WARNING! I am writing this just to offer a different perspective to people because I still gamble but PLEASE understand I am NOT encouraging or advocating gambling. I just know that it will never go away because it makes other people too much money.
I don't want to go through my story in any great detail because suffice to say you can probably read it in any random post you choose to pick. This is the point of my post. It doesn't matter if you are male or female, only just legally allowed to gamble or fresh into retirement, low income tax payer or high, educated or not...gambling can ruin anyone. If you were to post your gambling woes on a broader forum, i.e. a newspaper, I would suspect at least half of the replies would be filled with comments like 'wouldn't touch those machines' or 'a fool and his money...' but even some of those people will succumb to gambling. Basically I understand that we need to take responsibility for our actions.
What I really want to say is that I'm sick of the gambling industry as it stands now. I enjoy betting on football (I'm not addicted) but I don't think you should allow the national sport to be whored about everytime a match is on -as is the case of those never ending adverts. Let people learn responsibly about gambling. I know no one forces you to gamble but my take is this. Gambling is ruining 'too many' lives. Obvious I know but I just want to rant about it. Yes it creates jobs but those people could be doing something that actually produces something tangible. There are no jobs I hear you say, but I think if you re-allocate the resources spent on gambling you could create jobs with more residual benefits. Look at infastructure for example. Roads need repairing and the ones that are being repaired take ages to repair.
If gambling was banned tomorrow I'm sure the big gambling corporations would find something to invest in. I think some forms of gambling should be allowed. The Lotto should pay smaller jackpots but more people. Why not make more winners rather than a handful? Betting shops should be restricted relative to the population of that area and only one per company. I'm sure you don't want to hear my whole manifesto for gambling, but it should be more controlled and restrictive.
My main gripe is with FOBTs and casinos. At least with sports betting, there is a 'culture' and In terms of horse racing/greyhounds an industry to support. I've noticed a surge in roulette addiction on this forum and it angers me. It's just a mechanical wheel or computer program that is statistically guaranteed to take your money. I hate the fact that all this money goes to the owner of a roulette 'device'. I wish they were banned (or more realistically severely restricted) No one forces you to play but everyone who plays it hates it. Maybe at the start there is excitement but I have watched and read about the zombie like state of 'players'. Why allow something that people who participate in don't even enjoy? At least with drugs and alcohol the user is getting enjoyment! Roulette players 'dread' the spin. I know some will say they love the buzz- but play long enough to be down (inevitable and won't take long) and soon you will be paying for something you don't enjoy!
I think casinos were fine the way they used to be. 24 hours to become a member and more of a 'special night out'. Now gambling is in your face 24/7. I lost money when I was young but I accepted it. I don't even go casino or play roulette anymore but I visit this forum to see how times have changed. When I pass a casino car park I think everyone of those people inside could have 4 or 5 times a better model. There has and always will be addicts but the sheer number has provoked me to post.
If ever I win the lottery (lol-'no one' gets addicted to lotto because the odds are so bad (I only do rollovers)) I would fund an awareness campaign about gambling. Arguably it should already be implemented by the government but they don't care about the people. I just want to say to everyone that reads this you're not enjoying your gambling so STOP. I would like to say quit gambling full stop but I would be a hypocrite because I can enjoy my gambling now. If you need that adrenaline rush try extreme sports or anything new really. Even if you don't enjoy it at least you can say you got something in return. If you miss gambling try this. Write out your bets for a long time (at least 3months) but DON'T put them on. When you work out how much you would have lost realise that gambling wasn't fun or profitable. IF you can show a profit after that period think really hard about the misery that gambling caused you. Please look after yourselves and your loved ones because they are more important than gambling (or indeed money).
Fair post and fair comment
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