Gambling Addiction

[Hymie]

I think I read somewhere recently that one person a week commits suicide in the UK over their gambling debts.

If the company I worked for was selling a product or service that resulted in such harm to their clients – I’m sure that they would be shut down pronto.
But what with our MPs receiving massive bungs from the gambling industry, that ain’t going to happen anytime soon.

Coroner’s have considerable power in relation to the cause of death (and to stop similar deaths) – if as a coroner, it was clear that gambling debts and the way the deceased was treated by the betting firm, were responsible for the death – I would mandate that the betting firm take corrective action to stop any future such deaths.

Despite the gambling firms giving MPs bungs to stop any further regulation – the writing is on the wall (much like mobile phone roaming charges for people within the EU). If I were a betting company, my TV adverts would be modified to say something like ‘someone wins every 20 seconds on Jackpot Joe, and 100 people lose every second.’

Such a change in advertising my go some way to placating gambling firm critics, but I doubt it would change the habits of gamblers.

Just in case you are starting to feel sorry for the gambling industry, read this:-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11177611/Britains-biggest-betting-bosses-earn-100m-seven-years-dwarfing-fines-slapped-companies.html

[barry1010]

I detest gambling and thankfully have never fell in to that hell hole.
There will always be gambling but I really think all advertising should be banned.

[rockyracoon]

"If the company I worked for was selling a product or service that resulted in such harm to their clients – I’m sure that they would be shut down pronto.
But what with our MPs receiving massive bungs from the gambling industry, that ain’t going to happen anytime soon."

The alcohol industry is just the same.

[ToraToraTora]

The fact that gambling opportunities exist should tell anyone who's IQ exceeds their shoe size that they are there to make a profit and if you do win it will only be a temporary glitch. No matter what anyone tells you regular gamblers cannot win. If they are too stupid tpo realise that then you can't blame the purveyors of such services. In my club there are fruit machines, people play them, sometimes they win, mostly they lose, that is why they are there. All regular gamblers delude themselves that they are winning, they are not. They talk about their winnings they but a round when they drop the jackpot. They forget that they suppress the fact that to win the jackpot they have pumped the machine, they lost but they "won" in their minds because they got the jackpot. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy a little flutter in the same way that most of us can enjoy a drink without becoming an alcoholic. But many can't stop chasing "easy money" which believe me is anything but easy even if you do make some headway as a "pro gambler". For the most part the only people that win at gambling are not gambling.

[Canary42]

Some people enjoy gambling, while being fully aware of the situation (we have one as a regular contributor here on Ab), so as long as they keep within "budget" it is just like any other activity people spend money on.

Just because gambling can become uncontrollably addictive is no reason to ban it (any more than banning alcohol, cigarettes, etc.)

[davebro]

hm - William Hill were offering 1/16 on Truss when it was clear she would win (later 1/20). I didn't bet but it seemed an easy way to make 5%+ in less than a week.

I have a pal who used to bet in £1000s and was in danger of going bankrupt. Fortunately he turned it around. He still has a flutter on several of the TV sports but only small sums. Max £20 but usually only a pound or two.

[tiggerblue10]

The only gambling I take part in is the lotto and Euromillions. I know exactly how much money I spend on both for 4 weeks worth at a time and every win goes towards the next ticket. I do it all online.

Apparently someone in the UK won £110m on the Euromillions last week. No cost of living issues for them then...! Lol

[ToraToraTora]

The problem with Odds on "certainties" dave is that they have a habit of back firing. Remember the RWC 1999 France v New Zealand semi final? The bookies were laying long odds on for NZ, guess what happened?

[Arksided]

Knowing it's an easy trap for me to fall into, I mostly give it a miss at all costs Pun intended I don't even bet on the football anymore, a little punt on the lotto now and again and a few quid on bandit machines, that's about it for a long time now.

[Ken4155]

This happened just last week.

https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Chepstow/30-August-2022/1530

[Arksided]

* a little punt on the grand national.... a few on lotto

[bhg481]

When I was a young boy my dad pointed out that you never see a poor bookie; he was right and so I've never gambled unless you count Premium Bonds.

[Ken4155]

I have a bet almost every day of the year. I work out a daily budget - money i can easily afford to lose - and stick religiously to this budget. Sometimes the bookies 'lend' me some of my money back - usually a few quid - every blue moon a tidy sum (over £3K a few weeks back).
Gambling is my main hobby and i don't see it as a way to get rich. There are others on AB who have a regular punt (Togo, Spicerack, for instance) who share my philosophy.

[Hymie]

Ken4155 – you'd better watch your winnings, a recent Private Eye article noted that bookies were limiting the bets of successful punters.

[davebro]

They will ban you if they think you are winning too much/too often. They aren't daft.

[Ken4155]

Hymie, they've been doing it for years. The great Victor Chandler suspended my account because i went through a period where all i was doing was withdrawing. I made the mistake of leaving £20 or £30 in to bet with instead of withdrawing all my winnings so when they did an 'audit', it didn't look good.
And, at the time, they were the biggest on line firm going!

[Ken4155]

Of course there are ways around a ban; 3rd party, for instance, but with VC, i just couldn't be arissed.

[davebro]

I think it was reported at the time that a Glasgow woman lost £250,000 backing Remain in the EU referendum. Sick as all the parrots in Christendom & beyond!

[ToraToraTora]

TBF dave I was sure remain was going to win too. I posted this before going to bed that night:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1498693.html
imagine my elation in the morning! I went to work in the morning then at lunch time I went and bought a load of Champagne and went to my club at about 5pm and had an amazing celebration.

[FatticusInch]

Lol, that turned out well, eh?

[davebro]

my gambling friend (as mentioned above) lost £1600 on Remain - even though he voted Leave!