of next on the dw dot phillips takes a look at the growth of the gambling industry and some of the big controversial tactics employed within. i'll be back of the top of the the growing up as a palestinian and driven on. we don't expect much living with a bare minimum without civil rights and with no prospect. this is not a good environment. yeah, no. not for my children. and favorite shadow stats oldest good. on the w, the hello . my name is steve ramsey. i am from the northeast stuff in gaines

50 something i used to gamble as helpful and i could put 3 full 100 beds on every single day. and on the worst, i was lease and $1520.00 sizing times every month. so i've been staying the money for a long time and i just listened such a mess and i didn't know how to stop it. and my mind was committed, suicide was the way out. and it would be the best thing for everybody. the target gamblers and lower them in all over europe. sports betting sites run rampant with a max unit bit bit 365, b. when and typical the majority of these platforms belong to

a powerful multi nationals. they are influenced extends far and wide from sports clubs to politicians, the sultan, parabolic falsity list. so that the whole goal, please best thoughts. so these are all see the ocean funding is substitute for professional capital supplement, like do you particularly bundle all cycle sit at all in england, 430000 gamblers have a serious problem when it comes to betting 55000 of them are age between 11 and 16 the the

like all major championships. the fee for world cup is a key event for sports, bidding platforms, football accounts for a large part of their revenue the time. and again, large sporting events, likes the world comp, bring and record high sums for bedding companies. the sports bedding is nothing new, but it used to be limited to specialized spreading shops, the there's only on cyprus to north 16 to buy gas or oil. in the early 2, thousands, however,

the internet revolutionized the sector. 2 we didn't realize it would explode, and then everybody would use their phone for all commercial transactions you to your banking through the phone. you do your banking through the phone. as soon as the, the gambling industry realize that people could place bets on their phones during matches, then there was an opportunity to capture that particular met market. in 2003, a verdict from the european union cleared the way for operators. citing their commitment to free trade, the court of justice decided in favor of liberalizing online gambling the member states, despite their skepticism, gradually authorized the creation of online bedding sites which had previously been

banned. over the past 20 years, the online market has grown from the millions to the billions an enormous increase, [000:00:00;00] the france and britain, or some of the 1st countries to allow online support spending. the . it's really a growth industry and it's becoming increasingly global in terms of the biggest companies, they're a relatively few. most of the big players are u. k based companies like entertain flux to william hills

back 365. the british companies have been very successful in expanding overseas matching with other large companies. to me, it was like uh like a conquests like an invading army or something. the industry has a great deal of power in the sense that the people who own some of the biggest companies are very, very rich. you're talking about people who become billy and as in the space of a few years. um, quite a lot of those people uh major fund is a political policies. so they have political influence as well. the national association. i have this time,

but you can pause for good for allowing us to host or events here tonight. but in quite a few days before the football world comp, representatives of the sports betting industry met with the european parliament to discuss statistics. because while the industry has permanent representatives and lobbies stationed in brussels to influence legislation in all you member states, it was quite in effect and will be great. they clearly have a lot of politicians that they speak to. some of the fan law influential, the gambling industry is, you know, having secret meetings with m pays and ministers and saying, look, we, i want you to do this. you know, i've seen evidence of things that documents that have been written by the gambling industry. and you compare that to the text with the text of a speech given by and, and pay this the same. and as an opportunity for the best thing industry to explain to stakeholders and the wider community about how the bad thing these people

periods and to raise awareness on the work that we undertake to make counseling safe and responsible, is behind the facade of responsible conduct. however, the industry has practices that push the boundaries of what is legal technically, sports betting is banned for minors. but bidding platforms seem to have no qualms about targeting teenagers more and more players are under $25.00. most of them are men. we are competing indoctrinate and young people. there are some studies that i've read the do show, particularly children, a very, very aware of passing companies. they recognize the logo. they can recite an advert . i've seen, they can even talk about on the in the u. k.

visible 60000 children age between 11 and 16 with a gambling problem. mean that that's up. see if that was children over to tech, to the head of when that would be a public outcry. this is as bad because we set to do an agenda for the rest of their lives. they just like to destroy and a more mainly targeting young people in working class areas in the suburbs typically to 18 to 25 age group. and as soon as you turn 18, you can register with us and i'll send over to them to be teach you how much of the country in those of i should know us. so just keep it to a separate support. you are simple to just keep it will fit. yeah, 2nd thing with this new discount, we will need to need who works for this like the,

this is the new way of reaching people and it's much, much more effective and actually cheaper in a lot of cases than spending, you know, 50000 pounds on the 22nd commercial on, on sky sports. sports spinning offices operate the same way in most european countries. they capitalize on social frustration and hopes for a big win. my name is ken robinson. i worked in the gambling industry as an affiliated market to we had access to a huge database. we could use credit card data to target people who maybe are in credit card debt or live in a council of state. they knew these people were maybe on the lower income scale. so we knew that they fit the profile of somebody who would deposit on one of the sites the we would

target them with offers to join different gambling site. so let's say i talking somebody with an advertise 10 pound free, and they ignore the ads. we could then read target them with an ad with a bigger offer. so maybe as 20 pounds free the next day, or 30 pounds free, you're getting bombarded with more ads, more ads and more attractive ads until the, the person come. yeah, they couldn't resist anymore. it was highly, highly effective. these compounds for extremely profitable there was an awareness within the company that i worked for that we were targeting adults and it was something that we would just brush aside. they know a great deals of about the psychological makeup of, of the human mind. they know how people back them, they know how to explain that. they know how to exploit optimism hopefulness. they nitrate how to exploits the fact that most people are very bad at calculating from

ability. and of course, they exercise that power very cleverly. this power of manipulation can drive people into a diction the sides, operators, or bookies, as they are called use various incentives to create an urgent people to keep on playing again and again. and again. there's a bank, vocational sus, i'm speaking out so that people know what's going on. it's on call. as someone who worked behind the scenes for over 5 years, i have the inside track on how these things work is that you need to call. i know all too well that the image portrayed on tv. it's the complete opposite of what actually happens. all they're lying to everyone to my name is sebastian jones, who was saying that used to work for the betting side unit. beth, and defies voltage in the mid uni bed is

one of your leading operators. it's owned by kindred group, a swedish multi national that's ranked as one of the largest gaming groups in the world. the shift for the family, so they've initially sales figures for a single day might be in the 10s of thousands of yours. by the end, we were making millions every day i saw some about it on the you. so there was a race to see who could offer the most bad. it's for the biggest range of sports. the previous book was when i joined the unit that for example, they didn't oper, ping pong so bad, and our bowls shipping from when the net stuff got at it. bit by did they talk to, you know, top campus at san diego families office. now the platforms all had one goal, make more bidding available around the clock every day of the week. a foot

in football, you can base on any possible outcomes. one goal, 234, or even a goal in the 1st or 2nd time a hit or a free kick, a penalty. but that's just one second. but it just exploded. if there would be 2 or $300.00 per match. used to be one or 2 events and that was, it is so sorry that i say i want it to like to also talk to it. it was a direct line with the marketing department today. they keep sending out push notifications on. you'll find things like tell us what you think of the match or here are some exciting opportunities for you. the top one who came uh, move in the end. we were harassing veterans to play the yearbook and you genuinely encourages addiction, gambling and over consumption. why would toss it the 1st winning batch, the 1st rush of adrenalin. it's something that most seasons players remember. for many it's the beginning of a downward spiral. and there's so much from the tele,

an implant that is always advertised. and one of the people i was the website is going to be a go, okay. and i just put, it's henry time quite i, i looked up and there was a got the letter this call as soon as soon as i put in the buy off. and i just looked in my phone, it said, but when i'm and it was just an instant saying it was 6 such a bank post. and now 2nd now it says start. 2 with us and they open, let people wait a little at the stop, but after that there is no escaping. you might have won a bit of money that you lose it just as quickly your re credited so you can try and we need more money, except it doesn't work anymore. and then beat by beat new, lose money, a little here, little live. but by the end of the year, you're looking at huge losses. that's all

the to start with. i obviously just use my money. i went through my science and i still found labor. why? but what happened? what then was the operate? it's when just entering the frame, that's hundreds of pounds this way to put the frame back. because i'd stop down the thing for a few days. i'm. yeah, i'm not going to be back in the same po and then me. every time they take they can escape, they don't so it's something to entice some pocket. it's like given a drug object, 3 drugs and said, these are free. you can walk away after you've used them. if you've got a problem for them, you comfortable go away. so it is same, all right, not a problem. 6 credit cards on. and then let's talk in the catalog. it

became it never ends and a cycle of trying to find plenty to pay of tents. and i'm just kidding. i'm going out for the options and not was when i intend to pay this transaction. i work. i substituted my bunk accounting for my work. now money came and it went straight to pay debts. told them i was just on the 119000 pounds. and that was, i think it by 60 transactions. oh for that full. yes. um and it's off, but i didn't buy it has to pretend it's starting it's, it's all decision the i've never seen an operate of band or even contact the play and because of the gambling too much,

i've never seen bouquets do anything with regard to prevention. describe also the operators are required by law to identify players who have developed an addiction and to prevent excessive gambling offices buying. yeah, spend the 1st 25 as long as the player doesn't come forward and leave a written paper trail, they're not going to do anything on the test. well, so that's how they think it's not our responsibility. you know, our job is just to provide entertainment. at that point, we'll turn a blind on to the players. gambling addiction puts us in front doors use where we could really make a huge breakthrough on gambling addiction if we sacrifice 15 percent of the prophets. i did propose to the board over numerous years that we should take more or more measures about addiction, but i should have been wise. i was only talking to the walls and the truth is they

are looking for a solution that doesn't cost the money. if there were, since they are that would change the product, a steward, county co chaired, flutter, one of the largest online gambling groups in the world. in 2016. he's company sales topped a 1000000000 pounds but he's suddenly made the decision to resign from the board of directors. i've been booked my car for 45 years. i don't feel present. in fact, the truth is i'd been cutting myself for a long time. i was no longer proud of what i'd create of the mail within a few days. i wanted all my shares. i have a choice. i speak up for shuttle in

in his field steward. kennedy is seen as a trailblazer, a man who modernized sports betting. he opened his 1st offices in ireland, called patty power track, then bouquets made most of their money via bidding on horse races. the steward realized that this image was becoming outdated and launched advertising campaigns that left quite the impression highlights shocking. so one of the 1st advice to was one with granny is true, granny is going to cost a pedestrian crossing at $1.00 of them on a zimmer frame. and there was a big jape coming towards them. now we were saying which brand new would wind going across the pedestrian crossing, but was quite clear when it really was, was official and we got knocked down and

a junction run up all the newspapers and said, i'm going to the face on post our on behalf of a traction it was on the front page of all the newspapers. we weren't extatic, that's all we wanted. so the power is now known as fluffer, the overall holding company. and they have taken over numerous bookmakers and it is a totally different business. so that's a, is a global corporations, and it is now become pretty much the biggest gambling company in the world that's growing so much over the past 1520 years. you're now looking at a global operation with a stock market value of, i think more than $25000000.00. and that is comparable to some of the largest companies listed on the london stock exchange. if you takes a test code is the biggest supermarket jane in britain flats, it is bigger than not the gambling industry now

takes almost 15000000000 pounds every year from people in the u. k. but it's the clear link between betting and mental illness which has sparked demands for ridge and talk to you and to cook this addiction. the in recent years, organizations in the u. k. had been trying to curb the growing power of these bookmakers with petitions, marches, and public appeals. they demanded the government to provide greater protections. finally, politicians to come to the pressure. on february 4th, 2020, the hands of britain's biggest multinational gambling corporations were called to parliament and to show that she may

i think it would be very helpful to offer some, to offer us some thoughts on what you think the benefits of the sector all for u k, p o c for consumers. we're an industry which supports unemployed is 807000 people in this country. we contribute. bolden, 14000000000. so you kind of call them a we make a contribution to the treasury of 3500000000 pounds. every year, the custom to operating in the shadows. here, these companies were publicly held to account sufficient evidence results to accept including all of us that you happens to uh, protect it and get safe, all of your customers. we need to know what your commit to today. so it's great for today. it was, you know, i'm clearly is not enough. like, i'm not going to sugar coated with you. you know,

99 percent of the customers who plan other sites will lose. so you know that you can play more, you probably losing more, always call. i'll just be very straightforward. i do think some of the gambling ones have got to aggressive. we are the, you have to incentivize to play for them more than more, to get better tickets, more bonus, easy, eccentric cetera. we're working with the, the gc and the 14 other operators on it. and we will be suggesting changes the seat on game if you win too often, the operator will put a number of measures in place to prevent you from winning more than it. yeah, that's is necessarily a that please. of course it's cheating. they want to keep the people who make the most money and eliminate those who lose them the most for their state profiling people. there's a service dedicated to it, which they use to profile players and categorize them according to their bidding style and oil. in the valley, if it's in fact there's

a screen which shows that it's taken by old players in real time. players whose being profiled and flagged is risky, appear in a separate color to fill the vanity, bruce and the rain and blue shield customers who posed less of a risk. the ones who are going to lose between 10 and 20 percent of what they gambled. maybe a bit more so i went worried about those ones. they're good clients on the end, so they come to the site and they lose their money. and then alongside that, we had the opposite. the warmer color show the customers to watch out for the customers we have flagged as dangerous. there's an indoors what in the south coast, so you get to going uh, these are the shots, the category hayes and the ones that appear in bright red at the book make is pretty shocking shots of people who generally when a lot of money in sports bashing and who regularly bait the book make is better because i think you're, you know, a course and take a look over here. our role was to identify any player who even remotely resembled

a shock us and send the basing id to the profiling department to show natalia was always pushed as or is it all? so now these are people who are going to have, they advance limits agents. and for example, where an average person can place a 1000 euro event, they'll only be able to put down 100 euro's with that. so we let them play very little low. we stop them from playing as old. well, we put all the bits on hold anymore. we use old a means that the science disposal to prevent that person from playing the nose on the it's a business we're only the losers are welcome to the only losers are allowed to play . we're trying to maximize and optimize the losses of certain customers. you know, the, i think that in 20 years or so, i must have lost at least 3000000 euro. so unfortunately, i can't help myself. if you put

a 100000 euro is into my account. what all gamble it away in 2 minute is all the units. rafael gambled on the french side with a max for 4 years. he himself was a business man, but during this time, he lost all his sense for the value of money on the multi function. so it's hard to imagine those kinds of figures and not even my family and close friends know about of approval. so if you lose large amounts of money, but again, big company, you'll get a message saying, congratulations. you are now part of the company's v. i pay scheme. that either means is the c of class at the start of 2019, when i was new to when a max, i had already lost the 10s of thousands of yours. after a month, i was contacted by the vip managers, whose name was antwan's, the old one, the accurately said, it was very welcoming and very nice person. if i had any questions or problems,

i could go straight to him. but as he found me yet, like tomorrow, when the company calls you a v, i pay it, i mean, you're a loser. but of course i told you i'd be, i'd pay because that makes you feel like a winner. all quite a new contact image. yes, that san juan contacted me and said rafael for your birthday, the site wants to take you to a football match of your choice. i don't imagine the subordinate swell inside. okay . they basically create a unique customer experience so that people feel on it to lose them money or something. so there's a reality to the flag cuz i did, i kept telling him that i wasn't financial trouble. and then i had to stop him. i said it was debating whether to leave the program temporarily or permanently that he, that each time antwan managed to convince me it was better to opt out temporarily rather than leave for good if you would always tell me on once i left, i couldn't come back this is the solution to test against all odds during

a series of impulsive and random bits made one evening in october 2019. rafael hit the jackpot and won 750000 heroes. he immediately asked with a max to pay out the money so he could pay off his debts with a max of east west, and it was a pull that he did when a max had 72 hours to complete the transaction balance. i got a call from antwan and he said, rafael, are you sure you want us to pay out the money that you could use it to keep playing on our site and me? i said no and explained that i needed the money from the split and also i think those ones at the home then altima all sudden will happen on call in the next day. and twan called me again and we'll try to yes. how i was doing and if i was happy to have lunch with me at the end of our conversation, he asked me again, rafael, are you sure you want us to pay out the money that will call it? and he called a 3rd time the following day. and so that's when i came in as

a khaki shortage. when she's over the next 36 hours, i place is 8 that and last the entire 750000. you are everything i needed to set up, you know, the business reasons to have a fee. i escaped as an any commercial enterprise, expect a different level of service and we're providing now what we try to ensure is that these customers are looked after. i'm, we're acting responsibly with that's the key tenant of our relationship with these customers. so may, more worrying was the fact that v i, p counselors are less than times more likely to become problem gamblers. and certainly from hearing from problem gamblers, i felt the whole psychology of it, the whole way was set child was actually very predatory. i'm actually prayed on the vulnerabilities of,

of people. this is certainly something that we would be concerned about all you could. we, we show you concerns are owned business. we've got 3000000 customers. we've won a 100 c, i t's enough business of 3000000 of america, one percent of revenue use for our business. it's not an area we focus on, it's another area we invested. and, and i also like to, to point out, to make it very clear that just because you're at the p doesn't mean you're probably younger or dark door individuals that can afford saying it's high levels. they seem like a good idea at the time they turn out to be a disaster. hey, it's late to all sorts of ideas. am they should back band the i piece games and free bets. scrap them, get rid of them, complete the. i don't think that the industry is capable of successful self regulation. in theory,

operators are monitored by national regulatory authorities. in practice, however, their powers are limited by a conflict of interest. governments receive a percentage of the money wagered online. if i say that if you see, you know, yeah, and it will if it's true. so there's a rather complicated relationship between the state as a protector of its people getting the and the state which is through the taxation of gambling. also, benefits from market revenue. uh, roughly speaking, it brings in around 5 to 6000000 a year for the state, or rather for the public sector. that's a considerable sum. and the challenge for the regulators is to operate autonomously with spite of this reality. there's no to no need for help on situational studies in various you. countries have shown that while gambling does provide tax revenue, it also comes with a hefty price tag by putting a massive strain on the states, social and health care services. hope all's well. i'm sure i'm actually no man and i need to do an addiction should not be treated as

a purely private matcher and we'll place what we've seen recently in the u. k. for example, is that for every person addicted to gambling out, but 6 other people are affected, maybe not because they become addicted to that because it causes problems within the family unit at school, at the university and so on. now, it's clear that addiction is becoming a social problem. 100 isn't. yeah, no problem. so shonda, it's a social problem because very often people love a problem with gambling will turn into something else in order to i, the support that gambling, or to vent around and get their own and wish athena a problem down below. so we see domestic violence will increase the anti social behavior, the b test. as a result of it, it is the hospitalization doctor visits the nurses who have to deal with the off them off of the damage which is caused by gambling both physically and mentally to

people who have a gambling called them. that's is a, is a very significant costs, but it's a heating cost and it's a cost. the gambling industry itself pretends doesn't exist, was, was us equal my crew, good, helpful sit up with the time, convince that we need to step up protection domain. gambling has moved out of it's a specialized, highly technical domain. you can sit there and it's become an everyday consumer product. and the difficulties for a regulator like ours is that the tools we have, i believe these are not fully adapted to this new situation. and that they said nobody seemed to issue the so far, the french state seems to be satisfied with basic prevention messages. the one possible way to protect betters from developing an addiction to gambling would be to ban bidding science from taking out sports sponsorships. but that would be challenging,

given how deeply they've already penetrated most areas of the sports industry. the gambling industry. it isn't the only industry in town, but it's the one with the biggest check is for one with face, with the biggest budget when it comes to sports advertising the from the clubs point to view it. maximize these revenues from the families point of view. it allows the clubs to potentially recruit the best suppliers and from the gambling companies point to view, it increases brand awareness and increases the level of the site was. you could say everybody wins gambling companies spend a lot of money on football because there are more than a 1000000 fans in the world, right. it is just so visible. so you know that if you advertise on the company should you're going to be seen by hundreds of millions of people. it's really the best advertising space there is in the world right the for the 2020 to

2023 season. out of the 20 clubs in the englishman's premier league, 9 team jerseys had the name of a gambling company printed on the sleeve or chest of the 5 major european leagues. france had the highest number of teams with the logo of a betting side on their kid. around half of all jerseys in germany, there was only one wonderfully good team to do. so. short sponsorship has been banned in italy since 2019. it's been followed suit in 2021. how many football clips and paperless and what we call survive without betting money. but there's a lot of troops who can and i think it's about the business model. if you've got relying back to all good lead people's england's best ever going people, but secretly he had a serious gambling diction. chilton now admits he lost millions since recovering

with the help of his wife steph. now campaigns, the stronger regulation the i can't nitrous thing keeps the newspapers as a young lads committed suicide. and i kept saying to pay to, oh my goodness, you could make such a big difference. so we just so yeah, we'll come out. we'll, you know, we went on to national tv. i'm, we total store rate, and we've done it a 100 interviews. we started to be talked about a lot more bro and the open, you know, and i need needs to be, i know, i remember the 1st time we went into parliament and our simple, i have public health, nothing focuses of public health issue. and then 18 months ago public, how did your reports tonight? so we opened up a very ugly little conversation. you know, the,

the industry just needs not just talked about radical change and it needs to come from, you know, from, from governments. and to me, it just didn't seem to be coming to i went in a very skeptical because of the financial situation of my, my the government to continue to do nothing. which is why in march 2022 sportsmen and women and peas and non profit organizations rally the public call for the urgent overhaul of bedding regulations . money in the interest rate is talking. oh no, because there's the revenue from that they get that revenue from dick's people who can't afford to lose it. so why on earth are we not doing why the government and pets chip pump petitions? not doing anything about other as i'll tell you why, because much when we get back on this, let's look at history based on the government thing. oh wow. you know,

we've smooth that one over because that smooth this over this just a time and the place now to make a difference. the general public can adjust to the industry. and in this place we have an opportunity to officially challenge the industry. but it says it's difficult, butler, the industry lo be is very aggressive. you see, when we have to be swear, we have a certain politicians who all this the of a relationship with the low b will come in and defend the industry. to extraordinary, let's in some cases i'm just somebody you can see the damage that is caused a month to help people to stop them getting involved and knocked down much. we've got the ability to enjoy the we have to do through with official john those they

are able to show to get that of that argument would always be around the financial benefits to the treasury or to the country as opposed to the actual cost of simpleton on the deck ship, the i think when we do prohibition then we and we and we significantly reduce the experience of the product and then that's when you push payers offshore. and we also have to be mindful that if we, if we make any regulation to and next inflexible then we risk, we have the very real channeling risk at just pushing people into off your site. so we absolutely recognize the issues at lodge here. it's just we need to just be tactful of unintended consequences of close at battery. so i asked

if i use that argument all the time, one, every time i ones that the tax decrease and bad thing and out, and i say the black model, it's all gone off the black markets, and we'll play that black mazda vote. are you going to lend the credit card to a black market operator? that's what i'd say. it's a great argument. black, black and black black. that's a load of baloney may. i thank you all very much indeed. now's the committee to stay behind for a moment, but that that concludes the public session and thank you very much. indeed. i will be pessimistic about what happens with the present gum. i think they are so desperate to fill the coffers of the taxpayer that they will not upset the industry . the bedding companies in

britain and france still only face weak regulations or restrictions on their marketing pre bets, the ip or sports sponsorship schemes,

the the legal workers, and call themselves the black best they labor away. it'd be a little bit construction site. now they are fighting for their rights to obtain a visual status. together was a training session prussia, because they know it was fine to stop in 30 minutes on the w little britain. in the dawn,

you fed up with the chaos of rex it in britain. this economic crisis more and more brits are moving to frames. but new beginnings can be tricky. a story of language barriers, bureaucracy, buckets, not friction. in 19 minutes, the w, the parties got issues with

a lot say what crazy. the, [000:00:00;00] the this is the don't use life invalid and benjamin netanyahu proposed to address the us congress in washington. you drive the prime ministers great to bug protests as he thinks to boys to support the israel's war again, thomas and gaza. the faces a series of boy cops and divided lawmakers, also on the program, beside exchanges between each rather and has the law fullest of people at full 70 civilians. to sleep across 5 dw follows families taking shelter as fields and from