Topic: Gambling industry is using big tobaccos playbook - page 2. (Read 328 times)

Covid lockdowns affected so many people in so many ways and often in a negative way. Lots of people lost their jobs, businesses, life savings… Some people changed their daily routines and became addicted to gambling at home. The markets still suffer and haven’t recovered from the losses from the last year and the interest rates are still very high. If this continues like this, lots of people will lose their jobs and these unemployed people will find their fake happiness in addictions. (Smoking, drinking, gambling…) Smoking is not as harmful as people think as long as if you smoke once a week or once a month but people consume these little cancer sticks like eating crackers. That’s where it gets out of hand. Same goes with drinking alcohol and gambling.

They keep it running, because the tax is massive.

Even we all know from gambling sector who can bring people get gambling addiction, and get serious problem like financial and worst scenario make a crime is started. But in the US, they all know the sector gambling bring a good tax for them.

Not easy to confess the trust about share a gambling problem to our friend or family.

Gambling addiction may replace drug and cigarette addiction because there is already a ban on smoking anywhere in several countries, and drugs are clearly prohibited in many countries. Meanwhile, gambling is legalized in several countries, and online casinos have become a comfortable place to gamble for many people. And since COVID-19, people who can't go anywhere have started to use online casinos to entertain themselves because many have felt the frustration of being unable to leave the house freely.

Unfortunately, this is not accompanied by providing clear information about the dangers or impacts people can experience when they gamble too often, so many of them start to experience gambling addiction. This requires serious attention from the government to try to help people who are addicted to gambling so that they can start undergoing the healing process. But this also requires the desire of the gambling addict to open up and be willing to undergo therapy sessions.

Being a gambler without addiction problems, I couldn't comprehend why gambling is such a big deal since to me it's just like any other game. Like I can't stop smoking/vaping and can't stop drinking coffee, but stop gambling is just easy... extremely easy. Therefore "Global Health Crisis" is such an incredible exaggeration from my perspective, like how come? Anyway, I guess it varies across people and most people are prone to gambling addiction but it's unbelievable to me.

Isn't it proven that the biggest cause of death for most gamblers who frequent casino is either liver complications brought about by alcoholism, or lung cancer? Biggest example that I could think of is a vlogger in the Philippines who died from second-hand smoking in casinos. He frequented these gambling spaces to unwind after a long shoot and from there, he was able to huff large amounts of toxic fumes which lead to him developing a terminal case of lung cancer that led to his death in 2014. It was a big thing here back then cause they were really famous. In any case I can definitely see the connection between the two, mentally and physically speaking.

Gambling's just as addicting as any other abusable substance out there, if you don't control yourself it's going to control you and your life.

This is not just the problem of gambling, it is majorly the effect of ICT. The internet has made the accessibility of almost every activity easy. With a mobile phone, you can place a bet in any casino or sports bet platform. Due to the internet here is also a rise in drug, pornography, and alcohol addiction which has led to an increase in depression and suicide.

Most children see these celebrities as their role models, so there is a need to make policies that will protect children from underage gambling. The use of sports stars, musicians, and other celebrities for promotion should be limited to some websites with fewer children's views and erring gambling firms should be sanctioned accordingly.

Some people keep their gambling life secret from family members and friends so they might be scared of speaking to anyone. One good thing about the internet is that it can also help you to seek help from any part of the world. You can access or contact an online gambling therapist and get the needed help. Most gamblers who became depressed and started having suicidal thoughts failed to seek help. There is no shame in seeking help, after all, everybody has personal problems.

Australians have traditionally enjoyed gambling as a past time and form of pleasure. Australians may gamble conveniently from home thanks to the internet gaming sector.  Mate Casino is one such website https://casinomate3.com/ that is a prime example of superior support. Many Australian gamblers are increasingly choosing online gambling platforms as their preferred means of gaming as a result of the growing trend in technology.

I recently came across this article that talks about how much gambling is basically becoming a 'global health crisis' I found this very interesting because i've always known it was an addiction for some people, but I guess covid really sparked the gambling itch for so many people, and people in the industry have been able to manpulate the government in what would be seen as a conflict of interest to have more influence in law and government to help right the wrongs that they created and help bypass a lot of corporate responsibility.

Here is the article:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/88xvw3/gambling-industry-is-using-big-tobaccos-playbook-health-experts-warn?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-motherboardvice&utm_content=later-38076005&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio

Here are a few clips from the article that stood out to me:

"The experts, who work at universities in Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Tanzania, together published an editorial in the peer-reviewed journal Health Promotion International this month arguing that the gambling industry has become “one of the most innovative health-harming industries of recent times,” in part by operating “from a similar playbook” to the tobacco and alcohol industries. The experts say the development poses “widespread threats to global public health.” "

"In the U.S., the popularity of online gambling has grown rapidly in recent years, fueled in large part by an aggressive lobbying campaign by the sports betting industry to legalize the practice across the country. As of 2023, sports betting is legal in more than 30 states around the country.

The rise of online gambling in the U.S. and abroad has led to a rise in the number of young men grappling with gambling addiction, which can cause financial and psychological issues for both the gamblers and those around them.  As many as half of people with a gambling addiction suffer with suicidal ideation, according to the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling.

The “omnipresent” and loosely regulated barrage of gambling advertisements online and on television—often featuring a celebrity endorsement— have only helped to further normalize the industry to children at a young age, the authors state, adding that educational programs and treatment programs for children to learn about responsible gambling have even begun to be sponsored by the industry itself."


If anyone on here is suffering from a gambling addiction and you are experiencing signs of self harm and feel that you cannot stop DO NOT BE SILENT! Seek the help of your family and friends, no matter how embarrassing you may feel. It could honestly save your life and save your well being.

I just thought that this was really important to share. Good luck and be safe out there guys!

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