FOBT Changes - An Opportunity For So Many

I agree Dave, some useful tools for people to use. Gamstop has been a game changer for me

That’s great Vin. I started to drift online but couldnt handle the ups and downs and you are right it’s a game changer. I did 5 years. Have tried to join sites since and just blown out. It’s great. I guess there are sites not covered but they are not the sort to deal with plus if you slip through and they realise you are registered on Gamstop they can cancel any winnings. Glad it works for you - I absolutely love it.

Hi Dave

for me this will be a game changer, simple maths show that the odds will just not add up to play on the FOBT machines anymore, at £100 per spin on 36 numbers chances are you can have £7-£8 on some numbers spread across the table, which would give a decent return (if i was to win), £2 stake on 36 number+0 lol i will have possibly 10p on each number giving a return of £7.20p hahah i would need 10 consecutive wins in a row to achieve £70. 100 wins for £700. this will KILL the bookies, and i could not be MORE HAPPY!!!!!!, i feel that bookies actively encourage compulsive gamblers to bet on the FOBT it is preying on the vunerable and it is disgusting. my hope is there as a domino effect and as a result of lose in profits of the FOBT machines from people not playing them, bookies are forced to close shops, of course staff will lose there jobs, but i could NEVER work in a bookies knowing that i will be encouraging and enabling peoples addictions knowing the devastation that it brings to familys. bookie staff are nothing more than glorified drug pushers in my opinion, they see us walk in dressed in road maintanance work clothes spending £100 and £100 of pounds in a matter of a couple of hours, come on its clear we are not rich, but do they stop us no they dont. roll on 1st april this will save my life!!!, the FOBT's die i will live

I agree folks, I used them a wee bit but online was my undoing, now I’ve used GameStop I’m excluded from the lot for 5 years, it’s changing my life, together with bookies being forced to reduce these wretched machines to £2 it’s a life saver in truth.Now as for excluding from bookies it just can’t work until a membership scheme was introduced, no membership card no bet, until that happens they will not give a flying f*** .its the only avenue open to me bookies, so I have no excuse now as it will be my choice to walk in, write that betout and place it, only myself to blame, I hope I never ever do it again, I knocked back a day out yesterday with mates as I know they gamble and would be drinking then in the bookies, I could stand there and not bet easily but I’m learning that I can’t put myself in that position again, tough to do but this is my life I want back and if it means losing a few friends for now so be it,

An absolute game changer for people who have a roulette problem. For me my casino gambling is limited to that. Have never ever been interested in slots. Today I put my money in and upon learning it’s the £2 thing I literally took my voucher out and walked away. Ok it won’t do wonders for slots players but it’s an absolute life saver for roulette addicts

Well done holycrosser and itneverends - both great posts and great examples of taking back control,

Although everyone loses in the end at least there was a chance if a decent spin coming in to rescue a bad session but now that’s no longer possible. To be honest 99% of the time I played them I was playing to get my money back!

You are right itneverends the shop self-exclusion scheme needs bolstering and let’s hope it is. In the meantime the ability to self-exclude from multiple shops is helpful. Membership cards would be a great idea.

A word of caution - even at £2 a spin you could lose a significant amount so let’s use this gift from the government to stop completely.

i really am so pleased with what they have done.

DaveUK wrote:

Well done holycrosser and itneverends - both great posts and great examples of taking back control,

Although everyone loses in the end at least there was a chance if a decent spin coming in to rescue a bad session but now that’s no longer possible. To be honest 99% of the time I played them I was playing to get my money back!

You are right itneverends the shop self-exclusion scheme needs bolstering and let’s hope it is. In the meantime the ability to self-exclude from multiple shops is helpful. Membership cards would be a great idea.

A word of caution - even at £2 a spin you could lose a significant amount so let’s use this gift from the government to stop completely.

i really am so pleased with what they have done.

In truth they they should have been banned, together with slot machine shops in high streets and service stations, membership of casinos should be subject to credit checks , not sure how they work tbh as I’ve only been in a couple of times years ago and quickly realised you have no chance, a bit like them all in truth.

Call me an old cynic but someone is due to get rich out of the change otherwise it wouldnt be happening. The change will be made to look like its hit the bookes hard which will give them the go ahead to close shops. Addicts will still need there fix, the online world is a lot cheaper to run than a high street shop.

yep, i put £20 in the roulette machine today and quickly withdrew it as £2 maximum thing come up on screen, took my £20 ticket voucher, and said thanks very much to the staff, i told him roulette has ruined me, came from behind the counter, and gave me on of the those gamling problem leaflets, dont think he gets it at all.....

You are right there Pete they have no idea just how much damage the roulette machines did (love using the word did). They are finished but I fear as robf says some will get their fix online which is very easily solved by registering with Gamstop. £2 maximum has finished them thank goodness. I suspect 30% of shops will have closed in 12-18 months although would imagine the slots give them good profit. Personally can’t think of anything more mind bending.

My only sympathy lies with those who will lose jobs. As far as declining profits for the betting companies are concerned the more the better. They were happy to prey on people’s vulnerabilities and had they decided to reduce the spin pro-actively would have probably got away with a much higher minimum. Serves them all right the greedy heartless *******”s.

DaveUK wrote:

You are right there Pete they have no idea just how much damage the roulette machines did (love using the word did). They are finished but I fear as robf says some will get their fix online which is very easily solved by registering with Gamstop. £2 maximum has finished them thank goodness. I suspect 30% of shops will have closed in 12-18 months although would imagine the slots give them good profit. Personally can’t think of anything more mind bending.

My only sympathy lies with those who will lose jobs. As far as declining profits for the betting companies are concerned the more the better. They were happy to prey on people’s vulnerabilities and had they decided to reduce the spin pro-actively would have probably got away with a much higher minimum. Serves them all right the greedy heartless *******”s.

One of the more well known high street bookies is making decisions about which excess staff to let go by making it a competition among shop staff - whoever gets the most players to switch to slots or sign up online gets to keep their jobs. Utterly vile.

Same here Grace. It’s great isn’t it. As soon as I was declined I just thought ‘whatever’. Just shows have barriers in place for when the urge strikes works wonders.

The only reason not to put barriers in place is if the true desire to stop isn’t there.

Have a great week.

Dave

For me it is all too little too late these machines have been running rampant for the last 15 years the damage has been done and usage has decreased rapidly over the last few years anyway as more and more punters have moved online or accepted the machines are outright fixed

the bookies will be fully aware the machines days are coming to an end much like the brick and mortar shops and they are surely prepared to complete the move into the digital age

Whilst I agree nipped it has happened way too late the silver lining is it’s happened now and to a maximum spin level somewhat lower than we thought would be agreed. There is of course no silver lining for those who have lost lives, families and livelihoods and that should be on the conscience of the decision makers.

Another positive is the younger generation will have no opportunity to spin high bets now although I accept they may end up online or using some of the other features on the machines Let’s hope one day the FOBTs are completely banned and online is heavily regulated with rules tightened so people don’t lose quite so much.

All this said and I hope I do not offend anyone in saying this but addicts cannot keep blaming others or because this or that hasn’t been done. There comes a point when they have to take responsibility for their actions and put as many barriers in place as they possibly can to stop themselves being reckless when the gambling urges strike.