regards,
Anthony

they may reduce the limit but just one betting shop in Plymouth has 5 of them 4 next to each other and when i was really bad on them i was using 2 at a £100 spin on each i spent thousands and thousands on them money left to me from my gran and compensation money but the worst i stole money of a elderly friend and lost it all i nearly went to prison because of this . But at the time there was not a gamblers anonymous in Plymouth so i asked the different bookmakers if they would fund one but the higher up management said no. My thoughts are they should reduce the stake and limit for only 2 machines to one shop and so what if it will cost jobs there are other jobs out there what is more important someones job or someones life of misery

I've unfortunately lost many friends to this disease...
And seen the havoc and misery inflicted on their families and children.
They were all adults and made adult choices by walking in to the BOOKIES or CASINOS. (Rightly or wrongly)
You need to be 18 to do this.
My children are NOT 18 - and cannot enter a bookie or casino.
Why are they allowed to ENTER MY HOME without my PERMISSION.
Why have they been given permission to come in to my home, trying sell me a VICE and trying to normalise it to my kids.
We just wanna watch sport - we love sport.
Luckily I have no interest in gambling and never will.
But I hate it because of what I've seen.
This can't be right and someone needs to stop this.
Ray Winston you were cool once - can't stand you now mate P RICK

When I was 16 I worked at a fast food restaurant. I was good at it and successful. However, when I got paid I would habitually take a large chunk of my pay and put it into fruit machines. This went on for about a year. Following that for about the next 5-10 years I would occasionally play the machines, sometimes regularly, losing up to half my pay.

Years later I never touch a fruit machine; I am genuinely not interested. I have taken on the notion that I could easily earn more than what a machine ever could/would pay out just by doing a bit of overtime or bettering myself - this helped break the cycle of addiction for me; I realised I didn’t need the machine which had lied to me telling me I could be rich if I won that jackpot- with a repeater chance!! RUBBISH!!!!!

Years on I have become successful in business, and have worked very hard to do so. I do often look back at the huge amount of wasted time (years) and money (thousands/>50% of my income) which drained me of all self esteem and inspiration to go somewhere and do something with my life.

Breaking the cycle is hard, but so empowering when you do. Don’t regret your failures - they’re done; don’t be embarrassed or ashamed but seek help and work with others as a support. Then turn your disappointment into a drive to succeed in life and you probably will. Accept you have lost this one, but you have gained a won a painful and valuable lesson that can help yourself and other people.

I say all this as I am disappointed and concerned with the quantity of betting shops in areas that seem to capitalise on those who may be more vulnerable to them, where gambling may be more common and culturally acceptable, coupled with less means, drawing these people in and destroying their lives. The betting banners at football grounds and adverts on TV. Legislation that allowed this growth, and the advertising to drive it, was a grave mistake and needs reversing.

There’s one winner of a fruit machine, a casino, a betting shop, and that is the owner. If you’re a player or a prospective player attracted by the fake flashing lights, then just walk away and find help and support.