ON the subject of the increasing social problem of gambling (“Awareness campaign sets sights on problem gambling”, The Herald, July 19, and Letters, July 22), I would suggest that the issue is considerably exacerbated by the fact that just about every second advert on satellite sports channels are by companies in the online gaming sector.

They usually feature males in the 25 to 40 age group, successful and affluent, whose lifestyle is supposedly enhanced by their regular gambling activities.

If this is not an encouragement to people in this demographic to engage in what could become an expensive habit if not an addiction, I don’t know what is.

Ian McLean,

16 North Bridge Street, Hawick.