We seem to have turned daily life into one big slot machine

DrAli A Smith is a senior consultant working at a north west hospital. This is not his real name.

- Dr Ali A Smith

Spin to win. My energy supplier rewards me for being a customer. I spin. I don't win. I go to buy some bread. I get another spin on another wheel. I win a croissant.

Presumably I should be overjoyed. I never claim it. Apparently, I get free bets or spins or rolls every day with some betting app that's advertised on my Spotify playlist. Adverts everywhere implore me to buy a ticket and believe I can win. It's everywhere.

As far as I can tell most of the advertising companies have decided that gambling is more effective than sex at selling products. They used to try to sell us things by using attractive models of one sort or another, but maybe they are worried about them being objectified or that we will somehow be offended. Or, maybe gambling is much more effective. I fear it’s the latter.

They overlooked how good gambling was at making people feel happy whilst losing money. The bread is very expensive but at least I get another spin on the wheel.

Once, gambling was regulated. You had to make an effort to go to a casino. Betting shops had regulations even if they were not terribly well implemented. But not now.