Panorama Season 2016 Episode 28 - Why are Gambling Machines Addictive?

Airdate: 2016-Sep-12

Episode summary:

Wendy Bendel investigates what makes fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) so addictive. Wendy's partner killed himself after struggling with a 20-year gambling addiction. In a confession he wrote for Wendy, he singled out the high-stakes, high-frequency FOBTs found in bookmakers across the UK. Wendy embarks on a journey to find out what it is about the design of the machines that makes them so addictive and sees evidence that they can affect the brains of long-term gamblers. She discovers the billions they generate has divided the industry, with former insiders now accusing the bookies of putting profits before people.

About Panorama series:

With the first episode being broadcast on November 11, 1953, Panorama is the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme and the longest-running...Show more >