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> Here are three stories about the state of gambling in America.

Here's one story about gambling in the UK: the TV advertising is relentless and out of control after 9pm due to legislation passed in the early 00s. Gambling can quite literally lose you your house, friends and family. But apparently it's totally fine to advertise as long as HMRC get ££££. On some TV channels, every second advert, or worse, most adverts, are gambling. Bingo? Slots? Poker? Sports? All of the above.

The biggest UK tax payer for several years was Denise Coates.

Tobacco advertising, on the other hand, is totally banned in the UK, but won't lose you your house or family and friends (unless of course you die).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denise_Coates



You forgot to mention the high street ...

Mine has a pub, a butcher, a baker, a sandwich shop, 3 coffee shops and 5 bookmakers.


No candlestick maker? I'm disappointed ;)

My local highstreet also had several betting shops where none previously existed. It's quite depressing really, and gambling invariably targets the poorest in the community.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rub-a-dub-dub


Most addictions will ruin your life - whether it is gambling, drugs or alcohol.


Right, so why advertise gambling or any other of them?


Food addiction kills too. Shall we stop advertising food?


> Food addiction kills too. Shall we stop advertising food?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5y2vzlyldo

> 4 January 2026: Junk food adverts are banned on television and online starting on Monday as part of a drive to tackle childhood obesity.

It seems that the factual answer is "yes", in certain conditions of the most addictive food and most susceptible audience.


Why should we advertise something that you have to go consume? Do you need advertising to tell you about bread, vegetables, meat?


> Do you need advertising to tell you about bread, vegetables, meat?

Looking around at the world, yes?

Less-heathy takeaway chains do advertise constantly, and concepts like the food pyramid are there to literally "tell you about bread, vegetables, meat" as an advertisement for a better alternative.

People aren't born knowing this - if they don't learn it from parents, they will either learn it from someone else, or not know it and have a poor diet out of ignorance.


South Park had the most honest alcohol ad, I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJWEJuKXZyk




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