Ilminster City Councillor Launches Petition Against Online Gambling and Bingo Advertising

Linda Piggott-Vijeh, City Councillor of Ilminster, has released a petition on the 38 degrees website that calls on local authorities to implement a ban on television advertising for online gambling and bingo websites.

Reasons for the petition

Cllr Piggott-Vijeh says that adverts for online gambling companies are often shown at times when the most vulnerable are likely to be watching.

Cllr Piggott-Vijeh also added that she has a very personal link to gambling addiction, as her brother took his own life following a secret gambling problem that even his own family were not aware of.

As part of the petition, the City Councillor stated:

Although we have now banned alcohol and tobacco advertising on TV, there appears to be no control over the advertising of online gambling casino and bingo sites.

“These sites are largely endorsed by celebrities and are shown at times when our most vulnerable and lonely are viewing.

“I know from personal experience, through the death of my brother, by suicide.

“I was very close to him, but had no idea that he was a secret gambler.”

She Added:

“Gambling is as addictive as drinking and smoking, and in many ways more pernicious, causing other destructive behaviour.

“Often it is those who can least afford to gamble who do so, people in financial trouble, who in a desperate attempt to pay off debts will gamble their last penny.

“As a Samaritans listening volunteer I often take calls from desperate suicidal people who have become victims of such gambling sites.”

A spokesman for GambleAware added to the Councillor’s sentiments, saying:

“Problem gambling has been called the ‘hidden addiction’, meaning that unlike other addictions such as alcohol or drug addiction, the physical effects of the problem are very difficult to see.

“You are unlikely to know that someone has a gambling problem unless they tell you.”