I had the misfortune to be ill before Christmas and had to endure daytime television.

However what stuck me was the number of adverts for gambling/casino websites. And an increasing number who offer a "free" bet in order to get your addiction started.

Now any fool can see that this will be the next public concern as we are running out of smokers to hound and drink adverts are already pretty well controlled.

Looking back at the drinking and smoking adverts of old and you will hear the words "health", "joy", "benefits". Viewing these adverts not and they look terrible and the claims and benefits laughable and downright irresponsible.

Also back in the day at sporting events cigarettes used to be handed out for free by the Malboro girls and other companies did similar.

So how long before we look back at the "free" bet and see it in the same way as the free first line that a drug pusher would use?

Of course there are other companies benefiting from the gambling proliferation, every other advert is a payday loan company

Now I am all for freedom of choice but pushing free bets at people, who likely can ill afford to get addicted to gambling, seems hugely irresponsible?

I agree Bockers, on both counts.

I also found it irresponsible when the "consolidated loan" ads always added a new car or holiday onto a consolidated loan. In other words, you can't afford to repay what you owe now, so take a loan for an extra couple of grand

Agree as well. The sports channels are especially bad. Any fool with a credit card can get themselves into SERIOUS trouble, especially if they are seduced into spread betting. These advertisements must be worthwhile for Ladbrokes, William Hill, Bet365, Victor, etc., otherwise they wouldn't pay for them to be shown. A drop in the ocean I know, but the minimum age should be at least 21.... financial advice is just not taught in schools, and anyone going on to further education is going to be in enough debt already.

The amount of pay day loans and online gambling adds, be that bingo or cards makes me sad.
What made me really stop and thing was addition a few months ago of a logbook loans company opening up shop to a local tesco express in a near by town. How seedy unfair lending seems to be making way in to mainstream.

Another nasty trick I noted a few months back, a gym had opened, upon checking it out I did some research and found out it was backed by a debt collection company.... again opening in a area of town which is considered to be "down market"

Seems the only honest way to make a good living at the moment is by taking others money, no product, just cutting to cold hard cash.

Can you really compare a free gamble to smoking? Seriously? One kills '0000s a year, the other probably a few.

As for payday loan companies, they provide a service. Would you rather someone borrow money from a well regulated industry or loan shark Dave and his cronies down the road?

What happened to people taking responsibility for their actions? It's all too easy to blame others...

The people who have to visit "Dave" are not likely the people who can get payday loans?
I agree that no one dies (unless were talking suicide) but the damage is very real and effects QOL dramaticly.

Its also worth noting that *some* mortgage providers will run a mile if one of these pay day loans is left on your credit report:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/perso...a-mortgage.html

Agree to some extent but these companies pray on the week and vulnerable. And yes you can compare it with smoking as it causes as much damage to society when it gets out of hand. Have you watched these adverts objectively? The on line gambling show people enjoying their experience playing on line slots and watch the cash rolling in. It is just not even remotely representative of the miserable experience.

The majority of people are able top see this smaltzy rubbish but there are those less well educated, less mentally able, who are not. I would rather see them protected, for their sakes and for the rest of society sake. After all when these people default on loans, go bankrupt and then hit the social security system it is us who pays and not the on line casinos or pay day loan companies.

Also it is worth noting that people who take these loans are tagged on a "dumb" list. These lists are sold between companies and they are bombarded with offers and scams by phone and at their door. Bullies always pick on the weakest.