Betting shops...
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_971300...
The bit that caught my eye.... they describe themselves as 'retail leisure'.
Does betting really fall within the scope of retail or leisure?
The bookmakers appear to like blabbing on about how much tax they pay - I wonder how much of it is dole money!
The bit that caught my eye.... they describe themselves as 'retail leisure'.
Does betting really fall within the scope of retail or leisure?
The bookmakers appear to like blabbing on about how much tax they pay - I wonder how much of it is dole money!
Laurel Green said:
Wrong! If I had my way, they would all be banned from the high street.
Then we can only be glad most are more tolerant than yourself of interests anathema to our own.But in answer to your question, OP - yes, betting would fall within 'leisure', so far as I can see. It's a leisure activity.
madala said:
....it seems in some High Streets there is a betting shop every few shops....is this country a total of gambling addicts?.....too many betting shops by far.
It's peculiar. I have no desire to set foot in a betting shop. Which is ironic considering I've taken about 3000 bets in the last 30 days.ascayman said:
why?
Because I believe our High-streets would be better off without them. There seems to be a greater proliferation in the more rundown areas (coincidence?), praying on those whom can least afford it. I'm sure their monies/time and effort could be put to better use than hanging around such establishments all day long (get a job perhaps). For those interested in horse racing, there is always the track, Internet and phone to do their bidding. NinjaPower said:
Was it you that was also strongly in favour of banning strip clubs from towns in a thread a few months ago, or am I thinking of someone else?
I was also almost certain he was in favour of a total ban on alcohol, too, but I gave up searching for the thread.Regardless, it's a hilariously ridiculous line of argument to take. By that reasoning, we should ban pubs from poorer areas, because of the propensity of those least able to afford it to drink too much. And after all, they could always go to a supermarket. To say nothing of the irony of encouraging the weening off betting by closing shops and encouraging a move to online betting, which if anything, makes it more accessible and less 'real' when losses occur.
Why those of us participating responsibly should be forced to pander to the lowest common denominator is absolutely beyond me, but I'd caution reticence in promoting that particular tactic. It's done little good thus far.
Edited by iphonedyou on Wednesday 18th April 14:18
iphonedyou said:
NinjaPower said:
Was it you that was also strongly in favour of banning strip clubs from towns in a thread a few months ago, or am I thinking of someone else?
Nope!I was also almost certain he was in favour of a total ban on alcohol, too, but I gave up searching for the thread.
Regardless, it's a hilariously ridiculous line of argument to take. By that reasoning, we should ban pubs from poorer areas, because of the propensity of those least able to afford it to drink too much. And after all, they could always go to a supermarket. Why those of us participating responsibly should be forced to pander to the lowest common denominator is absolutely beyond me, but I'd caution reticence in promoting that particular tactic. It's done little good thus far.
Edited by iphonedyou on Wednesday 18th April 14:12
Laurel Green said:
ascayman said:
why?
Because I believe our High-streets would be better off without them. There seems to be a greater proliferation in the more rundown areas (coincidence?), praying on those whom can least afford it. I'm sure their monies/time and effort could be put to better use than hanging around such establishments all day long (get a job perhaps). For those interested in horse racing, there is always the track, Internet and phone to do their bidding. Laurel Green said:
Because I believe our High-streets would be better off without them.
For those interested in horse racing, there is always the track, Internet and phone to do their bidding.
So why stop there?, why even go out to the high street because as you say - for those interested in retail there is always the wholesaler, internet and phone to do their shopping.For those interested in horse racing, there is always the track, Internet and phone to do their bidding.
I read something a while back about betting shops.
Fruit machines make a significant amount of profit, but each shop is only allowed a couple of machines. In some areas, a couple of machines generates enough profit to pay for the rent, so one bookies might have 2 or 3 shops in one high street.
It's an unintended consequence of trying to clamp down on gambling. That's how I remember it anyway.
Fruit machines make a significant amount of profit, but each shop is only allowed a couple of machines. In some areas, a couple of machines generates enough profit to pay for the rent, so one bookies might have 2 or 3 shops in one high street.
It's an unintended consequence of trying to clamp down on gambling. That's how I remember it anyway.
MX7 said:
I read something a while back about betting shops.
Fruit machines make a significant amount of profit, but each shop is only allowed a couple of machines. In some areas, a couple of machines generates enough profit to pay for the rent, so one bookies might have 2 or 3 shops in one high street.
It's an unintended consequence of trying to clamp down on gambling. That's how I remember it anyway.
Its all about the machines. I think shops are limited to 4 per shop. They are as adictive as class A drugs. Bookies virtually only lay bets to attrract punters on the machines. I've put my fair share into them, and yes you do occasionally get the odd decent win. If you are interested, there are numerous threads on the Betfair Forum (you don't have to be a member to read them) and there are some terrible stories...Fruit machines make a significant amount of profit, but each shop is only allowed a couple of machines. In some areas, a couple of machines generates enough profit to pay for the rent, so one bookies might have 2 or 3 shops in one high street.
It's an unintended consequence of trying to clamp down on gambling. That's how I remember it anyway.
But yes, far too many on the high street...
Town centres and the high street were destroyed years ago when they started pedestrianising everything, putting down 'shared spaces' and doing everything possible to force the motorist out of them. You cant park in towns anymore and if you can it costs you an arm and leg. Councils have gone out of their way to make their high streets car unfriendly and inconvenient for the motorist and make them nice light airy open spaces for pensioners to sit outside and have a coffee, under the guise of 'family atmosphere' and b
ks like that.
Unfortunately the majority of adults with money in the UK have a car so by making car users unwelcome on your high street you force businesses to cater to people who will be on the high street with some money but don't own a car. Typically in the more run down areas these are unemployed people who are desperate for some luck - ergo, betting shops.
Yes they will pray on the more vulnerable in society but the more vulnerable in society are the only people left walking the high street. The rest of us with cars and money buy our stuff online because we're not welcome in towns anymore.
ks like that. Unfortunately the majority of adults with money in the UK have a car so by making car users unwelcome on your high street you force businesses to cater to people who will be on the high street with some money but don't own a car. Typically in the more run down areas these are unemployed people who are desperate for some luck - ergo, betting shops.
Yes they will pray on the more vulnerable in society but the more vulnerable in society are the only people left walking the high street. The rest of us with cars and money buy our stuff online because we're not welcome in towns anymore.
barker22 said:
So why stop there?, why even go out to the high street because as you say - for those interested in retail there is always the wholesaler, internet and phone to do their shopping.
Well, that's your prerogative, not mine. My initial comment was a tad tongue-in-cheek and, have to say that I would hate to see anything banned to the detriment of all. Having said that; going on past experience, where I have had to lend money (on several occasions and to different friends/colleagues) for the taking home to the wife, so the kids could be fed and clothed/bills to be paid, does leave a certain bad taste in my mouth when it comes to such establishments. One of my first jobs was working in a betting shop and it was a fun place to work in many ways. I think people staying at home and gambling their savings away on the internet can be even worse because they're out of sight where you cant help them. Plenty of the training in betting shops is to look out for people who might have a problem.
It might interest people to know each Council has rules on how many sorts of establishments can open in each part of their town. For instance you cant have more than x coffee outlets in the 'retail section' of the town, which can mean a good retail shop therefore cannot open amongst other retail shops where there is demand for retail and they have to open elsewhere - where retail customers are not there.
It might interest people to know each Council has rules on how many sorts of establishments can open in each part of their town. For instance you cant have more than x coffee outlets in the 'retail section' of the town, which can mean a good retail shop therefore cannot open amongst other retail shops where there is demand for retail and they have to open elsewhere - where retail customers are not there.
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