Celtic fans have registered their disgust at the club promoting the ‘Celtic Slot’ on the anniversary of the death of Brother Walfrid.
The new venture encourages fans to spend £20 to open an account with Mr Green which will allow them to play the new slot game which features ‘retro jerseys, historic trophies and iconic locations’ and the chance to win tickets for the potential title clincher against Kilmarnock.
Walfrid formed a football club in 1888 to feed the poor of Glasgow’s east end where poverty was endemic among many of the immigrant Irish Catholic population.
More than 100 years on Glasgow is still blighted by poverty with drugs and gambling problems heavily linked to the conditions that may people live under.
In April legislation was brought in to reduce the maximum stake on fixed-odds machines in bookmakers shops from £100 down to £2 following pressure from campaigners.
That move was resisted by the bookmaking industry who are now concentrating on less regulated online options.
While launching their new partnership with Mr Green Celtic were also promoting their Walfrid Wish which involved a community lunch for over 300 many of whom are homeless and from refugee communities.
???? @mrgreencasino are giving away 10 pairs of tickets to #CELKIL to celebrate the launch of their #CelticFC slot game!
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) April 17, 2019
On the anniversary of Walfrids death you post this.that great man would be disgusted.The utter shame
— Paul B Lyons. (@plyons45) April 17, 2019
‘ a business like no other ‘
— John G ?? (@TicV67) April 17, 2019
Beyond disappointed that the name of Celtic is being used to promote this.
We were formed to feed the poor and gambling causes chronic poverty in our communities.
Keep the tickets… Nothing to celebrate here!!
— Celtic Nation (@CelticNation67) April 17, 2019
Who in the club thought this was a good idea -horrible choice
— Tommy Craig CSC (@tommycraigcsc) April 17, 2019
The club is turning into something that Brother Walfrid would be ashamed off, promoting slot machines at a tenner a go , absolute rid neck , is the club not aware the damage these machines do to lives .
— Pennywise (@MrWise1888) April 17, 2019
Absolutely awful. Slot machines are the scourge of society…..
— Colm (@ColmCeltic) April 17, 2019
The harm these games cause is horrendous. Shame on you Celtic.
????— Theresa McG ???? (Tee)???????????????????????????????????? ???????? (@theresacfc) April 17, 2019
How the club condones this is beyond our values
— BOXER T???????????? (@boxertoye) April 17, 2019
The only way to get these tickets is by joining a gambling site and staking £10, you will literally have people gambling for the first time.
It’s bad enough having a bookie as your sponsor but actively encouraging gambling is a step too far.
— Paul (@fudpucker74) April 17, 2019
Get this away from the club, there’s enough betting advertising associated with the Scottish game already without a Celtic slot machine. It’s not a bit of fun for most people, these sites can ruin lives.
— Horris (@HorrisMcLoven) April 17, 2019
Why can’t we be sponsored by milk or something? Tell us all to tweet a photo of us drinking a nice big glass of milk to win a ticket to the game or whatever.
— Tommy Dreamer (@KajunFirefly) April 17, 2019
I hope this promotion is abandoned and never renewed, nor anything like it. A real PR own goal. Tacky and exploitative.
— Prof Patrick McGhee (@ProfMcGhee) April 17, 2019