FOBTs

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/l*******s-coral-bends-rules-that-protect-gambling-addicts-fw8cl6q8f

censored....begins with L or simply google "The Times yesterday gambling story"

Yes I remember staff members coming over trying to promote a game but to be honest they didnt have to do much as I was already searching for my "favourite" games. There was some factor that I was coming alive while tapping the menu for these games....pubs boring and empty....fed up with shopping.... lonely as hell...stressed and certainly depressed...the machines were my shot in the vein

What was interesting with me is that the casino style games on the machines semed too much like real gambling so I was never in to the wheel games or card games. Its a key point in my style of gambling.

Maybe my mind was showing a normal reaction in that I felt it was a rip off and perhaps understood the odds. No escape factor...no Egyptian temples, rocket ships or mystic magic so I was triggered by the vegas fruit machine style games.

Thats a key point in working out what I was searching for. Those machines are deviously programmed with bonus bars and bonus games...bonus games which will more often fail you building up the red mist of next time next time..... I will ave it.

It does upset me know that I know these machines are partly designed by psychologists. They are addictive as they are designed to be highly addictive. The staff didnt really have to do much to attract me as I was already highly addicted over 40 years of playing.

Best thing I ever did was finally realise that I had to be gamble free

Best wishes

Thanks for the response and sorry for the delayed response JD.

I never got into the machines and only played then when I was offered a few free spins in the shops. Interesting that you mention psychology - I definitely agree with your comment and would add that is it interesting that one form of gambling may get us hooked but not another? For example, I was mainly into horses but I was hooked even before I was offered free bets, loyalty cards etc.

I could/can go for a pint in a pub and have no interest in playing the five or so machines they may have. I do think some pubs have too many machines mind in such a small space and the flashing lights annoy me as I have really sensitive eyes (!) but that's just a personal opinion.

Best wishes, Phil.

Yes it is interesting Phil.

Im still coming to terms with the fact that I used to put hundreds of pounds into a machine in just one day. Its a measure of how addicted and ill I was. In a crazy way I used to feel quite hurt that people didnt like the machines. How could they not love what I was addicted to 🙂 How could they not love what was completely destroying me.

Equally I could never really understand how the addiction developed with horses and dogs. Too much like hard work trying to study form or read the papers on the wall...too much time betwen races....too much of a social activity and I might have to banter with other punters ho ho 🙂 I could have picked a funny name but it just didnt do it for me. All the greyhounds/ horses looked as fast as each other......too much like actually trying to win money rather than escape. Im glad I didnt take to other forms of gambling but it didnt save me. One form of gambling was more than enough to ruin me

I remember reading a post about the shame of feeling that pushing a button every few seconds wasnt even like proper gambling...like it wasnt a manly thing to do compared with some casino scene from a film. I can relate to that even though I see all gambling for what it is.

I think I understood the odds with roulette for example but I was prepared to feed money into a themed "game" with similar or even worse chances of gaining money

Im still quite annoyed about an advertising poster simply stating that the maximum amount can be won for a £1 with no mention of the actual reality of doing that.

Best wishes

The main thing is that you stopped - I'm still coming to terms with my motivation as well as I'm sure a lot of other people are.

There was supposed to be legislation to reduce the amount you could bet per spin or press of a button on the machines but I haven't read anything about it for quite a while. I really hope it happens.

Cheers, Phil.

I have been tempted today but stayed in, the main thing is spend your cash on more productive things, I got my haircut, got some food, for me online roulette is worse, when I see physical cash the most I ever put in is £100 every few months, I haven't been like these people doing £50 spins. If you have a personality like me get hooked on more productive things like gym training or coffee..

Story in today's Times:
"A leading UK bookmaker has signalled that it could welcome a crackdown on addictive gambling machines in a blow to the betting industry's united front in opposing tighter regulation."

The story is about comments made by the chief executive of ***.

Well I will believe anything like that when I see it in action. I doubt it. To regulate those machines, strictly limit the total amount or have a long time between spins takes the profit out of them and they know that.

With a fuller understanding of addiction, was I a willing participant or not? I say no because I realise I was walking in for some sort of class A fix. I liken the need to gamble to a shot into the vein of escape. Its very similar if not the same drive as other addictions.

The whole argument is that nobody was forcing me to gamble but I clearly wasnt in control and heavily addicted.

They are not going to get rid of a cash cow unless forced and who is going to force them? This country is in dire straits and any revenue or a tax on the poor is most welcome to government and the gambling dens. Heaven forbid they may have to do a proper days work if gambling was banned

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

I think it was quite interesting that a head of a betting company actually made comments about FOBTs but understand your cynicism JD!! Best wishes, Phil

The article goes on to say and this is bad:

"Ministers hinted at a dramatic reduction of the maximum stake to £2 before the election, but last week a review of the law was delayed until October amid reports of a row with the Treasury, which was reported to have killed off the review."

Well they would wouldn't they? All that tax gone?

I don't think it would make a difference if it was 2 pound a spin or 200 people have gambled long before bookies had the fobt and they still became compulsive gamblers. The government aren't going to turn good money away

I've read many a story on this forum where people say they don't attend ga because they are scared of sitting in a room with lots of people yet they sit feeding their families money in to a fobt in an open bookies

Gem1209 agree with some of what you say but fairly sure your main point is simply wrong.

FOBTs prevalence (and online gambling) have led to increased gambling. Why else have the number of betting shops exploded? All sport used to be sponsored by cigd - but now gambling companies.

There is an obvious correlation between regulation and levels of gambling. I've previously posted that deregulated counties have higher instances of gambling. See Australia for example.

This doesn't detract from personal responsibility but is a distinct issue.

Cardhue good point and I'm afraid deregulation is where this disaster began and we have a money hungry labour government to blame for that u turn

My point above being if you are at a point of certain death do you take the bullet to the brain or option b get mauled to death by a pack of tigers? Low stakes gambling only draws out an inevitable situation you lose over a longer sitting.

Below is a story about deregulation from 1998 I found the story amusing to say the least

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/news/business/gambling-industry-deregulation-is-shelved-indefinitely-1137449.html%3famp