Lawmakers in Washington are attempting to keep the youth of America from becoming future gamblers. Legislators who oppose Representative Barney Frank's new online gambling bill claim that the legislation would increase gambling among the nation's youth.

The current iCarly sweepstakes on Nickelodeon, according to some experts, is doing much more to promote gambling to children then online gambling regulations ever could. iCarly is one of the most popular Nickelodeon shows, and recently the attraction has reached a fever pitch.

One of the mysteries behind iCarly was the main character's bedroom. The bedroom has never been revealed to viewers until now. To create even more of a stir around the episode, Nickelodeon is giving away items from Carly's bedroom through their Internet site.

"What Nickelodeon is doing is much worse than what online gambling sites do for adults," said Gaming Analyst Brad Dawkins. "A sweepstakes is simply a drawing, with odds similar to winning a lottery. The children that win these sweepstakes learn that gambling on a long shot can be a winning proposition."

The advertising surrounding the iCarly sweepstakes has been similar to the type of advertising that lottery's promote when a jackpot get unusually high. For three years, children have watched iCarly and have never seen her room. Now, all of a sudden, an episode titled iCarly iGot a Hot Room is airing, and children are being convinced that the items in the room are cool.

"The assertion that this room is cool will drive children to the Nickelodeon website to sign up to win. Only a limited number of participants will win, and that is where the message of gambling is being sent, because in gambling, only a select few win," said Dawkins.

July 31, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com