If you’re like me, you might place a bet now and then. I enjoy a small football accumulator every week. It’s a modest stake, but the thrill of a big win keeps it fun. Sometimes I’ll even join a poker game, though in my case, luck usually shows up before any skill does. For me, it’s harmless entertainment — I know when to stop, and that makes all the difference. TonyBet Casino helps you keep a balance. It supports responsible play and offers safe, clear ways to enjoy the fun of betting.
Still, hearing today’s radio segment stopped me in my tracks. I’d never considered how gambling can affect our kids. A recent audit by the Gambling Commission found that one in seven kids aged 11 to 16 gamble regularly. They spend about £16 each week.
I Bet You Can
Most of us say to our kids, “Bet you can’t swim a length of the pool. I bet you can save that penalty, or I bet you can pass your spellings this week”. In my case, it’s a bit more.
Prevention
So, is it my fault, or our fault? Should we be doing more to prevent it?
Lord Chadlington, former Chairman of Action on Addiction, demands a crackdown on adverts.
“I’m calling for an end to gambling ads during live sports on TV. The numbers from the Gambling Commission show we need to act quickly.””
The Church of England believes that gambling ads should not air before 9 pm. I feel that, because of how we watch TV now, the watershed isn’t very significant. Thanks to catch-up channels, we can watch post-watershed shows anytime, even at 3 PM.
Believe it or not, there is a cross-party group of MPs and Peers who are working on this together. Concerns about rising addiction levels have been raised. They are calling for a ban on ‘in-play’ betting ads. Some want a complete ban on all gambling ads during live sports. This will include TV adverts, billboard advertising, and clothing sponsorship.
It would be easy to agree and conclude that a ban on advertising would be a great step. But we can’t stop there. We have to take some responsibility.
There is clearly a fine line between healthy and unhealthy language.
‘I bet you could win the race and if you do I will get you some vBucks’
But we could be a little more careful with it. We can also look out for the problems in an attempt to stop it before it become a real issue. Warning signs can go beyond the obvious, such as your kid’s money changing often or them taking from your wallet. It could be a change in internet use, or even them gambling to help cope with stress or boredom?
The biggest thing I am going to do is change my own habits. Think about my language and its effects before blurting out sentences randomly. When I sit down and do my accumulator on the phone, I will make sure he is not around. I’m not going to stop taking him to the 2p machines at the end of the pier, but I might stop saying I bet you can win that teddy.
Parents get that kids can be tricky. They often hold back information, and it’s usually the wrong kind. Who hasn’t felt awkward when their little angel repeats something you said wrong?
If they see us gambling often, they might think it’s normal. They could even start to see gambling as a way to make money.