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Updated: 8.47pm
THE SEANAD HAS rejected calls for the following warning to be including on betting slips and websites:
“Gambling has been shown to be addictive, causing financial loss and damage to interpersonal, working and family relationships.”
Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell proposed that the warning appear on all betting slips and advertisements, as well as for a minimum of 15 seconds on online gambling platforms before a person can enter the site.
His proposal was defeated by 22 votes to 19 today, during a debate on the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013.
Junior Minister Joe McHugh said he appreciated Craughwell’s concerns but said his suggestion was better suited to be included in the upcoming Gambling Control Bill.
“That’s the place where it’ll be discussed,” he told Senators, adding that bill being debated was focused on “levelling the playing pitch between online and offline” and revenue collection.
Craughwell said it is “deeply regrettable that our concern is about raising revenue from gambling and not the families that are suffering from gambling”.
There’s an old and wise saying: ‘Never put off tomorrow what you can do today.’
He said the State has “an obligation to warn people of the dangers [of gambling]” in the same way it informs the public of the negative impact of smoking and drinking.
Craughwell said “families are being destroyed” by gambling, citing two examples he has become aware of since he was elected to the Seanad last years. One involved a family who had to borrow €15,000 to pay off the gambling debts of their son, while another man gambled away €80,000 in just six weeks.
Gambling is a secret activity and as such it is difficult for family or friends to recognise that there is a problem as there are no obvious signs or signals. Frequently the problem only emerges when it is too late and massive debt or criminal activity on the part of the gambler leads to the discovery of the addiction.
Craughwell told TheJournal.ie he was “rather surprised” his proposal was defeated as so many Senators spoke in favour of it, citing the “whip kicking in”.
He noted that the Gambling Control Bill “hasn’t even been drafted yet”, adding: “I’ve no great faith it will be there before the fall of this government.”
Craughwell plans to resubmit the proposal when the bill is being debated at report stage.
A representative for the Irish Bookmakers Association said its members take their “responsibilities towards responsible gambling very seriously”.
We want all our customers to enjoy having a bet, understand what they are betting on, and how to identify signs that their betting activity may be becoming a problem for them.
The spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that anyone who may have a gambling problem should contact the Dunlewey addiction treatment service on 1800 936 725.
What do you reckon – should warnings appear on all betting advertisements and slips?
Originally published: 19.27
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warning: some stuff in life isn’t great for you.
Warning: nanny state.
Fed up with brick
There should be warnings on ballot papers,
Warning these candidates could be lying to get elected and will not represent your interests after election!
Excellent comment
Perhaps you are correct. However this was a serious attempt to highlight a very serious problem in society. Families are left broken by gambling debt. Careers are destroyed though gambling addiction. Friendships are destroyed through gambling. I am happy to take stick on any action of the political class and their broken promises as much if not all of it is deserved. But those with the silent addiction of gambling can wake in the middle of the night and use their smartphone to gamble away fortunes. If placing warnings stop just one in ten from starting it would be worth it. Thank you Gerard Craughwell
Senator Craughwell, most people are feeling very let down by our political system and I dare say that most commenters are just venting their frustration in satire, so don’t take it to heart, most understand what you aiming to do.
But I will thank you most for posting on this topic, it’s nice to know that some people in politics do read such media as this to get an idea of how people feel and nicer to see you actually post a reply and engage with commenters.
If only more such as yourself would put themselves out there a bit more people wouldn’t feel so isolated and forgotten.
So thank you. :)
Well, the cigarette warning have worked so well so far. As I’m sure the minimum pricing of alcohol will…………………
That’s a common misconception Diarmuid, warnings are not designed to make people stop, they’re designed to stop them starting.
@ Boganity, Did I mention quitting ? your point is ? my point is that the cigarette warnings haven’t prevented many starting.
Warning. Commenting on the journal may infuriate you and others around you.
Really?
Warning to the Seanad. Gambling with bonds and bondholders can bankrupt the country.
How’s frank? Date set for wedding?
Silly me. Same surname. I’m to late
Charles. Its so nice to see you tripping over yourself.
More nanny state crap! Anything can be addictive if one has an addictive nature! I swear between this and alcohol / cigarettes they will want to introduce blanket prohibition!
Bet ya this won’t work!
Poll is neck and neck at the moment.
What are they gonna say….. ‘Gambling may cause money loss’.
Have those lot got nothing better to do?
Yes they should, without a doubt.
Gambling can ruin family’s, relationships and people’s lifes
Gambling is a tax on people who are dumb at maths.
You can gauge the class of a town by the lack of betting shops. The more of them they are the worse the clientele is.
I believe Wednesday is their most busy day. Wonder why
Boganity, I like that statement because it is mostly true. However some people have made vast sums of money gambling because they were so good at maths.
Warning, commenting on the journal will lead you to being called a troll
Aw.. Somebody had their feelings hurt? Need a hug?
Maybe just a reacharound
Here’s a tip : Gambling ‘recklessly’ can destroy your life and others .
Is there no end to this nanny state? Do they want us to live very long but very boring, very safe lives? I’m sick to the eye teeth of being told what’s good and what’s bad for me….like I don’t have a mind of my own…!!! There’s legislation for every single event in life…..Go away and do what you’re actually paid to do, run the country, not our lives.
Ah here,getting out of bed going to work is a gamble,life is a gamble,will there be government warnings on airplanes,careful now planes crash,a warning in the car before you start?
Jesus Christ we’ll be able to do nothing without being bombarded with warnings and government advice. Grown men and women can make their own mistakes!!
I’m a little disappointed by some of the comment. Gambling addiction destroys lives, destroys families and destroys friendships. The nanny state is not what I was trying to achieve. I was merely trying to bring a focus to a social problem which causes pain and suffering to some. Its easy to scoff at these issues but some have to live with the awful distruction any addiction brings. There you go my thought for the day.
You are right to bring attention to the problem Senator because it is a problem. I just think a health warning like cigarettes is not the solution. Surely everyone knows gambling can be a problem. The bookies put up signs in shops and websites asking you to gamble responsibly but they don’t care they just want your money. I wanted to put on one of them mad football accummulator bets, 8 folds or whatever it’s called. My bet came to 3.20 but minimum deposit was 5. If you win a small amount of 9 euro you cannot withdraw it as minimum withdrawal is 10 so you end up betting away the 9. It’s a small thing with a small amount but shows their bottom line. I think the big scourge is on line betting. It’s too easy on impulse but personal responsibility needed. You are right to highlight the point though it can ruin families and lives but some people have addictive personalities. Cigarettes have a health warning because they are bad for your health end of story.Gambling can be bad for you if you let it be. I wouldn’t take most comments on journal seriously don’t let that dissuade you trying to highlight dangers
“I was merely trying to bring a focus to a social problem which causes pain and suffering to some”
You said it yourself, “some”.
Not many, not most, definitely not all.
Its a waste of time and effort. People know gambling can be addictive just the same as smoking, drinking, shopping, drugs, tattoos etc. The list is endless. So many things in life can be addictive and have negative consequences but can also have positive consequences.
Leave people to run their own lives and make their own decisions.
Already the bookies print on slips about safe gambling, with a helpline number and web address
Amazing! A nanny state policy was rejected. I’m impressed. Just this once our politicians are not treating us like silly children.
As always though, I’m sure they’re thinking up more regulations, rules and charges.
Ya a picture of a dude holding out empty pockets, saying gambling makes you poor.
I’m surprised they didn’t try making a minimum bet and raise the tax on bets
Jesus do people have to be spoon fed everything? Can they not take responsibility. Stating the obvious or what. Fair enough with smokes as can kill and the cost to health system is magic. No good can come from puffing on a fag but although it can be very addictive and get people in awful trouble it’s also true if you get a 7 fame game accummulator with a couple with long odds you can win 10′s of thousands so can be good to
Massive not magic!! Predictive text watching match of the day. Have 200 on west Brom win Palace Newcastle draw double so will be on edge of my seat watching
Put it on a lotto ticket first
That’s a fair enough point. Is it going to go on lotto tickets and scratch cards too?
have your say