Hi,
I've posted on here a few times but just wondering if anyone know anyway or any routes you can go down when you have been wronged by gambling company. Before anyone says, I know it's my responsibility and I made the choice to gamble but self-exclusion is there because we as gamblers don't always have control of what we do and if these companies are gonna be based all over the place allowing customers to lose life changing sums of money at any moment, the. Surely they should have some duty of care.
I self excluded from my local l*******s back in May, and since the. I have been able to constantly enter and lose large amounts of money daily. Often passing many different members of staff and the regional manager. I then a month or so ago contacted l*******s to inform them that they are not enforcing self exclusion. I got an abrupt email back saying it is my responsibility to enforce it and they will re circulate the self exclusion agreement to shop and that will be the end of the matter they will not enter into further discussion. Such arrogance despite breaching thier self exclusion regulations. I reported to gambling commission showing them my agreement and bet slips bank slips etc and they got back saying none of it was sufficient evidence. Just clearly not bothered.
Then I ma still being able to constantly bet in this same l*******s losing large amounts of money. I contact the gambling commission again and they said they need evidence and even the. They will not discuss any outcome with me or help me get money back. They make it so clear they are not interested. I then contact l*******s to again inform them of thier breach and they simply say they will make note of it. I ask for a subject access request of my data and gambling spend so I can have evidence and they refuse to acknowledge it.
I'm just so sickened at how they can do this and get away with it. They owe a duty of care and they should be enforcing self exclusion. Yet from my experience they are not bothered a d neither are the gambling commission. Ibas can't help with this issue either. So my question is which avenue can I go down? Its not a question of getting my money back its a question of holding these companies to account. I'm any other industry I would be receiving an apology or something yet with l*******s the sheer arrogance is telling. It is as if they know there is nothing I can do to make them be accountable for thier errors. Just sickneing all of it.
Thanks
Frank
Hi Frank.
The fact with self exclusions is that it does rely on the staff in the gambling den being aware of the self exclusion list and enforcing it. It would be technically possible to sneak in and gamble if the staff are not referring to the self exclusion file.
Its interesting that you have had some correspondence with them and you could take it further but I dont see that you will get the outcome you require. You could mention it to a solicitor if you can get a free consultation and I dont know if there has been a test case for self exclusion in the courts.
The literature does cover in the smallprint that the onus is in us really. Its an addiction so strong that some people will walk back in to gamble
I must say here that self exclusion does work for many people including myself. I would die of shame as I needed to feel welcome there as an escape gambler. I just wouldnt risk being spotted as it would be highly embarrassing and I may never be paid out. I would be extremely embarrassed but I understand that others would be less worried about being seen when in the grip of an addiction
If it doesnt work other blocks and living allowances are needed. I back up my self exclusion with family monitoring and regular reports. No extra money comes my way without seeing where it is going to bills or with receipts. Indeed with any larger transaction my family stand in the bank with me and thats the way I want it.
When I did self exclude I made sure they knew who I was but lets be clear that they have staff turnover and any staff there on minimum wage have other things to do than just read the self exclusion file. Im not blind to that...I realise in a way they couldnt care less but I feel good that they have my picture and it drew a line under it for me.
Let us know how you get on but I feel the onus is on you to step up the blocks and get further help. If you will walk in then self exclusion is not really working for you.
So Im just being honest with you that you need to bear some responsibility. I agree those dens shouldnt be there but unfortunately as it stand the onus is with us to make sure we stay well away.
Please ring gamcare and if you can talk to people close to you please do so.
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
you can get justice - never give another penny to any gambling company. remember the hurt and pain, the frustration you feel now and never let them have another penny
that's the only way you can really hurt them
Gambling companies would never make enough from sensible gamblers, despite the odds being in their favour, they rely on the likes of you and I to fund them
Sadly its the same for the gambling comission, Gamcare etc etc, if there wasn't a serious problem with gambling they wouldn't exist
I dont mean to undermine the individuals within the organisations, many do fantastic work
anyway, wander off track - the point is self-exclusion really relies on you to uphold it yourself, however wrong that is
best wishes
Hi Frankie.
As much as your looking for justice for the betting shops not keeping there end of the agreement so to speak , it really is down to ourselves just to say " No more " . I agree with what your saying but the fact of the matter is self exclusion does work but only if you want it to . I originally excluded myself for 12 months but I know full well that if I'd walked back into most of the shops I'd Barred myself from , then nobody would have batted an eyelid and even if they had all I needed to do was walk a bit further away from home where I wouldn't be recognised , for us Cg's we will always find a way if we want to gamble more than we want to stop .
All of my self exclusions have now expired and I'm coming up for 2 yrs gamle free , I've not bothered renewing them as they've done their job well and I'm enjoying my gamble free life more than I ever did my gambling one and there's no plan to return anytime soon :)).
Focus on recovery my friend and if your able then just walk away !
Best wishes
Alan
Thanks guys for the messages.
It's true, the only real way is for me to stay away from these places. I've being gambling for so long now and I'm sick and tired of always ending up in the same rut and waking up with the sinking feeling.
I just get so angry by how arrogant some of these companies are. But maybe I'm just venting my anger at something else other than myself. Feel so angry and stupid, lost so much yesterday in a fobt, had my money back then lost it all again. Fed up of this feeling. The answer is I just need to stay away. My mind is always telling me I can win when I'm reality I don't and I can't. I walk in thinking I will win money yet I never do. Even if I initially win it's lost right back again.
I just need to get away from all this.
Thanks for the messages and advice guys.
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