Family TV shows are fuelling Britain’s gambling epidemic, a Mail investigation reveals today.
Thousands of viewers have become addicted to online casinos based on programmes such as Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor.
Gamblers whose spending on the spin-off games is out of control can ask to be blocked from playing. And figures obtained by the Daily Mail show that 13,488 people did so last year – 37 a day.
The online casinos are developed by Gaming Realms, which also has deals with Dancing On Ice, Love Island, Take Me Out, The Chase and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?
Cashing in: The stars of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent (from left) David Walliams, Ant McPartlin, Alesha Dixon, Stephen Mulhern, Declan Donnelly, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell. Walliams (left) has been criticised for promoting TV-based gaming
The Britain’s Got Talent and X Factor games websites feature ‘slingo’ – a bingo-style game with prizes of up to £20,000. Customers win ‘VIP’ status if they wager large sums. Rewards can include 10 per cent cashback on losses, birthday gifts, concert tickets, hotel stays and iPads.
The gambling companies say they have strict policies and systems to stop under-18s playing. But campaigners and politicians condemned the games.
‘The industry’s ability to normalise and glamorise gambling, which in turn fuels the rise in problem gambling, is indicative of the depths they are prepared to stoop,’ said Labour MP Carolyn Harris, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on gambling.
‘I’m disappointed such popular shows and personalities are implicated in this dreadful use of popular broadcasting to attract gamblers.
The Slingo site featured The X Factor among other popular primetime TV shows
‘I would hope they are unaware rather than complicit with the problems.’
Matt Zarb-Cousin, of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, said: ‘Betting brands are becoming entrenched in popular culture. This has given rise to the misplaced perception that gambling is much safer than it is.’
Terry White, a campaigner and ex-addict who lost £250,000 gambling, said: ‘These programmes and the celebrities involved are endorsing gambling, which I find abhorrent. Why in heaven’s name a show like Dancing
