Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Fight fake news” (July 23). With growing concerns about fake news, perhaps it is time to look at the step-child of fake news — fake advertisements and specifically, gambling ads.
Recently, I sat down to watch the highlights of my team’s win but the replays kept getting interrupted by ads for gambling venues and companies. As we all know, they mostly do it for sponsorship and many from the audience are interested in ‘backing’ their team although a better form of support can be in the purchase of team merchandise. My concern is with the portrayal of people involved in this gambling. It is obvious that these massive companies make their money from peoples’ loses. In this context, one must realise that he/she may lose most of the time.
These ads show young and attractive people surrounded by ‘celebrities’ and for some reason they always seem to film it when they have a win. Tell the truth about betting. Don’t make it glamourous when it isn’t. Don’t imply that you’ll always win when you won’t.