The relentless betting website adverts on Sky's golf coverage

[Biggleswade Blue]

I don't particularly object to the adverts, but what I cannot stand is that odds have made it into the mainstream of commentary and discussion around sport, as though it is an inherent characteristic of the sport.

The fact that Rory is 2-1 for a top 5 finish is a construct of betting patterns, which is (I accept) partly related to form. It's why British teams odds always seem a bit stingy in World Cup's - more people put a bet on them, so that bring the odds down in the UK. It doesn't mean anything more than the bookmakers have decided, looking at the event as a whole and everyone else's odds that this is the deal they offer to attract bets and not lose money.

Imagine "Here's Rory chipping on the third. He's wearing a Nike Golf Shirt, available for £39.99 at ACME Golf". Odds in commentary sound like that to me I'm afraid.

I'm not sure horse racing would exist if betting was banned.

 

[Siren]

I'm not sure horse racing would exist if betting was banned.

It wouldnt and that is a fact.

I worked in the gambling industry for many years and a lot of the comments here are laughable. Gambling is a business, just like Tesco, BP, Shell, your local corner shop. They all exist to make money and in order to do that they promote themselves. Problem gamblers make up less than 2% of the betting population. In order to gamble you physically/mentally have to make the choice to do so.

The number of betting adverts on television during sporting events is simple, they pay for the advertising time because sport is their target audience. There is a reason you see more adverts for the latest Dyson in the middle of the day or coronation street than you do during the FA cup final its called common business sense.

What about alcoholics? Should we ban adverts for bulmers just incase someone becomes an alcoholic?

People are responsible for their own actions.

 

[louise_a]

Terrestrial TV is bombarded with infuriating Bingo adverts as well as betting sites.

 

[Fish]

Top post mate.....I also can't stand the sheer volume of betting ad's......." Bad Betty" indeed!!

I just started singing Black Betty for some reason :smirk:

 

[garyinderry]

There is a mute button on your remote. Problem sorted.

 

[Birchy]

Lets ban crossing the road without a crash helmet

 

[Beezerk]

At least with golf there is no massive RayWinstone head flying about....grrr that one drive me mad....what a....

Yes, you get a much more tasteful "oi geezer, giz yer money" Ray Winstone ad. I could shoot myself in the face when I see him in the ads

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Ah but HK - the apologists for the gambling industry will tell us that its the feckless individual and those with no willpower to resist who are responsible for their own actions

So are you saying that people aren't responsible for their own actions?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Turn the channel over - problem sorted

 

[MegaSteve]

Turn the channel over - problem sorted

Yep... Hardly ever watch golf, on the box, these days...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So are you saying that people aren't responsible for their own actions?

Not when they are addicted - addicts are pretty much powerless in the face and grip of their addiction. Nothing to do with lack of willpower or sense of responsibility.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Not when they are addicted - addicts are pretty much powerless in the face and grip of their addiction. Nothing to do with lack of willpower or sense of responsibility.

So does that mean there should be no adverts for food or booze ? Both things people can be addicted too

And willpower can help people get over addiction.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not when they are addicted - addicts are pretty much powerless in the face and grip of their addiction. Nothing to do with lack of willpower or sense of responsibility.

I agree. I know people who have had real issues with drink and drugs. Some have wanted to quit and had the strength of character to do so and others have been less strong and drifted back into their old habits.

Personally I'm fairly ambivalent to all advertising. I know what I like (as Genesis once said) and what I want to spend my money on and I tend not to get turned by the gimmicks and offers

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Not when they are addicted - addicts are pretty much powerless in the face and grip of their addiction. Nothing to do with lack of willpower or sense of responsibility.

So are we saying that advertising is responsible for addiction? These people weren't always addicted, at some point they made a choice. I get that addiction is tough to get over but as Phil says, people are addicted to lots of things.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So does that mean there should be no adverts for food or booze ? Both things people can be addicted too

And willpower can help people get over addiction.

It can help but its not usually the answer. And no I wouldn't ban adverts for food - though not so sure about booze ads. The difference between these ads and gambling ads is that gambling kick can be got immediately on line or interactively. And that for me is a significant difference.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

So are we saying that advertising is responsible for addiction? These people weren't always addicted, at some point they made a choice. I get that addiction is tough to get over but as Phil says, people are addicted to lots of things.

I'm not saying advertising is to blame for addictions and agree with you that they made a decision at some point. I can see how those trying to make positive changes can get led back to their addiction if they are regularly exposed to advertising, which we know can be subliminal. It's a tough one but I can understand why betting companies want to be advertising during the live sport to reach their target audiences. That makes sense from a business perspective

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So are we saying that advertising is responsible for addiction? These people weren't always addicted, at some point they made a choice. I get that addiction is tough to get over but as Phil says, people are addicted to lots of things.

No we are clearly not - and I don't think a recovering addict ever gets over it - and ever made the choice to become one in the first place.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It can help but its not usually the answer. And no I wouldn't ban adverts for food - though not so sure about booze ads. The difference between these ads and gambling ads is that gambling kick can be got immediately on line or interactively. And that for me is a significant difference.

An addict will still be an addict without advertising

An addict doesn't need an advert to make a bet because they have a compulsion to gamble - that has very little if anything to do with adverts.

The addicts know exactly how and when to bet and it is personal responsibility on the person themselves

 

[HomerJSimpson]

An addict will still be an addict without advertising

An addict doesn't need an advert to make a bet because they have a compulsion to gamble - that has very little if anything to do with adverts.

The addicts know exactly how and when to bet and it is personal responsibility on the person themselves

Bit it isn't just gambling. An alcoholic will keep drinking, obese people will continue to eat junk food and so on. In fact they are probably oblivious to the adverts anyway?

 

[vkurup]

Agree, it is getting irritating.. My 5 year old has officially asked me, 'Daddy, what is betting?'... so i guess they are getting their moneys worth by catching them young... Should they have gambling advts after the waterfall mark?