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Government Gears Up For Betting Ads

The Scottish government gave the go signal for companies to run TV advertisements for casinos, betting shops and gambling websites, a move that raised concerns among charities for the fear that it might spark a rise in gambling addiction.

A public consultation was published for new laws that would allow gambling for the first time to appear on national TV. Only the National Lottery was allowed this privilege previously.

However, the draft plans would be placing restrictions on the ads targeting the young and the vulnerable. It is set to come into effect 2007, in time with the implementation of the controversial Gambling Act.

Concerned entities such as gambling charities and industry critics however expressed alarm over the ad's negative effects. They are worried that it would lure young people into betting away money that they cannot afford.

Captain Matt Spencer of Salvation Army said that the adverts serve no other purpose than to stimulate demand so that many more will take up gambling.

"The Salvation Army is concerned about the introduction of new gambling ads and the potential impact that this may have," he said.

The Gambling Act includes a proposal for a new super casino and many other larger regional casinos. The act has already met strong opposition in many sectors of society, with the fear that it might bring about a rise in gambling addiction.