The irony is think indeed. The state apparently thinks that a number of television ads deploring the human and financial costs of gambling addiction will do the trick. Unfortunately, most problem gamblers will have already sold their television or had their cable turned off because of a recent cash crash. Moreover, most gambling addicts presumably spend their time at the blackjack table as opposed to in front of the television at home. Notwithstanding the ineffectiveness of these ads, the public has had the wool pulled over its eyes in regard to the true purpose of these ad campaigns.
Politicians routinely employ the makers of such mass messages for their political campaigns.
Although new campaigns present themselves to such producers every two years, there is some downtime in off years during which many can still be made by these people. Political payoff if you will. In implicit consideration for their readiness to create more ads as elections fast approach, lawmakers allot millions of taxpayer funds to advertising campaigns with no proven effectiveness. All one has to do is look at what Michigan is doing with its share of the Tobacco settlement. You may have seen some of these commercials.