Wandered past a branch of one of the big chains yesterday and spotted a licence amendment application pinned up in the window.
It was to extend their opening hours from 7am to midnight !! The staff told me that it's in preparation for the World Cup.
Well if you believe that you'll believe anything.
We all know that the real reason is to increase punters exposure to FOBT's. What chance is there of reverting to the already stupidly long opening hours ? NIL I'd say.
There really does need to be more control over these machines.
Blackjack my friend how are you?
Presume the extended hours were not just for 3 weeks for the World Cup. Yes we know exactly why they want to open longer.
Dave
Hi Dave
Good to hear from you again. I'm fine and hope all is well with you and yours.
Yes, I should have mentioned that the staff told me that the application was just for the period of the World Cup. As you say the real reason is the FOBT's. If it isn't then presumably the bookies will be quite happy to turn the FOBT's off outside their normal opening hours. Yeh, right...
In any event we all know how these ' temporary ' lifting of restrictions have a nasty habit of becoming the norm.
It does seem as though one or two politicians are making a few promising noises through the usual cloud of hot air so perhaps the evidence of the very real danger of FOBT's is at last sinking in.
Nothing new anyway afterall you can gamble all day every day via online.
Longer opening hours won't really increase gambling as if you wanna do it at midnight you will be it in a shop or online.
However I do think bookies need to be reduced as there are way to many on our high streets and I don't think they need to open before 9am
Regards,
Sound_advice
it depends, some people are not attracted to online gambling. I used to be, but those fobts are a nightmare for a lot of people, they are everywhere. I find bookies more tempting than online gambling, have not gambled online for a long long time.
Now you see this sort of post angers the hell out of me. It really does!!! No disrespect OP, i'm aiming this at the gambling industry. These b******s are extending their hours solely to get more hours from the machines which we all know make staggering profits for the fookies (intended spelling mistake). I mean, why else would they extend hours and pay staff to man the place if the machines didn't pay the wages and electricity bills..... Absolute vultures. Simple as that. I wish i had the computer know-how to install a virus onto each and every single machine in this country. Lord only knows the benefits........
Interesting when the gov are hoping to double the gap between bet times (20 secs to 40 secs on fobt) the BM are looking to open longer!!!!! That will recoup some of the BM loses if the change goes ahead!!!
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
