Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Monday 3 June 2019

Bet responsibly? A struggle for some as sportsbook ads widen

By WAYNE PARRY ing to be a big issue. There’s
Associated Press heightened concern for
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) people struggling with
— The tagline makes the gambling addiction and
solution sound so simple: relapse. And I don’t see a
“Gamble responsibly.” lot of discussion about this.”
It’s anything but for those Major sportsbooks all say
who struggle with compul- they train their workers to
sive gambling. Instead, the spot people with potential
footnote caps a powerful gambling problems, offer-
new temptation as ads for ing various solutions includ-
sports betting emerge in ing self-imposed betting
states that have recently “timeouts” for those who
legalized an activity once want them. In New Jersey,
banned in most of the some money from licensing
United States. Sharon, a fees for sports betting fund
39-year-old homemaker, compulsive gambling treat-
decided with her husband ment programs, and ads
to move from New Jersey are required by state law to
to New York specifically to mention a 1-800-GAMBLER
get away from legalized telephone help line. Regu-
sports betting, but still sees In this July 30, 2018 photo, Heather Warker, an employee of the sports betting lounge at Bally’s lations in other states are
ads frequently that remind casino in Atlantic City N.J. counts money inside the teller’s cage. relatively similar.
her of the tens of thou- Associated Press European regulators are us-
sands of dollars in debt she betting. One year after the ment regulation. stop, there are all these in- ing a heavier hand. In 2018,
racked up on a wagering U.S. Supreme Court ended Those who struggle with centives: a $500 free bet, Italy banned all gambling
app. a virtual monopoly in Ne- gambling find ads touting we’ll refund your first bet advertising, Sweden is con-
Charlie, an information vada, eight states have be- Super Bowl or March Mad- even if you lose. They’re sidering similar restrictions,
technology professional gun taking legal sports wa- ness wagers similar to beer everywhere I look,” said and in Belgium, online ca-
from suburban Philadel- gers. Three states and the ads tempting those with Sharon, who lives in a New sinos will be banned from
phia, says the advertise- District of Columbia have alcoholism, or fast food York TV market that’s a advertising on television.
ments and easy access passed laws to create new ads enticing those with key target for advertisers England plans to ban all
makes wagering “tempting markets and a handful of unhealthy eating habits. of New Jersey sportsbooks. gambling-related ads dur-
as hell,” even as his losses legislatures are still consid- Though a hurdle for some, “It’s a constant reminder of ing live sports starting in
mounted to $400,000 as he ering bills. None of the laws the ads are an understand- my problem. There’s still this August. In the U.S., leagues
bet online while traveling passed has significant re- able facet of expanded incredible temptation that generally have had a hand
on service calls. strictions for sports betting betting with sportsbooks these ads make worse.” in the content of their ad-
They’ve complicated ad- ads. chasing new customers to Keith Whyte, executive vertising; not long ago the
diction recovery for Gary, a The commercial casino in- bet legally and leisurely, director of the National NFL even stopped ads for
real estate agent from New dustry wants to keep it that just like millions of people Council on Problem Gam- Las Vegas casinos from air-
Jersey who attends support way. The American Gam- who visit casinos, buy lot- bling, thinks the details ing nationally during the Su-
group meetings and has ing Association, the gam- tery tickets or drink and of gambling ads haven’t per Bowl.
lost nearly $2 million over a bling industry’s main trade eat without harmful conse- been explored enough. Scott Kaufman-Ross, head
lifetime of gambling. group and lobbying arm, quences. “In the U.S., if you say, of fantasy and gaming for
“It seems like every fourth recently issued voluntary “There’s not one commer- ‘Gamble responsibly,’ the NBA, said advertising
commercial, there’s one guidelines for sports betting cial break it seems where you’ve now met the re- for sports betting is OK “if a
telling you how easy it is advertising in a bid to stay you don’t see one of these sponsible gambling stan- fan is interested in betting
to bet on sports and make ahead of possible govern- ads. As much as I tried to dard,” Whyte said. “It’s go- and they want to bet. But
money,” said Gary, who if they’re not interested, or
like other gamblers spoke if they’re a problem gam-
to The Associated Press on bler, they should not have it
condition that his full name thrown in their face.”
not be used because of Charlie, the IT professional,
stigmas some people asso- said gambling is often eas-
ciate with unhealthy gam- ier than drinking alcohol
bling. “It’s right in front of my when he finds himself alone
eyes, and even though I’ve in hotels with nothing to do.
been in recovery for years “Imagine being an alco-
and go regularly to Gam- holic sitting home on your
blers Anonymous meetings, couch and there’s no beer
it’s starting to bother me,” in the house, and then
he said. “I can feel it.” there’s this app that you
Advertising supporting the can press and magically
nascent sports betting in- a beer appears,” he said.
dustry has not drawn the “That’s the kind of access
same level of scrutiny from that’s out there now and
regulators and lawmakers it’s tempting as hell. It’s re-
in the U.S. as counterparts ally, really hard to maintain
in Europe, where several your recovery and not bet
countries strictly regulate again. Everywhere you
or even ban gambling ads, This June 14, 2018 file photo shows bettors waiting to make wagers on sporting events at the Bor- look, someone’s urging you
including those for sports gata casino in Atlantic City hours after it began accepting sports bets. to gamble.”q
Associated Press