Admittedly, I watch a lot of television; probably too much. Lately, I have been astounded at the sheer volume and nature of advertising promoting online gambling.

Beautiful people decked to the nines placing bets, laughing and celebrating their endless good fortune.

Celebrites and models normalizing what used to be considered a vice. Financial incentives to get you to place that first bet.

The most absurd and manipulative ad, in my opinion, features a beautiful woman taking a bubble bath on the 50-yard line of some football stadium while expounding on the virtues of sports betting.

To be clear, gambling should not be made illegal and relegated back to organized crime. But neither should it be normalized or touted as masculine, hip or sexy.

The gambling industry has a great deal in common with the alcoholic beverage industry and Big Tobacco, both of which are subject to advertising restrictions.

My fear is that if society does not rein in the industry’s representation of itself, there will be a huge spike in gambling addiction and all the misery that follows it.

Jon DiStefano

Elkins