Modern Football - Age of a Gambler?

I have a question; at which stage did it become socially acceptable to plaster the modern game of football with very much in your face gambler advertisements? I know this is kind of off topic, but it’s a sign of how the game and football industry has swerved into an industry with so much economic and profitable focus. 

 

Is it right that we now associate football, or any sport with the need to gamble and bet? I do not think so, are we now in the age of the gambler? I hope not. As football clubs continue to suck every hard earned penny from football fans we are also subject to a continued bombardment from gambling companies, to spend every penny that has evaded the hands of the greedy club boards and ownership, into mindless betting.  

We all love a weekend accumulator, a couple of quid here and there, and we wait for that one win a season (if we are lucky). It doesn’t stop there though! Take for example watching a football match on the television, Wham! Before the match, we see these adverts giving the odds, and encouraging mindless betting. We have the in-play markets now too – so don’t just bet before the game do it during!

I for one struggle to believe that this is morally correct. Is this something we want to continue to encourage the young generations to do – let’s put the constant television and even radio drive to one side here. Take into account that now we can place bets at football grounds, some football ground ban the sale of alcohol but happily condone you to place a pre-match bet in the grounds, once you’re in the ground you are constantly reminded be it electric advertising boards on the pitch or sponsorship deals posted somewhere in your view.  

I think this is a sign of things to come with the modern game we are being more and more pushed to separate our hard earned cash with these commercial monsters, and it certainly is a real negative and nasty side to the beautiful game. I have huge admiration for the ‘Gamble Aware’ campaign but honestly think that they are fighting a losing battle when comparing to the promotional giants that push to encourage. It’s no secret the dangers that can arise, to those who do become out of control with this addiction we have even seen footballers themselves lose nearly everything, it’s a dangerous situation we are faced with.

If we are going to save the way our ‘working class’ game is operating we must act before things continue on a negative slide and these issues become the norm of modern football. It’s important to remember that we as supporters, followers or fans (call it what you will). Just don’t call it customers – have turned this industry into the global franchise it is today, perhaps it’s time to give something back!?  

 

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