Britain at the Bookies

I'm not sure that lad Stewart was much of a PR coup for the industry.

They made it obvious they only want losers handing their money over. Frankly it should be a wake up call to any problem gambler.

When we lose they will take our money... when we win if it carrys on they 'settle' our accounts.. just shows its all about them making money and if they have to pay out they really look into it. If the people that took the bets knew what it was like to be where so many of us are im sure there consiounce would soon kick it. Lookin forward to see what floors the next episode pops up.

I got a bit upset watching that

Wasn't a pretty sight. It's a tawdry business.

It's what led me here to join. Posted in the introduction forum. Programme was interesting. Made it clear only mug punters are welcome.

They prefer to take bets like Man Utd to be relegated.

Am I the only person here who thought 750/1 on Man Utd to be relegated was ridiculously short?! It's no surprise they make such huge profits! I quite enjoyed the programme, but the young lad who plays the roulette really needs to self-exclude from every shop in the town - I seriously hope after the screening someone takes him under their wing. And as for the geeky guy who is getting his online betting accounts closed due to winning too much - what was he expecting? Bookies don't like people that win... I've lost a lot of money to them over the years but despite this, they've actually restricted my bets. I bet they haven't restricted me on the roulette though...

Couldn't agree more David1964, tuned in to watch the programme hoping it would expose the bookies and paint a fair picture about gambling, all it did was advertise them positively and make it look like the sun shines out their a**e. About a minute clip showing the guy with no money for two weeks (alot more of him coming out the shops winning) and 55 minutes of the positive staff, the clean shops, the lovely directors, utter shambles. Unfortunately it's never going to change with the government loving 50% of their huge profits.
But we can use this as more fuel to steer well clear of them and keep gamble free.

David1964 wrote:

I have contacted the BBC under the freedom of information act to find out how much c****s where paid. Once I have this information I will be contacting the CEO of c****s and asking if the fee is being donated to gambling addiction charities.

I will also point out that offering 5/1 on Manchester United to win a corner at anytime is like standing outside an AA meeting with a bottle of Gin giving away free shots. Or indeed standing outside a drug clinic with Canabis or such like.

****** stated 8 times in the hour long programme that take gambling addiction seriously. So why offer what amount to free money to people to open new accounts ? Total and utter Hyporicy on the part of c****s.

My message to c****s and all other bookmakers. Gambling does not just make you bankrupt it destroys your life. It's not just about having no food and no money to pay the rent it's about standing on a train platform or a high building with tears streaming down your face. I know as I have been there and somehow I got through and it pains me to see such pathetic attempts being made by the industry to tackle the problem. I suspect the bottom line is that just don't care about me/us once our bank accounts are empty.

Good luck to everybody fighting this addiction. These are just words but typed with a passion for the downtrodden and a total and utter hatred of the system that put them there.

Super post. David1964. Sums up my feelings exactly. The industry is a sickening place.

yeah great post mate

Great posts everyone. Watching the programme made me annoyed. Even had a debate with the girlfriend about it. It makes you realise how big a mug you've been. Boosting their profit margins and giving them all a big laugh. Just made my resolve to stick two fingers up to them even stronger. The manager of the shop doesn't bet nor does he have a conscience. It was all a big laugh to him. Maybe he should see the ruination gambling causes to the individual, the family and the community. As for me I'm done with it!

deleted

Gotta love the hypocritical moral outrage of us addicts havnt you!

When we were in gambling establishments were we looking out for fellow addicts or were we slyly watching them shovel there notes in willing them to lose their mortgage payment so we could jump on the machine & win their cash.

Talk of responsibility & of having a conscience really does make me laugh because i certainly had neither when in the action.

Dont hear to many folk on here complaining when the evil bookie has paid us out a wad of cash & we walk out feeling invincible but plenty moaning about how their greed has left them struggling to feed their children this week.

We cant expect people who are not addicts to be the ones to save us when so few of us cant even be bothered to help ourselves.

We need to stop blaming everyone else for our issues & take some ownership of our own recovery management.
If you still have access to money.... why are you surprised you find yourself gambling again?
If you havnt blocked your access to devices...why are you surprised you find yourself gambling again?
If your continuing to expose yourself in a gambling environment... why are you surprised to find yourself gambling again?
Do you regularly attend GA or Counselling....then why o why are you surprised to find yourself gambling again?

This addiction is tough enough to overcome with all this in place, so at least give yourself a chance instead of whinging about everybody elses duty of care, while doing nothing but wishing it away. Why should they care when you dont.

Until we see this as our responsibility instead of passing the buck to everyone else, we are doomed to continue our life cycle of relapse & remission.
Its easy to talk about recovery, how we really mean it this time. Little more tricky to live it.

Great post day@atime. I try and appreciate more just how difficult it is for people to break the habit but totally agree it requires effort and the desire to stop has to come from within and ALL potential avenues to gamble cut off.

The reality is as you have referred to, if people win the bookies pay out so its only fair when they win they get to keep the stake money.

Really great post which gives balanced perspective.

DaveUK