Gambling with a handicap, the ethical debate
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23 Dec 2024 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Since the legalization of online gambling in the Netherlands in 2021, the warning signs have been multiplying. Gerhard van Cappellen, special education teacher and healthcare regulator at Fivoor, testifies in De Volkskrant about the dramatic consequences of this practice on people with mild intellectual disabilities. His observation is clear: the most vulnerable fall too easily into the clutches of gaming platforms.
A problem rooted in social fragility
Van Cappellen identifies three main factors that make these populations particularly susceptible to gambling addiction. First, poor living conditions. Victims have often grown up in an environment marked by poverty, domestic violence or social exclusion. These experiences significantly increase their risk of developing addictive behaviors.
Then, he discusses the inability of these individuals to decipher the sophisticated marketing techniques of gaming operators. “These companies sell dreams of getting rich quick, but the reality is quite different,” says Van Cappellen. This illusion of gain, heavily promoted in advertisements, is difficult to discern for people with a limited understanding of probabilities.
Finally, their difficulty in making rational decisions compounds the problem. Impulsive and often unable to set limits, these vulnerable gamblers easily succumb to promotions and bonuses from gambling sites.
A poignant example
To illustrate his point, Van Cappellen shares the story of one of his patients. This young woman lost more than €700 in just a month and a half, money she was saving to finance her driving license. In addition to this financial loss, she suffered from stress and sleep deprivation caused by excessive gambling.
Unfortunately, this case is not isolated. Every day, similar stories affect vulnerable gamblers. The damage is not only financial: it also affects the mental and social health of the victims.
Still insufficient measures
Since 2021, the Dutch government has put in place several restrictions to protect consumers, including a ban on advertising that directly targets young people and a ban on using well-known figures in marketing campaigns. But according to Van Cappellen, this is not enough.
The current deposit limits and measures are far too light given the scale of the problem. He cites the findings of the Scientific Research and Documentation Centre (WODC), which recommended a strict ban on all advertising targeting risk groups, as well as better monitoring of operators.
A journalist’s damning testimony
A recent article by Jeroen van Bergeijk, a journalist for Le Volkskrant, reinforces the orthopedagogue’s words. Bergeijk immersed himself in the world of online gaming to test its addictive potential. The result? Within weeks, he himself had felt the irresistible pull of gambling platforms.
“If an educated adult can be caught in this spiral, imagine the effect on someone who already struggles with intellectual limitations,” Van Cappellen comments.
A call to action
In his plea, Van Cappellen calls on the government to take immediate and stronger action. He calls for:
- A total ban on gambling advertisements aimed at vulnerable audiences.
- Strict supervision of platforms to prevent access by people with intellectual disabilities.
- Increased awareness of the dangers of gambling, including educational campaigns tailored to at-risk groups.
He concludes that the government has a responsibility to protect these citizens, and this requires stricter laws and increased vigilance. Every day without action, we abandon these individuals to the clutches of gambling operators.