FOBT's

Here is a poem from the other side!

Unlock the doors guys it’s that time again

Let anyone in, no need to be vain

Those wallets and purses stuffed full of cash

All coming our way - to add to our stash

Slowly but surely lets get them hooked

Take every opportunity - make sure nothing’s overlooked

You know how they start, ‘just a small flutter’

Then watch as they end up broke in the gutter

Free plays, promotions a fifty pound prize

Whatever it takes to start their demise

Be nice to the punters, they are our best friends

Remember our fun starts as soon as theirs ends

Now I’m not saying we mock the afflicted

But profits are easier once they’re addicted

We count on their weakness in a big way

They are the mansion and grand holiday

Some mugs may win but we will not moan

Lets face it folks, it’s a temporary loan

For they will be back and try to win more

We win in the end, of that we are sure

Found the other poem I wrote a while back - could have easily ended this way and is a timely warning to those who still think they can beat a machine!

What’s this here? a fruit machine?

It’s a little bit different to the ones I have seen

There’s more than one, in fact there are four

Three at the back and one near the door

I’ll just have a fiver, its no real sin

You never know, I may even win

The roulette feature seems the popular one

There’s no harm in having a little fun.

Twenty pence here and twenty pence there

That looks about right I’ve nothing to fear

It’s only a fiver really nothing to lose

Just mindless fun I inwardly muse

The lights start to flash the ball starts to spin

As I stand and watch with a hopeful grin

It’s dropped in my number, I really have won

I’ve doubled my money, yes this is fun

Well that was so easy I feel really smug

Print off the ticket I’ve got the bug

At last, a way to make easy money

Those silly old bookies this is so funny

I leave the shop I’m on cloud nine

I’ve won a fiver will be far more next time

I’ll keep it for now and tomorrow go back

Just watch me as I make an absolute stack

My mind starts to wander how much could I win

It was just so easy ten out and five in

Am now rather gutted not found them before

I have to go back I know I’ll win more

Can’t concentrate today, time goes so slow

Great! lunchtime’s arrived so off I will go

Straight to the shop almost run all the way

The machines are all taken, no worries - I’ll stay

At last there’s one empty I reach for a note

A tenner this time I think as I gloat

Round the ball spins, my number again

This is so easy just totally insane

If I can just win a tenner a day

That’s thousands a year and will add to my pay

Print off my ticket, again I have won

Not just a fiver but this time a ton

Can’t wait till tomorrow, that’s too long by far

Will return after work on the way to the car

Again it goes well I add to my pile

I just feel so rich and will have more in a while

Didn’t go well today numbers wouldn’t drop

Gave all my winnings back before I could stop

Feel very miffed, was on a good run

There’s always tomorrow to bring back the fun

Ideas and strategies go through my mind

They work for a while then I end up robbed blind

Don't seem to learn still think I will win

Keep putting in money to trigger the spin

Just off for some petrol or some pathetic excuse

So I can sneak out and be on the loose

Trudge home hours later, where have you been?

I dare not tell her I’ve fed a machine

Ran into a friend, not seen him for ages

The lies I now tell are completely outrages

She seems to believe me, bit hard to say

That visit has cost me, I now need more pay

My debit card's getting abused more and more

Withdrawals, receipts and pin numbers galore

It seems to me others can win all the time

Surely their luck will soon start to be mine

Most of the time chasing losses I crave

Increasing the bets I need to be brave

Sometimes get lucky when my numbers drop

I'm still at best even so simply can't stop

One hundred, two hundred three hundred four

It seems that my system has got a big floor

However I try I just seem to lose

If this doesn’t change my temper will fuse

You don’t seem yourself people keep saying

They get on my nerves I just want to keep playing

If only I could win back what I have lost

Then all would be well and my worries be tossed

After I've played to my spreadsheet I go

Recalculate finances, cant let this show

Juggle funds here and other funds there

It's starting to look like a horrid nightmare

Credit cards, debit cards, transactions turned down

The mortgage not paid a permanent frown

Arguments, stress then loss of my job

Friends disappear and close family sob

So who would of thought it would all end so bad

One lousy fiver for fun to be had

Those bookies were not the real mugs you’ll now see

The only real mug here was pathetic old me

After a big loss you may have a break

But always return the same mistakes make

Win some and lose some but always the same

They win in the end you really are lame

If only I'd done this or if I'd done that

Then I would not feel so totally flat

But you know and I know control we have none

Keep going and going till our cash has gone

So does this small story for you ring a bell?

Maybe not so bad but still been to hell?

Give it up now before it is too late

If you want to recover there’s no need to wait

So many excuses that we try to use

Boredom, an illness, mid-winter blues

But most of the time we're trying to gain

And when it goes wrong can't handle the pain

Stop blaming others, the buck stops with you

You feed the monster admit it, its true

When have ever been forced to play

Well never, no never I hear you say

You may think that others are getting a win

But how do you know how much they have put it

Trust me they are no different to you

Losing, regretting trust me its true

So finally, please get this inside your head

There’s only one winner who takes all your bread

What’s done is done now make the right move

Learn from the past and life will improve

Thanks Julie. Yes online is just as bad if not worse as you can do it at home there and then so plenty of blocks needed as they are fun, but too expensive.

I will try and write an online version of the poem.

Keep winning by not playing. Dave x

Just so you know when you play the roulette machine there is no ball - it is a complete illusion.

With blackjack on the machine - there is no dealer.

Finally - even with the fruit machine feature the reels are just pictures.

Stop being fooled.

Username, password and a card's all I need

Then my online addiction I can feed

Nobody will know its just harmless fun

Surely there's easy cash to be won

It takes me off to a world of my own

In fact it's so much better when I am alone

One lucky spin and then I will run

Surely there's easy cash to be won

Offer of free bonus I'll have some of that

It's just like free money my account will be fat

All the Terms and conditions under the sun

Still sure there's easy cash to be won

The bonus is gone in no time at all

It's my money now, better not fall

In no time at all I have lost a ton

Starting to doubt there is cash to be won

Sneaking a play when people about

What you doing! 'Nothing' I shout

Flick on a new page disguise what I've done

Not seeming as if there's cash to be won

Chasing, increasing to get money back

But it's no use, Lady Luck I lack

Now badly in debt this is no fun

And all because I thought there was cash to be won

Lies, deceit I'm in really deep

A virtual world that now makes me weep

Give it up now what's done is done

Take it from me there's no cash to be won

If your tempted to play then don't! You will lose, maybe not today but you will lose.

You can win by giving up trying to win.

When you feed the machine it's no different to putting your notes in a shredder! I wonder how many are still stupid enough to still be shredding!

I'm 18 and I have been gambling since I was about 15. In shops and online. All in all I have probably lost about £15000 might not seem alot but when your 18 its alot. I went in the bookies loosing £150-£200 a day for 10 days in a row. All after 1 big win on the FOBT's. You think you can win, but you can't. Otherwise *********** wouldn't be worth billions. I've decided to self exclude myself now and haven't been there for a few weeks. But I still have the urge to gamble. When I'm in there I would often spend hours in there even missing work because I loose track of time. I go in there with £20 and think it's all I'm going to do next thing I know I'm at the cash point. I need to stop but it's easier said than done.

Hi my name is adam and I have had a problem with these machines for years I have run up some stupid debts with pay day loans trying to hide from my wife but now have had to come clean about everything to everyone they have ruined my life.as from today I am staying away or I will losr everything

Hi Dave and Adam.

I could flower things up with my reply but not going to. You both need to wise up and grow up before the machines take everything you have.

For goodness sake what will it take for you to realise these are not a way for YOU to make money?

Nobody wins long term other than the owners of the machines, never have and never will.

Best wishes for whatever you decide to do.

Dave

Cheers dave for message have self excluded myself from all local bookies near me today feel better I have come clean about everything so no more hiding adam

Top man Adam. Self exclusion is huge and will make a fantastic difference. You are now starting to win - well done buddy.

Dave

Thanks dave I no there is still a long way to go but feeling better now everthing is out in open

Hi Dave, your poems are awesome!

Linda

Thank you Linda. Just so glad I don't live them anymore.

Very best wishes

Dave