Don't take the fun out of gambling

As a community of gamblers we need to see that it’s not just our freedom to bet that is under threat, it is the fun of it too.

I think a big risk is that the future of betting is being decided by politicians and regulators who don’t bet themselves and don’t get the fun. These are the people who dominate the betting debate and paint a picture of doom and gloom that most gamblers just don’t recognise.

Already it is almost impossible to play betting games online without seeing safer gambling messages - and rightly so. Gamblers also get regular emails telling them about the tools that are available.

There are so many tools available and so much information right at your fingertips if you want it. The ability to set a limit on how long you spend online, the limits you can put on how much you spend, the numbers you can call if you need help. It is hard for me to believe people think there is not enough being done online to protect gamblers.

This is all being done for the right reasons – but to make these limits mandatory would affect people’s enjoyment. If we go too much further down this road, the fun will be ruined for the vast majority of people like me who bet safely and responsibly.

I think we have now got the balance right between safety and fun – if we let the doom and gloom mongers have their way, the fun will soon be gone.