fixed odds betting terminals discussion

FOBTs are certainly a hot topic and a controversial one. There's no question they are hugely destructive and the well known '***-C*****e of gambling' tag is absolutely correct.

We hear a lot that the method of gambling does not really matter, it's more the fundamental need to do it that is the issue, whatever the form. If it wasn't FOBTs people were gambling on, it would be something else, the argument goes. To an extent that's true, but I have no doubt in my mind that FOBTs have converted many casual punters into hardcore gambling addicts.

To me it's like the gun argument in the US - the gun lobby always say 'well it isn't the guns that kill people, it's the person pulling the trigger' and 'if they didn't have a gun they would have used something else'. Of course this argument is utter tosh - guns make it 10x easier to kill and if people didn't have them at their disposal, it's unlikely they would ever kill someone. It's exactly the same with FOBTs - they make intense, hardcore gambling so incredibly easy and accessible that of course it's going to lead to more fast-tracked addiction problems.

Unfortunately removing them will be incredibly difficult because of the huge profits they generate and the power of the gambling industry.

On a side note, what is also interesting about that article is the comments section - many of them blaming the individual gamblers for their own downfall. It is a very typical view unfortunately (or maybe it's just the Daily Mail haha). It's one condition where society really isn't on your side (compared to say, alcohol addiction, which people are generally sympathetic about) - which is why we need to stick together to help each other through.

Hi Paul. A really good way to put pay to the wandering in and playing when you are in town is to self-exclude. Without a doubt you will still be tempted as let's face it they are addictive but if you have banned yourself from the shop the moment will pass and you will feel a whole lot better.

As a side note it's quite a buzz self-excluding as they hate people doing it as you then have the upper hand!

Best wishes

Dave

Thanks for taking the time to post, its really helpful to me. Yes there is too much money involved for the government to care about the long term damage to gambling addicts.

Yes i agree that self exclusion is fairly effective, it has kind of worked for me. However, hardened gamblers such as myself will travel the extra mile to place a bet. Now i am addressing the problem rather than finding a way to dodge the problem.

I remain positive, as the past 3 weeks has not been too difficult, now that i am keeping a personal diary. If i have an urge to bet, i read a few anti gambling articles and write a diary entry to remind myself never to go back.