The gambling industry are extremely adept in enticing men to participate in what they claim is only a bit fun.
My personal experience causes my opinion to differ but for one moment cast aside my 40 year experience as a prolific gambler. Let’s look at the evidence:
“When the Fun stops STOP” is a well known footnote on most gambling adverts. It’s very clever by firstly claiming that gambling is fun. Then putting the onus on you to stop. A subtle message that the industry does not take responsibility?
It at no point warns the potential customer of the consequences of gambling such as debt, hunger,family breakdown,mental illness and possibly suicide.
A few facts about targeting and advertising:
The gambling industry has spent £1.4 billion on advertising since 2012.
In total the gambling industry spent £312 million on adverts last year a 63% increase compared with 2012.
A new report shows problem gambling up 50% in 3 years.
Betting companies top the list of donations to M.P.s. Ladbrokes Corals appears 15 times in most recent list of donations to M.P.s. Why?
The betting industry is explicitly targeting people on lower incomes and ex gamblers and increasingly Men are being enticed and targeted .
I have spoken to many men affected by gambling. It doesn’t seem like fun to me.
 
gamserve.org.uk
Image Credit: John Schnobrich

Well, what an incredible journey that Pam (my wife) and I have been on.
To be told only 3 months ago that I should basically prepare for my own funeral as I was given a 9-month shortened life expectancy was a shock. With the diagnosis of oesophageal cancer, the best I could hope for was rounds of chemotherapy in order that I would have a better quality of life.
I decided to contact all my friends (Christian and non-Christian) and asked them to pray for my healing. I was determined not to give up or throw in the towel.
The consultant’s secretary gave me a letter with the date of my operation enclosed and during a conversation I was having with her I said, “I am a Christian and I know that I am in the safest hands that I could possibly ask for….God’s hands!”
She then said do you realize that this hospital is the no. 1 in the country for the type of cancer that you have. “Wow!” Then she said the consultant who is performing your operation is a Christian.
The realization that Gods hands were indeed in every single detail and all the bases were covered, for me, was a faith builder.
I then was asked to go for a C.T. and PET scan. The images that came back were inconclusive so I had an MRI. Yet again the images that came back were inconclusive, so the decision was taken to have a laparoscopy. This surgical procedure was to see if the cancer had moved to the liver. Lo and behold, the cancer had not moved to the liver. Yippee! fantastic news! This meant the outlook wasn’t necessarily terminal.
A decision was made to have major surgery in the hope that the cancer could be removed from the oesophagus. So, on June 14th I had an oesophagectomy. The operation took 5 and half hours and the surgeon informed Pam afterwards that they had removed all the cancer that was visible. Yippee!
After I had recovered sufficiently from the operation I was sent home. On the 3rd July, I returned to the hospital to have the last of the tubes removed from my body and later in the day I received a phone call from the hospital to inform me that I would not need to undergo chemotherapy and that an appointment for me to have a checkup in 3 months has been made.
We were ecstatic at this news and what a turnaround from no hope to a future and all within a space of 3 months.
We thank God for his goodness and abounding love and healing hands and we thank all of those who continue to hold us in your prayers.
Make no mistake there is power in prayer!!
Image Credit: Cam Adams

Just recently I was given the news that I had Metastatic Oesophageal cancer with a shortened life expectancy of 9 months.
Although the consultant was looking directly at me for one brief moment, I had to check myself from turning around to see if she was talking to someone else.
In the weeks and months to come I will have to undergo both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This is to give me a better quality of life.
I believe that at some point in each one of our own lives we will undergo tests and trials this is order to form our own character.
In Romans 5: 3-5

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Just imagine if we did not have Jesus! …..That thought sends shivers down my spine.

We truly would have No hope and the future would hold only death but we do have Jesus and that changes everything we have life and the guarantee of eternal life.
I have been humbled by the support I have received both practical and prayer.
I know that when God called me to “Step into the breech and reach out to those who are suffering from gambling” that I have given it a go and tried my best.
I am by No means ready to give up or throw in the towel.
2 Timothy 1:7

“[I] have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

Blessings and love,
Ian

I know all too well the impact that gambling can have not only on the gambler but also on friends, relatives and colleagues.
By the age of 49 I had lost hundreds of thousands of pounds due to this terrible addiction. Gambling landed me in the criminal justice system for over eighteen years, ten of which were spent in prison.
Since 2012 I have not had one desire to gamble. However, my thoughts have been directed towards seeing changes in society by campaigning for better legislation and understanding within this area. As a result I founded Gamserve in 2013. This Christian organisation is committed to seeing changes in society to better protect those at risk from developing a gambling addiction.
The main goals of Gamserve are:

• To see a watershed on all gambling adverts.
• To see a locking/unlocking device accompanied with age verification on all Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).

We are therefore very excited by the current review by the government into both the impact of televised gambling advertisements and FOBTs! This review was announced in October by Tracey Crouch (the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage).

“The media have dubbed Fixed Odds Betting Terminals the ‘Crack Cocaine of the gambling industry’.”

Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs)
The lure of these machines was so great that in 2005 I resorted to crime to satisfy the need to ‘play’ them. Unfortunately this need proved insatiable. This resulted in a 5 year prison sentence.
Shortly after being released I felt an overwhelming desire to play the FOBTs once again. So in 2011 I substituted crime with credit, amassing debts of over £10,000 within a 3 month period. The consequences of this nearly resulted in the loss of my new home and close friends.
These were dark times and thoughts of suicide would plague me at times.

The media have dubbed Fixed Odds Betting Terminals the ‘Crack Cocaine of the gambling industry.’ It is easy to see why they are referred to in such a way, as the combination of high stakes and high speed lead to players quickly becoming addicted. When playing an FOBT there is no time to think about your actions. People often begin to play with the expectation of a large win which can be almost instantaneous (£500 per 20 seconds in theory). For me, this was the initial draw. However, even when it became apparent that this was a way to lose rather than make money, the pace of the machine provided an adrenaline rush and the risk compelled me to carry on. I believe this is the case for many gamblers.
Gambling is an emotional rollercoaster. The elation of a rare win is mirrored by a sense of depression, guilt or anger when a loss occurs.
Campaigners are calling for the maximum stake on these machines to be reduced from £100 to £2. To me this feels like a step in the right direction and I pray the government review comes to the same conclusion. Although the machines can still be played, the negative impact can be greatly reduced.

“Her two children can recite just about every gambling advert there is.”

I know I’m not the only one who is influenced consciously or subconsciously by adverts. Repeated slogans from TV adverts past and present. Things like, ‘Holidays are coming’ or  ‘Have a break, have a K…..’.
I know of children who associate particular songs with the product before the artist!
Therefore, I feel the impact of gambling adverts on children and the vulnerable must be taken seriously. Karen Bradley, the Culture Secretary was recently quoted saying her two children can ‘recite just about every gambling advert there is’.
Currently bingo, lottery and sports adverts are exempt from a ban on TV gambling adverts before the 9pm watershed. We at Gamserve are calling for a blanket ban on all televised gambling advertising before the 9pm watershed as this will better protect the young and the vulnerable.
We have an active petition which can be found on our website.
We realise that in the U.K. there has been very little research into this area, meaning there is not a lot of evidence to support our claim. However, it seems clear to me that the adverts do have an impact. If advertising didn’t work- no one would produce them!
Interestingly, the latest news from Australia suggests that sports betting ads could be banned on public transport and near schools under a proposal by the Victorian Government. This is because gambling is widely seen as ‘normalised’ within the adult and child communities. I dare argue it is the same in our localities.
A Hope and A Future
Since 2012, as stated earlier, I have not gambled. Through wise counsel from friends at my local church I have been able to set safeguards in place, repay debts and develop accountability. Having not ever had a stable family life of my own, I was astounded by the grace and love offered to me by a local couple. Not only did they let me live in their house and meet my physical needs, but they loved me unconditionally and called me a member of their family.
During the 4 years I lived there I found my character began to change. I had peace instead of anger; I had love instead of hate and incredibly I was given self control. Since setting up Gamserve, I have found myself in situations I could never have imagined. I have spoken to MPs, directors of the gambling industry and even a high court judge. I have also been on the radio and local TV.
I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had and still have to influence change. Sometimes it feels slow and frustrating, but I know real and lasting change takes time.
I’m glad I can be a part of it! My life has been turned around.
It’s not just the gambling that has changed though. In July of this year I finally flew the nest of my ‘adoptive’ family. On the lovely sunny day of July 24th my ‘adoptive’ family, many new friends and locals turned up in their best clothes to a small Methodist Church near Loughborough.  If you haven’t guessed- it was my wedding day! I had met the lovely Pam just over a year before when she came to stay with us. Over the course of that year we had begun to see more of each other as our friendship developed into something even deeper.
Having accepted that I was destined to lead a single life, I was surprised to find myself with someone by my side. Her lovely smile, intelligence, integrity and wit along with a shared faith made her the perfect match for me.
Now we are beginning our new life together, excited about the future and hoping that as a couple we can impact society for the better.
How to Help
If you would like to help our cause you could:

• Sign the petition!
• Share the petition on social media
• Write to your local MP
• Write to a local newspaper
• Talk to your peers about the issues.

If you or someone you know is affected by these issues help can be found in the ‘need support’ section of the Gamserve website.
If you would like to know more of Ian’s story you can purchase his book ‘Forty Years a Gambler’ from Amazon in ebook or paperback formats.

A friend revealed to me recently, that although she was a primary school teacher she too had been caught up in gambling.
It seemed to her that a trip to the bingo offered a night out to enjoy herself with her friends but unfortunately as time passed those feelings passed by and the thoughts of gambling started to consume her, She had also started playing on the machines as well as playing bingo within a relatively short period of time she had amassed debts of £7000.
You see gambling does not affect just those who want to try and get themselves out of poverty but it can affect anyone at anytime irrespective of their status.
She received the Love and support from a Christian couple at church who reminded her that

Romans 8:1
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus”

Ian Bartlett
GamServe
+447814 147156
www.gamserve.org.uk

Do you ever go through times of reflection looking back at what you have done or possibly not have done in the year? I recently went through one of these periods and I found myself looking at the negatives, the things I should have done but didn’t and it started to get me feeling depressed.
It seemed so much easier to concentrate my thoughts on the negatives and so much harder to think of the positives.
A recent example: I was thinking to myself about GamServe and what actually have we managed to do and thoughts such as “You haven’t done a lot really” and “No one listens to what you are saying anyway” and “Is it really worth your money, your time to carry on?”
This type of attack is what the enemy uses in trying to pull someone down and get them to give up.
Ephesians 6:16 ‘In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one‘.
The reality is The Lord has opened so many doors for GamServe. In, what is, such a relatively short period of time a lot has been and is being done and although I might not see everything, I can be assured that our Father does.
So when next those negative thoughts come in (and they will come), I will immediately turn them round to positive thoughts.

Romans 12:2
‘Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’

Image credit: Photo by Quinn Dombrowski / CC BY 2.0

I started a new job in July 2011 in a warehouse factory and I was praying “Lord use me to reach these Men”
It started when I put scripture cards on the mirrors in the gents toilets, and people started to ask, “What are these?” A good opportunity to share my testimony and I did. Then I put ‘Why Jesus’ leaflets on the worktops. A few people were puzzled. Some started to read the content and they approached me to explain and I obliged in a way that I thought that they would understand.
I was able to give my testimony and explain how Jesus had transformed me. After that an opportunity arose for me to give my testimony to the Deputy manager. He said “Ian I have a real bad neck and I have booked to go and see the world darts.” I said, “You know, Andy, that Jesus loves you and I will pray for your neck if you want me to.”
He agreed to this.
I went to work on the Monday. Andy just looked at me and then proceeded to turn his head, this way and that. He had been completely healed! Word does get around pretty quick in the factory because a couple of weeks later the Manager said he wanted a word with me in his office. I wondered what he wanted? He told me he’d had migraines for years and asked if I could help him like I did for Andy.
I said, “I can’t do anything but I know Jesus can. I can pray for you Dave but I want you to know that Jesus loves you.” I prayed for him and as a result his symptoms eased.
I have had the opportunity to distribute bibles and give advice to lots of Men at my workplace. I also believe God has greatly blessed the business at the warehouse factory, in many ways.
You see if I had not stepped out and taken a risk I would have failed to discharge what the Lord has given me. Go on take a risk!

If you happened to be walking along your high street and all of a sudden someone accosted you and said with menace “Give us your money!” I would like to think that you would not be intimidated and your response would be “No!” and you would, out of concern that this might happen to someone else, report the matter.
Are you aware that each and every day in your high street someone else is doing exactly the same thing but they are very subtle in how they approach you? They won’t approach you with menace. They will use more sophisticated methods to lure you. By appealing to human nature they seem to offer something for nothing they even say participating is fun and you can do it with your mates. Of course this is False.
I am of course talking about the Gambling industry. As I write this, over the next 3 days in London a whole host of countries from all around the world are participating in a gaming industry event with the sole purpose of showing off the newest developments to the industry.
This industry does not stop in its ever increasing appetite to take the money out of your pocket and put it into there’s. Don’t be fooled that its anything but that.
We can make a difference in this area and in fact we are called to do so. I encourage you to lift this up to the lord in prayer, he hears those who are crushed in spirit, isolated, lonely and suffering.

I can call upon my own experiences when I say, that especially around the Christmas period the temptation to gamble was at its greatest.
There can be many different contributing factors to this but I will briefly touch on one.
“The expectation and pressure to provide”
For some this can be the catalyst that plunges them into desperate measures.
This is where gambling can seem to be an attractive option to ease the financial burden and a time when the gambling industry are quick to take advantage of all the tools available to them, through advertising on T.V., mobile devices, and computing technology. Unfortunately those who have very little can be enticed as they see this as a way out, a way to provide for the demands put on them.
Of course gambling is not a way out, but it often lures people into a false believe that it will be the answer, in reality, it more often leads to, family breakdown, debt, poverty, mental illness, crime and attempted suicide.
As Christians we can make a difference, in fact we are called to do so. We are the salt of the earth and a light shining brightly.
Look out for your fellow Man, if you have suspicion that someone is having problems with gambling, then visit the Gameserve website and click on “Need Support link” which will lead you to organisations that can give you expert advice.
Here are two interesting facts

1. In the UK in 2005 The Gambling Act classified gambling as a “Legitimate Entertainment Activity”
2. In 2013 for the first time, the U.S. Diagnostic and Statistical manual of mental disorders recognised gambling as an Addiction, putting it on par with Drugs and Alcohol.

I would like to acknowledge publicly the support that CVM have given to me personally and Gamserve, it has been very much appreciated.
I wish you all a Happy Christmas
Ian Bartlett, Gamserve

In 2005 the Government in the UK opened the door to gambling becoming “an acceptable leisure activity”. I was a gambler for 40 years and believe me when I say that when you are in it, you don’t see the potential harm caused to some vulnerable people until you step back you see it for what it is. For those whose lives are ruined by Gambling Addiction, the notion of it being an acceptable leisure activity is ridiculous.

How can I best channel my burning desire to help those who each day are being harmed by Gambling Addiction?
Please bear in mind that my own experiences are testimony to the damage that may be caused – I have experienced family breakdown, relationship breakdown, debt, prison and I could go on. However let’s also consider some independent sources to understand what I see as some of the problems surrounding gambling in the UK:

• Ofcom research shows gambling commercials have rocketed from 234,000 in 2007 to nearly 1.4 million last year. That is a 600% increase in 6 years.
• In 2009 there were 109,000 children stopped in a betting shop but in 2013 that number had rocketed to 588,000 and 27,000 were stopped after placing their first bet.
• A report, for the Lottery Commission by Ipsos MORI in September 2013, concluded that of over 2,000 11-15yr olds, surveyed from 100 state maintained schools, no less than 15% of young teenagers had engaged in some form of gambling “in the last week”.

What concerns me therefore is that we are now seeing the aftershocks of the 2005 Governement’s policy and in my opinion things are going to deteriorate even more.
I want to share a dream I had; I was in The Spirit and I looked down and I could see the river Thames and there was fire on the water. Big Ben struck 12, and I saw that the fire went under a bridge and into the House of Commons.
Zechariah 4.6 “Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit“, says the lord almighty.
I truly believe that the Lord has heard the cry of those who are suffering from Gambling Addiction and is now asking Men of God to step out and say “enough is enough”. This is what led to the creation of GAMSERVE, a movement that is dedicated to asking serious questions and seeking significant change around the gambling industry in the UK. I spent the weekend of CVM’s Gathering (in a field near Swindon!) talking to people that could see the problem and agreed that something had to be done and I pray that anyone that reads this blog will take time to look at my website.
As Christians, we need to respond to negative developments in our society and one way is to speak out and challenge the liberalisation of the gambling industry. I trust that you will join me and that the Lord will see my prayers answered as I serve obediently in His name.