Originally Posted on Saturday Sep 17 16:19:00 BST 2011
TAB has reported that the World Cup has seen record numbers of punters placing a bet.
Gambling, particularly online, is easier than ever before. The number of people with access to smartphones and computers has never been higher, and a touch of a button will give live updates on odds, enabling punters to make a bet at any stage of a game.
Young people seem to have been inspired by the World Cup, and some gambling help groups worry that this may leave youngsters with a taste for online gambling once the event is over.
TAB is encouraging new punters by offering $20 credit for those betting on an All Blacks game, and have seen a massive rise in the number of people placing bets through their phones, with major sporting events such as this often attracting many people who have never placed a bet before. There is some concern that there will be more emphasis placed on the gambling than on the event itself.
It is unlikely that TAB have been targeting young people in particular, and certainly no-one will know any time soon if first time gamblers will continue to gamble after the World Cup is over.
