Would Gambling ads be missed from flashing around the KP pitch?

[Lukeslaw]

Some of you already know my story but I will briefly go into it for the sake of this post. 

I lost my husband, Luke, to Gambling Related Suicide in April. He was a kind man with a very strong work ethic and loved his family dearly. Luke had no mental health problems and was generally a fit and healthy person. He was furloughed last October and after receiving 'Free bets' quickly lost control, which led to him taking his own life. As you can imagine, the pain has been immense and the loss unbearable. 

Luke was a MASSIVE city fan. He went to away games with his friends and took my son to home games. He loved his team and because of that, I have continued to take my son to every home game this season. 

The problem we have is that whilst we are trying to enjoy the game, the pitch lights up with relentless Gam ads and my son finds it quite upsetting as do I. Last week, my son wouldn't go to watch the Arsenal game, which I had bought tickets for, because he just finds it so awkward and almost sinks into his seat. I don't want him to hate football especially because he loved going so much with his dad. 

Would fans really be bothered if those ads were not there? I know tne club get revenue from those ads but in context it is only a small percentage of overall income (contrary to belief). 

I was considering writing to LCFC and asking them to cut ties with gambling firms, like some smaller clubs are doing. I can give it a go right? 

I obviously know that people have different opinions on this, but please if you are posting, just be aware that I have lost my husband and do not deserve silly comments (never had them on this forum but have had some heartless comments on other platforms and forums). 

 

Edit: Just a thought...would anyone else like their name added to the letter?

 

Edited 9 November 2021 by Lukeslaw
Adding extra info

[Flamey]

Personally I would welcome them gone. Also, I said it on your previous post too, am so sorry for what you have been through and really admire what you are doing to prevent others going through the same.

Edited 9 November 2021 by Flamey

[Lukeslaw]

6 minutes ago, Flamey said:

Personally I would welcome them gone. Also, I said it on your previous post too, am so sorry for what you have been through and really admire what you are doing to prevent others going through the same.

Thank you.  💙 

[SemperEadem]

Fully behind you on that.

[stripeyfox]

23 minutes ago, Lukeslaw said:

Some of you already know my story but I will briefly go into it for the sake of this post. 

I lost my husband, Luke, to Gambling Related Suicide in April. He was a kind man with a very strong work ethic and loved his family dearly. Luke had no mental health problems and was generally a fit and healthy person. He was furloughed last October and after receiving 'Free bets' quickly lost control, which led to him taking his own life. As you can imagine, the pain has been immense and the loss unbearable. 

Luke was a MASSIVE city fan. He went to away games with his friends and took my son to home games. He loved his team and because of that, I have continued to take my son to every home game this season. 

The problem we have is that whilst we are trying to enjoy the game, the pitch lights up with relentless Gam ads and my son finds it quite upsetting as do I. Last week, my son wouldn't go to watch the Arsenal game, which I had bought tickets for, because he just finds it so awkward and almost sinks into his seat. I don't want him to hate football especially because he loved going so much with his dad. 

Would fans really be bothered if those ads were not there? I know tne club get revenue from those ads but in context it is only a small percentage of overall income (contrary to belief). 

I was considering writing to LCFC and asking them to cut ties with gambling firms, like some smaller clubs are doing. I can give it a go right? 

I obviously know that people have different opinions on this, but please if you are posting, just be aware that I have lost my husband and do not deserve silly comments (never had them on this forum but have had some heartless comments on other platforms and forums). 

 

 

I would support this 1000% 

 

[Parafox]

All gambling ads in sport and on TV and other public forums should be banned. It would save lives, without doubt. 

[Raj]

I hate them but Unfortunately  its ALL about $$$$$$$.

 

Hope your doing okay under the circumstances.

I mentioned before me and Luke worked together at Artisan- he was a good lad.

Very very sorry to hear about your loss, all the ex employees were.

 

Edited 9 November 2021 by Raj

[Collymore]

I would fully support this.

 

Football clubs talk about "the family experience" and the "young generations being the future of the club" so why are they even advertising gambling when they know there are thousands of children sitting there on match day?

 

Of course the answer boils down to money, but I also feel Sky and BT have almost normalised gambling with their constant bombardment at any time in the day. The club's marketing dept probably haven't even considered it as a moral issue at all. 

 

I really do hope in a few years time we can say "can you believe they used to advertise gambling on the TV and football/sport?" and it's looked back upon with similar disdain to how smoking ads are remembered now. 

 

 

[LiberalFox]

I think they should be more heavily regulated. I don't think many people would miss them. I liked the old days when you got ads for local businesses rather than for predatory capitalism anyway. 

[Lukeslaw]

2 minutes ago, Collymore said:

I would fully support this.

 

Football clubs talk about "the family experience" and the "young generations being the future of the club" so why are they even advertising gambling when they know there are thousands of children sitting there on match day?

 

Of course the answer boils down to money, but I also feel Sky and BT have almost normalised gambling with their constant bombardment at any time in the day. The club's marketing dept probably haven't even considered it as a moral issue at all. 

 

I really do hope in a few years time we can say "can you believe they used to advertise gambling on the TV and football/sport?" and it's looked back upon with similar disdain to how smoking ads are remembered now. 

 

 

Me too! If F1 can break away from tobacco advertising then I am sure football can from gambling. The profit being made from football from children re: tickets, clothing, merchandise surely outweighs gam ads. 

[Lukeslaw]

24 minutes ago, Raj said:

I hate them but Unfortunately  its ALL about $$$$$$$.

 

Hope your doing okay under the circumstances.

I mentioned before me and Luke worked together at Artisan- he was a good lad.

Very very sorry to hear about your loss, all the ex employees were.

 

Thanks Raj. 💙 

[WigstonWanderer]

So sorry for your loss.

 

Said it before, but gambling companies are picking up where the smoking companies left off. Governments need to treat them the same way and ban adverts entirely.

[Arkie Bennett]

At the ground I don't tend to notice the adverts. I'm fortunate that despite getting obsessive about some of my indulgences, gambling I can take or leave. That said, I'm fully aware of the slippery slope that steals self-control, and the real dangers of addictive gambling. The adverts try to portray it as part of the experience, a bit of harmless fun. It isn't. They should ban the ads.

[CollinsLCFC]

All gambling adverts should be banned. They only prey on the vulnerable. 

 

Its disgusting how many gambling adverts you see and hear every day through media streams. 

[Nalis]

Not sure if its still the case but I heard last season that Swansea stopped all gambling sponsorship arrangements.

 

If they do it, why can't most premier league clubs?

[stripeyfox]

The wall to wall advertising of gambling on tv during matches is absolutey disgusting and it needs to go.

 

It is "normalising" gambling for kids and certainly can't be helping at all.

 

I think the club have removed the Ladbrokes gambling kiosks from the stadium concorse (certainly where I sit) but to be honest the old paying a quid and filling out a coupon is hardly the problem these days - it's the non stop adverts with Ray fuching Winstone every five minutes.

 

It's all so wrong

 

[stripeyfox]

1 hour ago, Arkie Bennett said:

At the ground I don't tend to notice the adverts. I'm fortunate that despite getting obsessive about some of my indulgences, gambling I can take or leave. That said, I'm fully aware of the slippery slope that steals self-control, and the real dangers of addictive gambling. The adverts try to portray it as part of the experience, a bit of harmless fun. It isn't. They should ban the ads.

This. You've articulated it much better than I could.

I rarely gamble; If I do it's an odd quid on a first goalscorer/result bet (which I don't think I've ever actually won!) - and it usually was via one of the kiosks in the stadium.

 

 

And to go off on a tangent if I may (not connected to your original point sir)

The guy I go with to football is a gambler - not a problem gambler as such I think but here's another thing that irks me - the whole "cash out" thing. My bet is just that - a bet. Vardy to score first and win 2-0 for example. We concede the first goal or someone else scores and it's all over, rip the coupon up and move on.

 

My mate bets online and has multiple bets going - which is fine for him, but he spends the match studying his phone and asking me "I could get £80 if I cash out now" etc. It's constant; I guess the point is (for me at least) that the whole cash out thing means your a lot more invested in the chase if you ilke. It's not like the "bet and forget" of the old days in a bookies - you're constantly been given "second chances".

 

Just my take on it anyway

 

[Bayfox]

**** knows. But I've not missed that stupid walking dog from the vitality adverts. Used to do my head in.

[davieG]

I see the likes Jenas, Crouch and Savage being paid to push gambling and wonder how they can do that when there are fellow footballers struggling to survive with gambling addiction.

 

Dont they make enough ££££s from all their other football related activities without stooping to this?

[SpacedX]

13 hours ago, Collymore said:

 

Football clubs talk about "the family experience" and the "young generations being the future of the club" so why are they even advertising gambling when they know there are thousands of children sitting there on match day?

^

[James.]

The club have a real opportunity to be progressive and lead the way in the Premier League by banning gambling related adverts. When you hear Luke's story it becomes impossible to justify anything else really. The impact on finances I'm sure will be minimal.

 

This is the sort of issue (like smoking) where we will look back in a few years time and think how mad it was that there was so little regulation / restrictions.

[Lukeslaw]

The white paper for Gambling regulations is due out early next year. Hopefully something will be included in that. I would hate for the opportunity to be missed and clubs just carry on regardless when harm is being experienced by so many people. 

[Zear0]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59478888

 

Just saw this and was really pleased that you've been able share this story nationally.  Keep it up as I find the prevalence of advertising in football sickening.

[Harpenden Fox]

Yep, congratulations on the coverage on the BBC website. Personally I loathe betting and the many problems it can lead to. I'd be delighted if we stopped taking sponsorship from betting companies

[Raj]

Radio stations have the gambling ads on non stop.

Uncle Arry Redknapp, that most amazing holly than holly  man is non stop on gambling adverts. Even Jose Mourinho  does them.

Unfortunately  they have little morale value and it's easy money for them.

I cant see tgem going anywhere as its tax money for the Government, all o er sports grounds and teams are even sponsored by some(Bet 365).

I personally am not swayed by them or their free betting hype and have not bet in nearly 10 years.

It wont go away I'm afraid because of $$$