Gambling tycoons getting rich on misery of others is a sign of the times Kenny MacAskill – The Scotsman

Gambling has been normalised as governments have failed to respond to the dangers on betting online, writes Kenny MacAskill.

The curse of gambling has struck another football figure with the Hamilton Accies manager facing charges. Hes not the first and wont be the last despite strict guidelines from football authorities. Sadly, it seems a culture amongst many in the game, along with a love of golf.

The games supremos though arent blameless as theyve allowed gambling to replace alcohol as the sports principal sponsor. Its almost impossible to watch a major fixture now, whether youre pitch side or watching on the telly, without wall-to-wall intrusion from the betting industry. Shirt logos, trackside advertising, competition sponsorship or interval ads all seem to blast out bet now and bet often.

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Focus is on the sport because of the well-known characters and their travails. However, to be fair to all in the game, whether the responsible authorities or recalcitrant individuals, its a wider societal issue. For gambling has become normalised and, along with alcohol and drugs, this social ill has been allowed to develop.

Now thats not to say that gamblings immoral or wrong in any way. Each to their own, I say, and though Ive never placed a bet I buy raffle tickets and know many who enjoy and wager or flutter. Its perfectly reasonable and perfectly normal and, as with other addictions, its when its taken to extremes that the problem arises.

Part of daily routine

But as gambling has changed, the regulations havent moved with it though and therein lies the problem. Alcohol and drugs, even cigarettes, are tightly regulated in sale and promotion but gambling is almost running free.

Is it any wonder that young people I know consider it routine to place a bet on the way to work, as others buy a latte, when betting shops are on every corner enticing you in? Long gone are the forbidden and even foreboding bookies of old where many people feared to venture, either from an almost intimidatory atmosphere or just social opprobrium that might follow.

However, as in other walks of life, its the internet thats changed everything. Now you dont even need to get out your bed and head to work, as you can do it lying in your kip and on your phone.

As a result, the levels have increased, and the nature of whos betting has changed. No more is it just wee men with flat bunnets, now its women and all ages and classes. The amount of what you can bet has increased exponentially as the restrictions of available cash are changed by available credit.

Consequently, the social casualties have increased and not just on the football field. Ive a close relative who works in the fraud department of a major bank. He tells me that numerous claims are made by desperate people, many are women who have got into difficulties through gambling. The cause of their woe though isnt fraud by others but expenditure by them. Its evident for staff to see as the screens display accounts and expenditure of months and years and their pitiful plea fall on deaf ears.

Getting rich on misery

But its an addiction thats been fuelled and to which they have succumbed as others have to drink or drugs. They need help not just to stop but from getting into harm in the first place and thats where government has failed.

The betting industry has got rich on the misery of others. The most nauseating example of that was Denise Coates, the chief executive of Bet365, who last year was paid a staggering and UK-record corporate salary of 323 million. Even the firm names testifies to the normalisation of a pastime that never stops even for holidays or when its outwith office hours. For sure, shops and venues such as racecourses are heavily regulated but thats rarely where the problem lies now, and the regulatory regime hasnt followed.

Online gambling, like online shopping, appears to be the law of the jungle. Multinationals exploiting everyone, whether staff or punter, paying their executives fat salaries, yet diddly squat in tax.

Action needs to be taken but in doing so we need to know the extent of the problem. Some information is out there but much isnt. We record crimes that are aggravated by alcohol or drugs, yet not those perpetrated by desperation through a gambling addiction. Doctors record afflictions linked to the former but rarely the anxiety or stress caused by the latter. Maybe its time we started doing that and taking other steps to understand the scale of the problem we face.

But some arent just getting rich on the cause but on the affliction, adding insult to injury. The owners of Betfred make millions from Government contracts including treating gambling addiction. Theyre Tory party donors would you bet theres a link?

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Gambling tycoons getting rich on misery of others is a sign of the times Kenny MacAskill - The Scotsman