Dec
14th

United Kingdom’s Reaction to Facebook Online Gambling

The United Kingdom has reaction with dismay to reports that Facebook, the largest and most popular social networking site, is contemplating entering real money online gambling.

An article in the newspaper, The Daily Mail, points out that there is in excess of 3 million Facebook users in the United Kingdom who are aged between 13 and 17 with a further million users estimated to be under 13 years of age but pretending to be older than that. Should real money online gambling come to Facebook, there is grave danger that underage persons will get involved.

According to Dr Robert Lefever, the founding director of the Promis Recovery Centre where online gambling addicts are treated, the majority of young people think that anything on Facebook is acceptable and will, therefore have no hesitation in trying to gamble online for real money.

Lauri Moyle, of Christian Action Research Education (CARE) said that those who begin gambling when they are not mature enough are much more susceptible to problem gambling woes while Professor Mark Griffiths, of Nottingham Trent University, felt that even playing games of chance without money changing hands was harmful for children as these games could be a gateway to more serious gambling. According to Labour MP Louise Ellman, gambling on Facebook would have a negative impact on the under aged.

In response to The Daily Mail’s request for a comment by Facebook, the social networking site stated that although they are always in discussions with companies about various different ideas, they do not comment on future plans or speculation.

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