And the man of the match sponsored by Benedictine is fine?jdrobbo wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 9:59 amI would never see anyone losing their job as “good news”. I just want us to do better as a club and people refuse to see that gambling is so heavily associated with mental health. What happened to banning in-game betting adverts? Have you noticed that they’ve started to creep back in? This because betting firms completely prey on the vulnerable. I know five people who are associated with the betting industry. Two have left the profession and don’t agree with the harm it’s causing; one doesn’t agree with me and two remain in the profession but don’t like the way things are heading. The stories they’ve told about luring in gamblers with incentives, even though they’ve capped their fronting or put time-outs on their account, are frightening.
It’s a good debate to have but sadly, there’s a core of fans that cannot make the connection between the over-saturation taking place and mental health.
I have challenged each of these people with the following when discussing Burnley’s relationship with gambling (I have also challenged two current employees of the club; one of who insists there’s ‘no harm in it’):
If a huge porn website offered a few £8 million per season, as opposed to our current £7.5 million shirt sponsorship, would you happily support the club in accepting the sponsorship and would you buy the shirt?
Betting and porn.... both can be ‘enjoyed’ by 18s and over, legally.
Neither should be ‘enjoyed’ by under 18s.
Both can lead to addiction and possibly (money loss).
Both can be damaging to relationships.
Both can be damaging to mental health.
The response, nine times out of ten is ‘absolutely not, they’re two totally different things (there’s ‘shame’ associated with porn) etc...’
People just don’t see it!!!
People used to have to go into town to place a bet; now they’re being almost forced to (see Ladbrokes officials on the upper Longside last season, literally pulling people on the shoulder, during conversations, telling people ‘You’re gonna have s bet today, aren’t you?’
It’s just not good enough. It needs to stop and we need to become a better and more ethical club for our future fans. I’m not saying people can’t have a bet, of course they can, but place it outside the ground....or if we have to go down this road, just rely on one sponsor.... (see the 21 different endorsements counted inside the ground last season during a single one minute period).
Remove the saturation; be better; it’s achievable.
And selling a pie and a pint alongside crisps and chocolate is fine?
And a smoking area where kids enter and exit is fine?
I accept gambling can have bad outcomes. But so can crossing the road.
There’s a time where people have to take some personal responsibility.
I enjoy a bet. Hate smoking. Don’t mind a pint. None have ever ruined my life.
Crossing the road almost did though and I ended up in hospital for three months. If only they banned cars and roads...