Gambling culture concerns ??
Discussion
Just wondered what the general consensus is over the increasing social acceptability of the need to 'bet' on absolutely anything and everything. Obviously mostly in sport whether its winners, losers or even people next to get sacked from their job I really do feel like we are heading for a very, very dangerous social problem but all seems to be totally ignored due to the 'funding' put back into the sports. The numerous gambling firms seem to cover themselves morally by ''when the fun stops, stop'' or ''we gamble responsibly''- yeh right 
. Gambling has always thrown up some tragic loss cases when you had to physically make a journey to the bookies or wherever to lose the shirt off your back.Now its so easy to tap tap boom your money away I fear there will be lots of youngsters, who the culture seems to be aimed at, will end up in finance trouble. Yes, it is up to individuals to control the use but so is drug abuse and thats a massive problem. Don't want to be a kill-joy for folks who do gamble responsibly but wish the government would try to put some better control measures in. Remember when there used to be fag ads on the telly ??
. Gambling has always thrown up some tragic loss cases when you had to physically make a journey to the bookies or wherever to lose the shirt off your back.Now its so easy to tap tap boom your money away I fear there will be lots of youngsters, who the culture seems to be aimed at, will end up in finance trouble. Yes, it is up to individuals to control the use but so is drug abuse and thats a massive problem. Don't want to be a kill-joy for folks who do gamble responsibly but wish the government would try to put some better control measures in. Remember when there used to be fag ads on the telly ??I don’t have any issue with people gambling, we go to Vegas a few times a year and have done for a decade now and headed to Macau before that
The difference is being able to afford to gamble and knowing what you can lose inconsequentially ... this is the difference and I have a lot of gambler friends who can’t stop, don’t know when to stop, and would “happily bet the farm” - chasing losses is an equally destructive pastime and very dangerous financially
We’ve always been able to walk away and don’t let greed take over when on a ‘streak’ but that’s not a level of will power many inherent gamblers have (or want!)
The difference is being able to afford to gamble and knowing what you can lose inconsequentially ... this is the difference and I have a lot of gambler friends who can’t stop, don’t know when to stop, and would “happily bet the farm” - chasing losses is an equally destructive pastime and very dangerous financially
We’ve always been able to walk away and don’t let greed take over when on a ‘streak’ but that’s not a level of will power many inherent gamblers have (or want!)
By international benchmarks, the UK doesn't lose a huge amount on gambling. It's not really a major issue. Countries like Australia and Italy have a far worse problem.
The only reason it gets UK press attention is because the lower orders gamble and the middle classes like to sneer at them.
The only reason it gets UK press attention is because the lower orders gamble and the middle classes like to sneer at them.
CoolHands said:
I think it’s s
t, but on the other hand you’ve got to be pretty dim to gamble regularly with any kind or large sums, so to me it’s a bit of an idiot tax.
How so? To gamble regularly I'd argue you have to be smart, not dull. t, but on the other hand you’ve got to be pretty dim to gamble regularly with any kind or large sums, so to me it’s a bit of an idiot tax.Sadly, I'm not a winner when it comes to betting, but I enjoy it and I have a chance to make a bit of cash (limit losses rather than overall profit in my case
). I know of full time gamblers, ample ex traders from firms sack the job off and go in to it and make a living. The exception to the rule no doubt but they are out there.
It’s a major problem that ruins lives. A lady I know got addicted, gambled her employer’s money and is now in jail. She has lost her home and her friends.
The online gambling company that ignored all the signs and let her continue playing for far too long, hailing her as one of their success stories, continues to make millions. They have been fined and made to pay over a million pounds in compensation, but carry on advertising and encouraging mugs like her to ruin their lives.
The online gambling company that ignored all the signs and let her continue playing for far too long, hailing her as one of their success stories, continues to make millions. They have been fined and made to pay over a million pounds in compensation, but carry on advertising and encouraging mugs like her to ruin their lives.
CoolHands said:
I think it’s st, but on the other hand you’ve got to be pretty dim to gamble regularly with any kind or large sums, so to me it’s a bit of an idiot tax.
Those that bet large, regularly are the ones that invariably can afford to - plus the argument of bet big to win big plays outt, but on the other hand you’ve got to be pretty dim to gamble regularly with any kind or large sums, so to me it’s a bit of an idiot tax.The small gambler on the likes of bingo websites are the idiot taxes
Table games (ie non house games) like blackjack, poker, pai gow are games of relative skill and strategy and the odds aren’t stacked against you like in say in roulette, slots, etc...
Considering most of our entire economy is fuelled on capital gain via speculation aka gambling, isn't it slightly unfair to tell people what they can or can't speculate on? Leaving aside potential for fixing etc, there are people who do very well out of professional poker playing, studying the form in horse racing, and investing in commodity futures based on informed guesses about what may or may not be the next hot stock. And there are some who do very badly indeed because they don't have an off button, or risk money they can't afford to lose, or ticked the wrong box when filling out a form etc etc. And of course we have a state-approved lottery where the people least well off frantically scratch silver stuff off bits of card or pick numbers for esoteric and downright superstitious reasons in the hope their mundane lives will be transformed beyond their own capabilities to do so.
Why let some people's inabilities to manage their own lives ruin the enjoyment of the majority who can indulge in these pursuits without any problems arising as a result? I'll openly admit that some gambling - I'm thinking fruit machines in particular - have "mug's game" writ large across them and should probably be a bit better regulated, but at the same time I really don't see the appeal in them anyway (nor the lottery, for that matter) as the odds are so stacked against you from the beginning. And I'm sure there's some hypnotic stuff going on with fruit machine lights - if you've ever watched anyone play for any length of time you can see why it's addictive before the chance of winning money came into it.
Why let some people's inabilities to manage their own lives ruin the enjoyment of the majority who can indulge in these pursuits without any problems arising as a result? I'll openly admit that some gambling - I'm thinking fruit machines in particular - have "mug's game" writ large across them and should probably be a bit better regulated, but at the same time I really don't see the appeal in them anyway (nor the lottery, for that matter) as the odds are so stacked against you from the beginning. And I'm sure there's some hypnotic stuff going on with fruit machine lights - if you've ever watched anyone play for any length of time you can see why it's addictive before the chance of winning money came into it.
Edited by vsonix on Thursday 18th January 19:40
I never thought I would get sucked in. But lost about 15k in a few months. Used to gamble a bit but just ended up thinking I had a system. The gambling companies know how to get you, I won't be the last. I don't even have an addictive personality just at a low point and saw it as an easy way out.
I've watched someone Lose 1k in 20 minutes and thought it could never happen to me. That bloke was in every weekend must have lost 10k a day at least.
I've watched someone Lose 1k in 20 minutes and thought it could never happen to me. That bloke was in every weekend must have lost 10k a day at least.
QBee said:
It’s a major problem that ruins lives.
So does alcohol. But most people enjoy it responsibly. Why should they suffer for a few idiots. Compulsive gamblers are morons with an addictive personality. If you banned it, they'd become shopperholics, or find some other way to fk their lives up. You can't legislate against stupid. TwigtheWonderkid said:
You can't legislate against stupid.
Although arguably legislating for the purpose of protecting stupid from themselves is holding back human evolution and polluting the gene pool It really makes me sad that so many people can't take responsibility for their own actions without waiting for the state to tell them if they should or shouldn't. As humans we are immensely powerful creatures with the ability to bend physics to suit our own needs yet so many people just shuffle through life without any kind of attempt to realise their true potential. And until we invented the Nanny State, those who would put themselves out of the running though their own stupidity wouldn't survive to pass that stupidity on.
I fully appreciate that there is the majority of responsibly gambling going on by folks who can afford to lose a few quid and then maybe win the odd bit back, thats fine.But where my concerns lie is with the younger, perhaps more naive, new customers who the companies are obviously aiming at by drawing in with the '£20 free bet'. I have a 17 year old son who has mates who already have the apps set up on the phone and they definitely can't afford to lose money but it seems a socially acceptable practice so they get involved.
I'm not anti-gambling but would like to see more restrictions on the promoting of it as the great social, fun pastime portrayed by the ads.
I'm not anti-gambling but would like to see more restrictions on the promoting of it as the great social, fun pastime portrayed by the ads.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
QBee said:
It’s a major problem that ruins lives.
So does alcohol. But most people enjoy it responsibly. Why should they suffer for a few idiots. Compulsive gamblers are morons with an addictive personality. If you banned it, they'd become shopperholics, or find some other way to fk their lives up. You can't legislate against stupid. It is definitely more prevalent than ever, but the government is taking steps to legislate more strictly. The 'When the fun stops' campaign is a good start, but there are two or three big issues:
1) No national self exclusion database has been established - if you could exclude from all online bookies/casinos with a single click that would be a huge positive step.
2) Bet size restrictions should be put in place. Make it less tempting to go for bust in the hope of winning a life changing sum and you remove a lot of the temptation to blow epic amounts of cash.
3) Ads on TV and sports mean that those trying to actively avoid gambling triggers can no longer enjoy TV or sport! Seems very unfair that you can't watch Coronation Street just because they choose to run bingo/slots ads or whatever.
Without these actions a lot of the other stuff is just posturing...which is presumably just how the gambling industry wants it! After all, they do fund all the gambling support services so they no doubt get to have a say
1) No national self exclusion database has been established - if you could exclude from all online bookies/casinos with a single click that would be a huge positive step.
2) Bet size restrictions should be put in place. Make it less tempting to go for bust in the hope of winning a life changing sum and you remove a lot of the temptation to blow epic amounts of cash.
3) Ads on TV and sports mean that those trying to actively avoid gambling triggers can no longer enjoy TV or sport! Seems very unfair that you can't watch Coronation Street just because they choose to run bingo/slots ads or whatever.
Without these actions a lot of the other stuff is just posturing...which is presumably just how the gambling industry wants it! After all, they do fund all the gambling support services so they no doubt get to have a say
Edited by dimots on Thursday 18th January 21:06
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