A JUDGE has warned "we're taking a huge risk in society" over the widespread advertising of gambling.

Betting advertisements were described as being "inescapable" by Judge Robert Pawson during a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The judge made the remarks while passing sentence in a case which involved a man who had a gambling addiction and had defrauded his Bournemouth employer out of £40,000 to fund his betting.

He noted that gambling is advertised "everywhere", making reference to football shirts, television advert breaks and online platforms.

Judge Pawson highlighted that bookmakers are frequently offering enhanced odds and free bet promotions.

During the hearing the judge said the gambling addict had used "good money chasing bad" and was "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

The judge said he had been watching highlights of sport the night before the day of the court case and it was impossible not to notice the betting adverts.

“It is everywhere," said Judge Pawson. "It appears, to this court, to be inescapable. The targeting is everywhere.

“There are advertisements saying when the fun stops, stop. It is a little bit like saying when you become an alcoholic, stop drinking. It is too late."

The judge added: “We’re taking a huge risk in society. It is addictive."

He said the current approach "risks ruining lives" and it already had done in the case he was presiding over.

Responsible betting body Senet Group, which was funded by the gambling industry, introduced the 'When the fun stops, stop' campaign in 2015.

This move saw the country's major bookmakers pledging to run the slogan across their advertising and it has become a familiar sight on television screens.

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) took over Senet's safer gambling remit, which included the advertising campaign, in April 2020.

Following an announcement of the change, BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said: “The Senet Group leaves a rich legacy of accomplishments; it showed that the industry was serious about working together to raise safer gambling standards and the Senet team can be rightly proud of their achievements.

"The BGC now has the industry-wide reach to take this important work forward and drive standards even higher, in partnership with our members.

"Safer gambling must always be at the heart of everything we do as an industry.”

The Daily Echo contacted the BGC for comment on the remarks made by Judge Pawson, but did not receive a response.

The judge made the comments during the sentencing hearing of Mark John Parsons, 40, and of Garfield Close, Bishop's Waltham.

Parsons was jailed for two years and two months at Bournemouth Crown Court last week after admitting offences of fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.

  • For gambling addiction support and advice, call GamCare on freephone 0808 8020 133 or visit gamcare.org.uk.​