Simon Cowell's 'Red Or Black' Accused Of 'Glamourising' Betting

Simon Cowell

First Posted: 7/02/2012 12:52 Updated: 7/02/2012 12:55   PA

Simon Cowell's show Red Or Black has run into trouble over concerns that it glamorises betting, according to reports.

Officials from the Gambling Commission, which regulates the industry in the UK, met ITV bosses on Friday to talk about the show which offers a £1 million prize to contestants who have to choose between red or black.

The Sun reported that the watchdog wanted changes to the format so some degree of skill would be needed to win the money.

The first series, hosted by Ant and Dec, was not the massive ratings hit the channel had hoped for and Peter Fincham, the network's director of television, said if it did come back he would like to see some changes.

The show was also the subject of controversy when it emerged the first jackpot had gone to a contestant who had been jailed for a violent attack.

Simon said that first winner, Nathan Hageman, should look to his "conscience".

The TV mogul said: "I'm not in a position to force anyone to do anything. Once he got through that's why he got the money, that's his own conscience what he decides to do with it."

Several other contestants were removed from further shows after investigations into their backgrounds.

A spokeswoman for the commission said they could not comment on individual cases.

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Simon Cowell's show Red Or Black has run into trouble over concerns that it glamorises betting, according to reports. Officials from the Gambling Commission, which regulates the industry in the UK,...
Simon Cowell's show Red Or Black has run into trouble over concerns that it glamorises betting, according to reports. Officials from the Gambling Commission, which regulates the industry in the UK,...
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12:57 on 08/02/2012
Please spare us the sight of those two pathetic no bodys, Ant, & Deck. I would like to deck the fcuking pair of the useless T-w-a-t=s
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07:50 on 08/02/2012
Like all his shows, it TV for Sun readers.
01:51 on 08/02/2012
It was a pretty boring show anyway so don't tinker with it and it might just fade away!
00:53 on 08/02/2012
So by the same token the Gambling Commission should force casinos to introduce some element of skill into roulette ? Yeah, right !
21:07 on 07/02/2012
Everywhere you look there's gambling & poker shows...designed to suck in the vulnerable!
19:35 on 07/02/2012
Does anyone in this country like Simon Cowell?
18:33 on 07/02/2012
you want the show banned because it glamourises gambling, yet commercial tv channels are allowed to show gambling and drinking adverts, if its good for one, it should be good for the other, ban one and you should ban them all, dont get picky, just cos its simon cowell, this country cant sort out the gambling licencing laws as everthing is run from Brussell's, sort it out ..........................
17:19 on 07/02/2012
ITV - Axe all Simon Cowells programmes! Pretty please!
19:02 on 07/02/2012
YES YES YES YES PLEASE
14:32 on 07/02/2012
Please not a second series, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!