pwa wrote:I regard betting as a bit like smoking. Take it off TV, take the adverts away, then allow people to go and seek it out if they really want to.
I don't see how you can make that equation, the vast majority of gamblers do so without causing any harm either to themselves or anyone around them, that isn't the case with smoking.
Can you tell a compulsive gambler by looking at them? I don't know any gamblers, except my mates boss would blow 3k after a window sale in one night, at casino. Next day no wages for weeks. Boss was bankrupt too.
NA Thinks Just End 2 End Return + Bivvy - Some day Soon I hope You'll Still Find Me At The Top Of A Hill Please forgive the poor Grammar I blame it on my mobile and phat thinkers.
pwa wrote:I regard betting as a bit like smoking. Take it off TV, take the adverts away, then allow people to go and seek it out if they really want to.
I don't see how you can make that equation, the vast majority of gamblers do so without causing any harm either to themselves or anyone around them, that isn't the case with smoking.
The gamblers I know personally are on low incomes, have families, and their families are poorer because of the gambling. So financially it is very much like smoking. It makes poor families poorer, and the addictive element of it stops people making the wise choice of walking away from it. Isn't the UK's biggest earner now the owner of a betting company, making a fortune out of people who can't afford it? Kids go hungry because of gambling.
Oldjohnw wrote:I just read that the owners of the Betfred chain of betting shops also own a company providing help for people with addictions, including healthcare. Somewhat cynical.
You might also be interested in knowing that they are donors to a political party, which has influence over any legislation which might regulate their activities.
On the plus side, using a credit card for online gambling is being banned.
Thats good news as I once had my credit card I think cloned at a petrol station and used subsequenly to make 3x£500 bets possibly online with them. I only found out when I got my monthly statement. I got my money back, but the credit card company hadnt done anything to notify me of this suspicious out of character activity so serve them right for losing money.
I no longer use my credit card in such places or any where other than online and usually thru paypal unless its a big purchase ( as you probably know if you use paypal you are not covered by the credit card protection)
pwa wrote:I regard betting as a bit like smoking. Take it off TV, take the adverts away, then allow people to go and seek it out if they really want to.
I don't see how you can make that equation, the vast majority of gamblers do so without causing any harm either to themselves or anyone around them, that isn't the case with smoking.
The gamblers I know personally are on low incomes, have families, and their families are poorer because of the gambling. So financially it is very much like smoking. It makes poor families poorer, and the addictive element of it stops people making the wise choice of walking away from it. Isn't the UK's biggest earner now the owner of a betting company, making a fortune out of people who can't afford it? Kids go hungry because of gambling.
Kids go hungry because of SKY tv subs, because a newer (or a) car, because a couple of pints down the pub etc. It's a deal more complicated, I sense.
PH wrote:I don't see how you can make that equation, the vast majority of gamblers do so without causing any harm either to themselves or anyone around them, that isn't the case with smoking.
The gamblers I know personally are on low incomes, have families, and their families are poorer because of the gambling. So financially it is very much like smoking. It makes poor families poorer, and the addictive element of it stops people making the wise choice of walking away from it. Isn't the UK's biggest earner now the owner of a betting company, making a fortune out of people who can't afford it? Kids go hungry because of gambling.
Kids go hungry because of SKY tv subs, because a newer (or a) car, because a couple of pints down the pub etc. It's a deal more complicated, I sense.
I don't think you should read what I said as "without gambling there would be no problems", do you?
pwa wrote:The gamblers I know personally are on low incomes, have families, and their families are poorer because of the gambling. So financially it is very much like smoking. It makes poor families poorer, and the addictive element of it stops people making the wise choice of walking away from it. Isn't the UK's biggest earner now the owner of a betting company, making a fortune out of people who can't afford it? Kids go hungry because of gambling.
Kids go hungry because of SKY tv subs, because a newer (or a) car, because a couple of pints down the pub etc. It's a deal more complicated, I sense.
I don't think you should read what I said as "without gambling there would be no problems", do you?
I didn't. My broader point is that gambling is today's pariah of choice, and is fashionable to bash, but if we're going to start to mention child poverty and hunger it's important to remember that there are a plethora of contributory factors.
My original irritation with the particular company - Betfred - was that they also were making millions from a company that supported addiction, including, or dumbly, their own clients.
It now transpires they also have financial connections with a debt counselling organisation. Once again making their own customers?
Oldjohnw wrote:My original irritation with the particular company - Betfred - was that they also were making millions from a company that supported addiction, including, or dumbly, their own clients.
It now transpires they also have financial connections with a debt counselling organisation. Once again making their own customers?
Silver Lining: they are putting very many of their eggs in one basket. Successful long-lived businesses tend to diversify ...
pwa wrote:I regard betting as a bit like smoking. Take it off TV, take the adverts away, then allow people to go and seek it out if they really want to.
I don't see how you can make that equation, the vast majority of gamblers do so without causing any harm either to themselves or anyone around them, that isn't the case with smoking.
The gamblers I know personally are on low incomes, have families, and their families are poorer because of the gambling. So financially it is very much like smoking.
I'm not responsible for you having such a narrow band of acquaintances. There is no class divide amongst people who gamble and probably not much between those who have a problem with it. Research shows that 0.7% of people have a problem with it and another 2.4% are at a low level of risk. There's a long list of things that are harmless or even beneficial in moderation, yet harmful in excess and many of those are addictive. Smoking isn't one of them, there is no safe level of smoking, there are no smokers not doing harm to themselves or others. That's why it's different.
PH wrote:I don't see how you can make that equation, the vast majority of gamblers do so without causing any harm either to themselves or anyone around them, that isn't the case with smoking.
The gamblers I know personally are on low incomes, have families, and their families are poorer because of the gambling. So financially it is very much like smoking.
I'm not responsible for you having such a narrow band of acquaintances. There is no class divide amongst people who gamble and probably not much between those who have a problem with it. Research shows that 0.7% of people have a problem with it and another 2.4% are at a low level of risk. There's a long list of things that are harmless or even beneficial in moderation, yet harmful in excess and many of those are addictive. Smoking isn't one of them, there is no safe level of smoking, there are no smokers not doing harm to themselves or others. That's why it's different.
I view gambling as a mechanism for getting the disposable income of lots of people and concentrating it in the hands of very few. And the money of the poor is harvested freely and without compassion. Gambling ads seem to be everywhere now. It's in your face. It may not bother you but to me it looks like flagrant exploitation.
