[News] Only 3% of UK problem gamblers get proper help, says study

[Stat Brother]

https://www.theguardian.com/society...er-help-says-study?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The facts are laid bare here:-

[tweet]1321717787199479813[/tweet]

Here's a podcast on the same subject.

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aH...YCahcKEwiIiMGstNnsAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAw&hl=en-GB


This was a rather sobering listen (pun intended).

I'm a 'fiver on the Albion gambler' but spurred on by Ernest I'm also keen to 'beforetime' my wagers on a weekend bets threads.

After listening to that pod I've not since started that thread, if you're struggling with gambling the last thing you need is me droning on about the 'brilliant odds I've found'.



With that in mind I'm actually viewing the 'Friday Night Drinking' thread differently now too.
'Here's a beautiful photo of a tasty lager at the end of a hot summers day'.

Suddenly it all feels a bit Breaking Bad as Badger and his mate are touting crystal at a support group.

 

[Barham's tash]

I don’t mind admitting I have a problem. Came to a head when I was found out for the reality of my losses which as anyone who’s been there will attest to as thought of as always “being in control” but then really not.

I haven’t gambled since May 2019 and it feels great but no way would I have been able to do it without attending GA.

Since lockdown I haven’t attended a session but as soon as I’m back in the office next year I’ll go back.

I have to say subconsciously football’s saturation with betting insignia and phraseology might be part of my having nearly fallen out of love with it.

Think if we ever cashed in our chips and took a gambling sponsor for the ground or short that would be me checking out for good with the Albion - that feels very unlikely all the while TB is here.

And yes I’m not lost on the irony of what Star Lizard do or how TB made some of his fortune but there’s a difference between being a punter and using pure maths to work out arbitrage of markets and running a hedge fund type product in my eyes.

 

[maffew]

https://www.theguardian.com/society...er-help-says-study?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The facts are laid bare here:-

[tweet]1321717787199479813[/tweet]

Here's a podcast on the same subject.

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aH...YCahcKEwiIiMGstNnsAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAw&hl=en-GB


This was a rather sobering listen (pun intended).

I'm a 'fiver on the Albion gambler' but spurred on by Ernest I'm also keen to 'beforetime' my wagers on a weekend bets threads.

After listening to that pod I've not since started that thread, if you're struggling with gambling the last thing you need is me droning on about the 'brilliant odds I've found'.



With that in mind I'm actually viewing the 'Friday Night Drinking' thread differently now too.
'Here's a beautiful photo of a tasty lager at the end of a hot summers day'.

Suddenly it all feels a bit Breaking Bad as Badger and his mate are touting crystal at a support group.

The Fridat night drinking thread is an institution for some of NSCs finest. And its equalibrium is the Like a Drink too much thread.
Both serve their purpose perfectly and as I approach 3 years sober zero units I read the latter more so

Gamblings an awful addiction. So complex, the need to win it back mentality of chasing losses. As a youth, pre 19 I used to have a slots issue, it was £3 cash or 6 in tokens back then. Would literally put my bus fare in knowing it was about to pay. Managed to outgrow that issue when I got a girlfriend. and we hung out at a snooker hall where thousands were on the table at cards, pool was £20 per ball.
All middle aged men who lost pretty much everything, plus stuff which wasnt theirs too. Sending us as runners to the bookie to place their bets, probably aged 16 then.
Very sad

 

[junior]

I just don't get gambling. I've got to 40 without ever needing to place a bet. Surely everybody knows that you never win more than you loose in the long run, so what draws people to it? Whenever people tell me they are going to place a bet i just think they are mugs.

 

[happypig]

Hopefully one day (soon) gambling ads/sponsorship will be banned, the same way smoking was.

 

[Stat Brother]

The Fridat night drinking thread is an institution for some of NSCs finest. And its equalibrium is the Like a Drink too much thread.
Both serve their purpose perfectly and as I approach 3 years sober zero units I read the latter more so

Gamblings an awful addiction. So complex, the need to win it back mentality of chasing losses. As a youth, pre 19 I used to have a slots issue, it was £3 cash or 6 in tokens back then. Would literally put my bus fare in knowing it was about to pay. Managed to outgrow that issue when I got a girlfriend. and we hung out at a snooker hall where thousands were on the table at cards, pool was £20 per ball.
All middle aged men who lost pretty much everything, plus stuff which wasnt theirs too. Sending us as runners to the bookie to place their bets, probably aged 16 then.
Very sad

The FW pod came about as Max Rushden was somewhat conflicted by taking a large chunk of cash for tweeting his bets, with some random unknown company, a couple of times a week. (He has since stopped that advertising).
While also working for gambling heavy TalkSport.


I'm fortunate in that I just don't have that addictive gene, the ones I am struggling with are bad enough, so I just didn't see the harm in touting my own gambling.
That said though, I'd hate to be the worlds tiniest cog in the 'you must bet to enjoy football' Ray Winstonesque barrage misery.

 

[keaton]

I don’t mind admitting I have a problem. Came to a head when I was found out for the reality of my losses which as anyone who’s been there will attest to as thought of as always “being in control” but then really not.

I haven’t gambled since May 2019 and it feels great but no way would I have been able to do it without attending GA.

Since lockdown I haven’t attended a session but as soon as I’m back in the office next year I’ll go back.

I have to say subconsciously football’s saturation with betting insignia and phraseology might be part of my having nearly fallen out of love with it.

Think if we ever cashed in our chips and took a gambling sponsor for the ground or short that would be me checking out for good with the Albion - that feels very unlikely all the while TB is here.

And yes I’m not lost on the irony of what Star Lizard do or how TB made some of his fortune but there’s a difference between being a punter and using pure maths to work out arbitrage of markets and running a hedge fund type product in my eyes.

Well done by the way.

I've not had major problems with it, but gave up 2-3 years ago due to a combination of concerns about it, and a dislike of it as an industry and it's reach in football and not wanting to support such an industry.

The relationship between football and gambling has to change, I'm too old for it to have affected me but I'm worried about how this affects youngsters.
As a season ticket at Lewes they're doing a lot of work to try and lessen gambling influence

 

[Gwylan]

All middle aged men who lost pretty much everything, plus stuff which wasnt theirs too.

My dad used to work in a bookies and regularly told stories of blokes who'd blown their weekly wages by Saturday afternoon.

It was sobering thought to us kids. It didn't stop me having the odd flutter but it was very, very occasional

 

[Is it PotG?]

Those 'trendy' bookie ads where the cool guys in the pub with their mates show 'how it can be done' on football bets with knowledge/stats/insight etc.

What a load of bollox, should be banned.

Watch & learn my @rse, only one winner........

 

[maffew]

I just don't get gambling. I've got to 40 without ever needing to place a bet. Surely everybody knows that you never win more than you loose in the long run, so what draws people to it? Whenever people tell me they are going to place a bet i just think they are mugs.

Yeah its quite simple really isnt it if you are able to look at it objectively. Doesnt really work that way sadly

Buzz of winning, beating the bookie.

Did you ever play a fruit machine or buy a lottery ticket?

Doctors who smoke, theres an anomoly, totally irrational

 

[maffew]

My dad used to work in a bookies and regularly told stories of blokes who'd blown their weekly wages by Saturday afternoon.

It was sobering thought to us kids. It didn't stop me having the odd flutter but it was very, very occasional

They had 2 £100 jackpot machines in the snooker club. A couple of guys would regularly lose their whole months wages on pay day. Sit there all day, 8 or 900 pounds, quite devastating

 

[Stat Brother]

Yeah its quite simple really isnt it if you are able to look at it objectively. Doesnt really work that way sadly

Buzz of winning, beating the bookie.

Did you ever play a fruit machine or buy a lottery ticket?

Doctors who smoke, theres an anomoly, totally irrational

Is it the buzz of winning though?

I always see it as the buzz of nearly winning.
I can go into forensic detail about horse/dog/player who cost me a bazillion pounds. But I couldn't tell you any of the big wins.
(The fact that they are hen's teeth rare might also explain my lack of addiction!! )

 

[The Wizard]

The FOBTS in bookies are a prime example of how blood thirsty and despicable bookmakers are, the max stake was reduced to £2 per spin but as a get around they introduced a gamble pie chart type thing where your stake is only £2 but you can spin it like a slot machine very fast with a 15/1 chance of getting a £30 spin.

I still see the same guys in the bookies when I place my weekend donation(bet) losing all their money, if anything it almost seems more addictive for some. Luckily enough I’ve never really understood why anyone would play RNG roulette on a machine that is already programmed in the bookmakers favour.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

I stopped gambling a couple of years ago as I could see it was addictive - even if it was only small amounts. I enjoy watching online casino streamers so I have seen what the UK Gambling Commission has done and is trying to do. They have stopped bonus buys which allow you to essentially buy a bonus game for large amounts. But you can still bet huge amounts on one spin. They have removed the ability to quick spin the slots - but you can still bet huge amounts. You now cannot stream on Twitch as you cannot age gate - but you can stream on Youtube and all you need to do is say you are over 18 by ticking a box. Pretty much the only sensible thing they have done is block credit cards being used which should have been a no brainer anyway.

You may think they above are steps in the right direction but it only applies to casinos licensed by the UKGC. This has caused large numbers of legitimate casinos to pull out of the UK as being compliant is a massive minefield and fines are punitive. Again, you may think this is a good thing but if you think about it, if good casinos leave, what is left? The answer is casinos regulated in dodgy locations where they can decide on a whim that you broke the rules and don't get your payout. And there is nothing you can do about it. There are bit coin casinos which have the same effect. You have UK players using VPNs to appear to be from another country but good casinos will block this and bad casinos will take your money and then use the VPN as a violation of terms and not pay you out when you win.

Sweden did something similar and the biggest search term in Sweden after this was Unregulated Casinos. It is analogous to taking away legal drugs - people will find different ways of getting it that are much more dangerous. I don't know what the solution is but the UKGC seems to be making token moves that look draconian but actually make the matter much, much worse.

 

[El Presidente]

Gambling's good, gambling's great according to Rick Parry and his mates at the EFL.

https://www.efl.com/news/2020/october/efl-statement-gambling-sponsorship/

 

[albionfan37]

I don’t mind admitting I have a problem. Came to a head when I was found out for the reality of my losses which as anyone who’s been there will attest to as thought of as always “being in control” but then really not.

I haven’t gambled since May 2019 and it feels great but no way would I have been able to do it without attending GA.

Since lockdown I haven’t attended a session but as soon as I’m back in the office next year I’ll go back.

I have to say subconsciously football’s saturation with betting insignia and phraseology might be part of my having nearly fallen out of love with it.

Think if we ever cashed in our chips and took a gambling sponsor for the ground or short that would be me checking out for good with the Albion - that feels very unlikely all the while TB is here.

And yes I’m not lost on the irony of what Star Lizard do or how TB made some of his fortune but there’s a difference between being a punter and using pure maths to work out arbitrage of markets and running a hedge fund type product in my eyes.

I had a problem too and like yourself got caught out and was told it’s me or gambling she was very good and didn’t pass judgment I went to ga a few times shared the shitty things I’d done to support my habit and felt good about it again no judgment just understanding from fellow gamblers I only went 5/6 times it was all I needed I’ve not gambled since and I don’t miss it

 

[yxee]

I just don't get gambling. I've got to 40 without ever needing to place a bet. Surely everybody knows that you never win more than you loose in the long run, so what draws people to it? Whenever people tell me they are going to place a bet i just think they are mugs.

Risk, adrenaline? We are humans with emotions and some people enjoy the feeling of it. Same as a drug. If you get £1 of enjoyment out of placing a bet with -80p expected value then it's a rational economic decision. So I wouldn't call anyone gambling a mug.

On the other hand I've seen the damage it can do. People lose thousands and have nothing to show for it. There's shame, hiding losses, we are masters of remembering the big win and forgetting the small losses (and downplaying the big ones).

I don't think it should be banned but I do think there needs to be more restriction to avoid it literally bankrupting people

 

[Deleted member 2719]

Gambling.........what's the point?

There is only one winner.

Gamble on things that you can have certainty on, but then I don't call that a gamble as it is a prediction. Yes predictions go wrong but they carry more logical reasoning and if you can add some lateral thinking the results can be better with less risk IMO.

I do feel empathy for them though.

Where did they start their addictions? Was it parent led? Bingo, football pools, the lottery?

I am not sure I know of any real gamblers.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

I don’t mind admitting I have a problem. Came to a head when I was found out for the reality of my losses which as anyone who’s been there will attest to as thought of as always “being in control” but then really not.

I haven’t gambled since May 2019 and it feels great but no way would I have been able to do it without attending GA.

Since lockdown I haven’t attended a session but as soon as I’m back in the office next year I’ll go back.

I have to say subconsciously football’s saturation with betting insignia and phraseology might be part of my having nearly fallen out of love with it.

Think if we ever cashed in our chips and took a gambling sponsor for the ground or short that would be me checking out for good with the Albion - that feels very unlikely all the while TB is here.

And yes I’m not lost on the irony of what Star Lizard do or how TB made some of his fortune but there’s a difference between being a punter and using pure maths to work out arbitrage of markets and running a hedge fund type product in my eyes.

Similar story from me. I had a very big problem 17 years ago. I got "found out" - was the only way I was going to stop before complete bankruptcy - and the Hove group of Gamblers Anonymous were a huge help to me. I haven't had a bet for over 16 years and avoid even buying raffle tickets - works for me.

I understand different points of view but now firmly believe it is not a "nice" thing to do for anyone to do anything that might encourage someone else to gamble. I made that point on NSC threads about the joys of "matched betting" and guaranteed income from betting on sport... but I also appreciate a degree of hypocrisy in myself that I have been able to drink a lot without ever becoming addicted to alcohol - and so I don't have the same view about the wrongness of endorsing social drinking (when for some it will become a disastrous problem...)...

 

[Moshe Gariani]

I don’t mind admitting I have a problem. Came to a head when I was found out for the reality of my losses which as anyone who’s been there will attest to as thought of as always “being in control” but then really not.

I haven’t gambled since May 2019 and it feels great but no way would I have been able to do it without attending GA.

Since lockdown I haven’t attended a session but as soon as I’m back in the office next year I’ll go back.

Well done on it being over a year since your last bet. My last bet was 17 years ago. I'm 51 years old now and won't be having another bet in my life. No need - I know where it would lead me to.

G.A. is a brilliant organisation and the programme really works. Are they doing any online sessions at the moment that you could attend?