Is Gambling Too Acceptable in the United Kingdom

This is a question increasingly being asked by journalists in the United Kingdom, as the country's historical penchant for gambling continues to reach new heights of acceptability, and may even be indoctrinating its children. It's no secret that gambling is commonplace in the UK, and has been for decades.

The difference between the UK of today and the UK of a few years ago, is that with the legalization of gambling, the UK Government is a huge fan of the practice. And why wouldn't it be, considering the billions in taxes and tariffs it reaps from bingo halls, casinos, betting shops, the UK Lottery and online gambling?

The concern that many people have is the contradictory role that the UK Government is being forced to play. On one hand, the government is expected to look out for the interests of all its citizens, especially children, by spending money on programs and causes to identify and prevent problem and underage gambling.

On the other hand, the government directly benefits from revenues earned from gambling, and the more people that gamble, means more funds to help top-up government coffers being fast-emptied by the current economic climate. Research has shown that the tougher the times, the more people choose to gamble.

While this is not a crime - albeit very misguided - the issue is that an increasing number of children across the UK are gambling in form or another. One example is UK National Lottery scratch cards, which offer instant cash prizes. Children are attracted to these games and don't seem to have much trouble getting them.