Rigged

Tom get back to the meetings, self exclude.....fortunately end of the month is not too far off. Get some plans in place before you have access to cash. All the best.

Hi Tom,

It sounds like you were doing well so don't give up giving up on the back of a relapse, you've taken a step backward but you're a mile away from 'step one' so dust yourself off, get back to GA (if that's what worked for you) and get back in the driving seat of that wagon!

I talked about this recently in the Debates section but FOBTs aren't rigged...because, sadly, they don't need to be. Every game of chance (roulette, blackjack, dice etc.) has odds weighted in the bookies favour (98%, 96% & 96% I believe) so they simply don't need to rig it (and risk the fallout if they did). The truth is that, even playing with best strategy, you cannot win in the long-term, you can minimise your losses but you can NEVER win if you cannot stop.

Good luck and keep posting on the forum 🙂

Whether they're rigged or not the games are deliberately designed to deliver the hit of chemicals your brain has come to crave and thus keep you playing as long as possible. For a CG that's until you've exhausted every source of funds available.

Getting back to GA is a very good move. Are there other things you can do to eliminate your access to cash/ gambling in the meantime?

It is my sincere belief that yes the FOBT's are rigged. They are graphic depictions of a fruit machine, ask yourself why they don't have 'live' games with 'live dealers' other than graphics-based FOBT's otherwise ? To the OP you were cheated, as countless others have been. If the machine is in 'take' mode, then it doesn't matter what the odds are the program will find a way to beat you / take your money. Online graphics-based casino games operate the same way, this is what the FOBT's were developed from. A poster above says the games don't need to be rigged as there is already a house edge this is true but if you are running a business you want to maximise your profit on turnover - why settle for 2.7% profit when you can make 25-30% profit ? If you were running a business which would you choose ? The toothless Gambling Commission & the corrupt UK Government don't care.

To the OP you only way you can be sure not to be cheated again is not to play those machines, the Government collects 25% that's one quarter of the profits from them, so of course it will be allowed to go on. Wake up !

Hi Davey,

Whilst I agree that the only way to win is to stop playing (which has to be standard advice for any CG) blaming games for being rigged is, I believe, unhelpful. Saying "I was cheated" is much easier than saying "I couldn't stop" and is shifting the blame from ourselves to a third party.

FOBTs do not operate in the same way as fruit machines. Fruit machines are % controlled games (and declare so) which is why they are allowed in locations where 'random' casino-type games aren't. I appreciate that the government aren't exactly 'hot' on regulating certain elements of the industry but there is simply NO WAY that FOBTs could claim to be random but generate, as you suggest, a 25-30% margin. Their profits rely on a high turnover of play and that is exactly what they get.

I'm not on here to defend bookies (and their dubious morals) but, instead, to debunk the 'rigged' myth which is an easy out for CGs (myself included) who would rather point the finger elsewhere than at themselves.

Besides...Is your post not effectively saying "Don't goto the bookies...Goto the casino and play a live game instead!"? It's not a personal criticism (we're all here for the same reason) but acceptance is essential in recovery and playing the victim is a form of denial.

Live or in person the money has gone and isn't coming back. I personally never played the machines but I saw a lot of people lose a hell of a lot of money on them. I think some change is coming to the industry re: FOBTs and stakes etc. but let's concentrate on recovery and try not to be bitter. Phil

HI Phil (SamePhil but, ironically, a different Phil)

I agree, it's not worth getting bogged down in the detail (probably my fault, I know too much!) as we are all here for the same reason and that is recovery.

I was trying to be constructive by saying that we should focus on ourselves and our addiction rather than look to apportion blame elsewhere (to claim that we were 'cheated' implies we shouldn't have lost and, therefore, it's not our 'problem').

I hope this came across as it was meant to be a constructive point about acceptance. Like you say, the money isn't coming back so we can only look forward (glancing back occasionally to remind ourselves)

Phil

I agree with you my namesake! Your post was constructive. Phil