The news item on gambling (June 22) makes interesting reading.

Does the report say how much of the €125 million spent in 2015 came from workers or pensioners with minimum income or by families in a precarious state?

Although income from gambling is a good revenue stream for the government (and the operators), the addiction to gambling is ruinous to families just like drugs and alcohol are. During the time when the Public Lotto Department was responsible for lotto and lotteries, the number of games of chance were kept to a minimum and ticket prices low, with very little or no advertising, so as to protect the public. Since then, the number of outlets selling a variety of Maltco products, including grocers, have increased considerably.

What is the use of saying ‘Play responsibly’ when the public is now inundated with lottery outlets and advertising?

To protect heavy smokers, every packet of cigarettes must carry a health warning. Why not protect gamblers by informing them what chances they have of winning a prize by printing in bold letters on each ticket the odds, which, in some cases (Super5 and Weekly Lottery), are one in millions?