Should Gambling Advertising Be Banned?

Stephen15

Just read that Italy has now banned all forms of gambling advertising in all forms including television, sports sponsorship, online and billboards etc. With the issue of gambling addiction now being higlighted particularly through the likes GPA and GAA now banning teams taking gambling sponsorship and recent documentaries. Is it time Ireland followed suit?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5921655/Italy-bans-gambling-adverts-Luigi-Di-Maios-new-dignity-decree.html

Wheety

Stephen15 wrote: »

Just read that Italy has now banned all forms of gambling advertising in all forms including television, sports sponsorship, online and billboards etc. With the issue of gambling addiction now being higlighted particularly through the likes GPA and GAA now banning teams taking gambling sponsorship and recent documentaries. Is it time Ireland followed suit?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5921655/Italy-bans-gambling-adverts-Luigi-Di-Maios-new-dignity-decree.html

Yep. Every ad break on the football these days is full of them.

Wanderer78

Why not ban all advertisement, it's all lies anyway

Yes please

Atlantic Dawn

Only if the UK do it also.

KungPao

No.

If something is legal it should be legal to advertise it imo.

And that includes fags.

corner of hells

KungPao wrote: »

No.

If something is legal it should be legal to advertise it imo.

And that includes fags.

We call them homosexuals these days.

Pauliedragon

It's a bit hypocritical coming from Italy

dollylama

Most definitely. I'm seeing more and more young lads getting drawn into online gambling... all a bit of fun... download an app, place a few bets when the races are on... and they have ya!

It really grates on me to hear the nephew laughing at the sh*te Paddy Power post on Facebook. I tried explaining to him that these parasites have a whole team working to pump out this 'humour' with the aim of drawing the gullible in. But no good... to listen to him, you'd be mistaken for thinking Paddy Power himself is one of the lads

skooterblue2

Gambling is for saps anyways and is a tax on stupidity

4068ac1elhodqr

Not a bad idea, as certain type of people(personalities) should never do it.

It would only work in Ire, if it was done in the UK at the same time due to cross-media exposure.
They wouldn't be interested due to the '£6bn' (0.5% GDP) in yearly tax receipts.

And so would fear other EU offshore operators getting a slice of the pie if turnover dropped.
So would actually have to be an 'EU-wide' enforcement (inc. Brexitious/IOM/Gib/Jersey/Med' lands).

Roger_007

The whole horse and greyhound industries are totally dependant on gambling. These industries are enthusiastically supported, promoted and subvented by government. Gambling on horses and dogs does immense social damage, but that damage is accepted and tolerated because the 'great and the good' are heavily involved in these industries/sports.
At a time when advertising on tobacco is totally banned and advertising on alcohol is being seriously questioned, it's about time that advertising for gambling was also looked at.
It's also time that horse and dog racing were reclassified, not as sports, but as part of the gambling industry.

2 Scoops

skooterblue2 wrote: »

Gambling is for saps anyways and is a tax on stupidity

Not entirely true, e.g. poker is a game of skill

Canis Lupus

Yeah I'd be happy to see a ban.

Try_harder

2 Scoops wrote: »

Not entirely true, e.g. poker is a game of skill

Skill and chance

4068ac1elhodqr

2 Scoops wrote: »

Not entirely true, e.g. poker is a game of skill

On-line it's very little skill, mostly luck
- from an anonymous RNG's machine's Math.random() function.

Try_harder

I would back a ban. So many young men have had lives ruined by gambling. Lured into it with ads full of success and largesse

Try_harder

Some people think random number games have skill attached- when they just dont- games of chance heavily weighted in the bookies favour

2 Scoops

Armani Square Knob wrote: »

On-line it's very little skill, mostly luck
- from an anonymous RNG's machine's Math.random() function.

Not true, sorry to be crude but you don't know what you're talking about. Poker is mostly maths and using a solid strategy/adjusting to opponents. I've played online poker for like 10 years and tracked every single hand I've played.

Here's my graph from last month for example. I've won tens of thousands only playing micro stakes cash games. It takes a lot of work/study but it's possible.

4068ac1elhodqr

2 Scoops wrote: »

Not true, you don't know what you're talking about. Poker is mostly maths and using a solid strategy/adjusting to opponents. I've played online poker for like 10 years and tracked every single hand I've played.

Here's my graph from last month for example. I've won tens of thousands only playing micro stakes cash games. It takes a lot of work/study but it's possible.

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/cache.php?img=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FyyB3yaA.png

That's all very much open to debate. And the math involved 'ain't no rocket science'. 'One person's, one month example' is largely meaningless in the grander scheme of things.

2 Scoops

Armani Square Knob wrote: »

That's all very much open to debate. And the math involved 'ain't no rocket science'. 'One person's, one month example' is largely meaningless in the grander scheme of things.

I've played millions of hands online. There is no debate, in the long term there's very little luck in poker. What you're talking about is called short term variance. AA is about a 82% favourite over KK, so yes, in a single instance about 1 in 5 times you will lose, that's the luck. Repeat it over the long term thousands of times and it will win 82% of the time.

I think you underestimate how deep poker is and how much skill is involved. That's fine, most people are the same.

4068ac1elhodqr

2 Scoops wrote: »

I've played millions of hands online. There is no debate, in the long time there's very little luck in poker. What you're talking about is called short term variance. AA is about a 82% favourite over KK, so yes, in a single instance about 1 in 5 times you will lose, that's the luck. Repeat it over the long term thousands of times and it will win 82% of the time.

I think you underestimate how deep poker is and how much skill is involved. That's fine, most people are the same.

Ok so, 'all' the Pro's at the very top 'never' have a bad day/week/month/year/decade.

- As they're all 'skilled/qualified' in the 'scientific artform wizardry' that is RNG (virtual) based Hold'em, ok.

Live events might be slightly different as mentalism and psychology play a much greater role (amongst the luck of the draw).

2 Scoops

Armani Square Knob wrote: »

Ok so, 'all' the Pro's at the very top 'never' have a bad day/week/month/year/decade.

- As they're all 'skilled/qualified' in the 'scientific artform wizardry' that is RNG (virtual) based Hold'em, ok.

Live events might be slightly different as mentalism and psychology play a much greater role (amongst the luck of the draw).

The reason the pros can have a hard time is because they're competing against other top tier players, so their skill edge in those fields is minimal. Throw them into a low stakes cash game and they will eat up. A good player can consistently win at micro stakes online. There's much more variance in tournaments compared to cash games. I've never sports bet or bet on a horse in my life, I don't view poker in the same light.

I agree with you live is different from a psychology viewpoint. From a game theory and mathemathical standpoint live and online are exactly the same.

You keep bringing up RNG. Here's a simple odds calculator, odds and math are consistent in poker and never change.

https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-tools/odds-calculator/texas-holdem

4068ac1elhodqr

The thing about the RNG... - is it really, truely 'Random'.
Do you have the complied source software code (and hardware artifact code) available to freely peruse?

Do banks and gov ever get hacked?
Do secure, encrypted servers ever suffer from code injections or unathorised access?
Have any large poker sites been reported over improper admin key access?
Are you playing on a table against faceless collaborators, even briefly?

2 Scoops

Armani Square Knob wrote: »

The thing about the RNG... - is it really, truely 'Random'.
Do you have the complied source software code (and hardware artifact code) available to freely peruse?

Do banks and gov ever get hacked?
Do secure, encrypted servers ever suffer from code injections or unathorised access?
Have any large poker sites been reported over improper admin key access?
Are you playing on a table against faceless collaborators, even briefly?

If there was something fishy about online card distribution e.g. at pokerstars someone would have proved it by now. Every hand dealt can be saved and imported into a database and reviewed. People have compiled databases of billions of hands in the past. Their RNG has been examined by outside parties if you check their site.

Poker bots do exist, programs that pretend to be an actual player. Some sites have been hacked, if you google potripper you'll see owners of certain sites cheating in the past where they could see every ones cards. You're right that certain sites can be shady, that's the reason I only play on pokerstars or well known sites like betfair, paddy power etc.

2 Scoops

Just to answer op's question, I think gambling ads should be banned. I rambled on about poker but that game too is reliant on addicts for the good players to feed off. I used to frequent a local casino and play live poker and every night they'd be people sitting on machines for 10 hrs straight, I felt bad for them. I know people who's lives have been destroyed due to addiction, whether that's gambling or drugs or whatever else. Bookies shouldn't be allowed to promote it because at the end of the day they are making money by ruining peoples lives.

Victor

KungPao wrote: »

If something is legal it should be legal to advertise it imo.

Addiction to over-the-counter drugs is legal. Shouldn't be advertised.

Prostitution is legal (there are several offences related to it). Should it be advertised on radio?

Scat is legal. Should it be advertised on TV and in the cinema?

The misconceptions people have about modern poker are understandable since the maths nowadays is so difficult.

My brother is staying with me for two months at the moment to study work his group have been compiling on a gigantic server farm running PioSolver. They together put in over $100k on that alone. He's been a professional poker player for five years or so but still has to do copious amounts of study to keep his edge. It's an approach to poker called GTO (Game Theory Optimal).

Meditation / diet / yoga etc. are also part of his arsenal as if he has a bad day, it costs him and he becomes a losing player. Most people with regular jobs can have bad / hungover / tired days and it wont affect them too much.


On a day-to-day basis, luck comes into it. In the long term, you can have an edge that means you're a winning player.

Canis Lupus

Deleted User wrote: »

The misconceptions people have about modern poker are understandable since the maths nowadays is so difficult.

My brother is staying with me for two months at the moment to study work his group have been compiling on a gigantic server farm running PioSolver. They together put in over $100k on that alone. He's been a professional poker player for five years or so but still has to do copious amounts of study to keep his edge. It's an approach to poker called GTO (Game Theory Optimal).

Meditation / diet / yoga etc. are also part of his arsenal as if he has a bad day, it costs him and he becomes a losing player. Most people with regular jobs can have bad / hungover / tired days and it wont affect them too much.


On a day-to-day basis, luck comes into it. In the long term, you can have an edge that means you're a winning player.

Is that skill or 'just' memory?

evil_seed

Yes ban the advertising. Great story here:
https://www.football365.com/news/football-is-financially-addicted-to-the-addiction-industry

whisky_galore

2 Scoops wrote: »

Not entirely true, e.g. poker is a game of skill

At the end of the day, the house always wins. They're not charities.

Interesting factoid, William Hill was a Black and Tan.

2 Scoops

whisky_galore wrote: »

At the end of the day, the house always wins. They're not charities.

Interesting factoid, William Hill was a Black and Tan.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic, you don't play against the house in normal poker, you play against other players. The house rakes a small percentage of each pot or tournament entry fee.

corks finest

Yes

biko

Even though I hate gambling I say "no" - you just have to assume people are adults and can make their own decisions.

valoren

If advertising does get banned make sure you invest in gambling companies.
They'll save millions in advertising costs but people will still gamble and they'll still line the pockets of the gambling companies.
Needless to say, these profits would need to find a home and I'm sure this would involve giving out dividends.
Same thing happened with tobacco companies.

Armani Square Knob

Armani Square Knob wrote: »

The thing about the RNG... - is it really, truely 'Random'.
Do you have the complied source software code (and hardware artifact code) available to freely peruse?

Do banks and gov ever get hacked?
Do secure, encrypted servers ever suffer from code injections or unathorised access?
Have any large poker sites been reported over improper admin key access?
Are you playing on a table against faceless collaborators, even briefly?

You haven't a clue about poker

Canis Lupus

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Is that skill or 'just' memory?

Is any job more than just memory if his level of poker is deemed as that? It's far more technical than the vast majority of jobs.

But no, it isn't just memory. There are so many factors that go into every single decision if you're trying to play GTO. I've got a good handle on what those are but would never be able to be a winning player.

Victor

biko wrote: »

Even though I hate gambling I say "no" - you just have to assume people are adults and can make their own decisions.

But some of them aren't adults.

Grayson

2 Scoops wrote: »

Not true, sorry to be crude but you don't know what you're talking about. Poker is mostly maths and using a solid strategy/adjusting to opponents. I've played online poker for like 10 years and tracked every single hand I've played.

Here's my graph from last month for example. I've won tens of thousands only playing micro stakes cash games. It takes a lot of work/study but it's possible.

So essentially you're running a mini hedge fund. By simply playing odds over smaller amounts you're certain that although you'll lose some small matches, you'll win more overall.

Nice, but it doesn't really have any bearing on the OP's post about advertising except that will bring in more suckers.

Stephen15

Stephen15 wrote: »

Just read that Italy has now banned all forms of gambling advertising in all forms including television, sports sponsorship, online and billboards etc....
Should Gambling Advertising Be Banned?

Yes, including that lunacy which is the National Lottery. I'd also ban advertising alcohol.

seamus

Victor wrote: »

But some of them aren't adults.

Indeed. Some of the more insidious intent of marketing is planting seeds into younger generations. Thet gambling is a fun activity that goes hand-in-hand with watching sport and everyone who's fun is doing it.

Definitely should be banning it on TV at least around sports games. And as much as I'm a fan of a tipple, the same should probably apply to alcohol.

Hector Bellend

Whatever.

People will still gamble anyway.

People still drink, drink and drive, smoke, do drugs and have unprotected sex with strangers. Let's ban gambling advertising and see how that works.

Wanderer78

I've worked with a few serious gamblers, a scary addiction

jack presley

If it means I'll never have to hear Ray Winston telling us he's part of the world's largest betting community ever again, then yes I'll be in favour of a ban on gambling advertising.

Hector Bellend

Hector Bellend wrote: »

Whatever.

People will still gamble anyway.

People still drink, drink and drive, smoke, do drugs and have unprotected sex with strangers. Let's ban gambling advertising and see how that works.

There has been a huge reduction in people taking up smoking and drink driving. Something has worked.

Hector Bellend

Hector Bellend wrote: »

Whatever.

People will still gamble anyway.

People still drink, drink and drive, smoke, do drugs and have unprotected sex with strangers. Let's ban gambling advertising and see how that works.

Gambling and alcohol firms advertise to increase sales. Do you really think they spend so much on advertising just for the craic?

Logically, therefore, banning advertising will decrease their sales. Starve them of the oxygen of publicity.

I agree with a ban on advertising for gambling. I've had to stream the World Cup since it isn't in English where I am and it's frankly ridiculous how much ad time goes to it. It really surprised me just how much of it there was having been away from TV for so long.

evil_seed

also ban gambling apps. it's far too easy to use an app on your phone. I used to call it the pocket tote. you see a number on the screen that doesn't equate to money in your mind.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Chaos Tourist

Deleted User wrote: »

I agree with a ban on advertising for gambling. I've had to stream the World Cup since it isn't in English where I am and it's frankly ridiculous how much ad time goes to it. It really surprised me just how much of it there was having been away from TV for so long.

I happened to be watching Sky Sports News in the pub one evening and the gambling ads were non-stop. It was infuriating. Has gambling and sport ever been this much intertwined? In the past SSN would at least throw in a few car insurance ads now and again.

bot43

Its how the ads are done. Lad "banter" and its all great fun. But when the fun stops, stop. That makes it ok.

But its not just Ladbrokes and PP etc. Look at morning/afternoon TV ads aimed at the bored housewife, mother on mat leave, those who just dont want to work god love them. The ad breaks are wall to wall gambling/pay day loans/ the accident is not your fault.

Something certainly has to be done to address this.

And then you see Off The Ball ttoally not even pretending that they are a ;egit show anymore, but merely a device for Boyle Sports to shill their murky wares. Straight out ads on social media now of Boyles bet enhancers by OTB.