FOBT's

Agree SA am glad you do not touch the FOBTs and really hope you will keep off the slots.

So 2013 arrives !!!

Are you going to continue feeding note after note of your money into the machines, making a mug of yourself, deceiving your family and friends and causing misery or has the penny finally dropped that in the long term you will never beat them?

This time a poem from the owners of the bookies perspective. I wrote it sometime ago but is as relevant today as ever!

Unlock the doors, 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

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

Can I come in Sir. I've lost all my money?

You having a laugh? You trying to be funny?

You're no use to us if you can't have a flutter

Now turn round and leave and get back in the gutter

Hi Dave ....I think I used to read your entries a few years back when I was gripped by bookies roulette ....Torquay fan yes ??

Had a bit of a lapse before Xmas.....similar story to your poem in other thread, fill up machine no 2 mate were my words....

Got lucky .....got money back, what would have I have done had I not .....has scared me !!

Your recent posts have reminded me how I was....I have a diary lost in the diaries page if anyone fancies a read......

Thank you for refocusing me ....incidentally I self excluded 4 years ago, no issue in city centre as I pop in from time to time to confirm my ban and I am known, my slip was on the way to the gym and staff never knew me..even had banter with them when I collected my 'winnings', ha not good !!!

Anyway I am off to the gym in an hour or so and thanks to you and the feelings that you have bought back I wii drive past that shop with no cravings whatsoever ..thank you again.

Hi TTC - really good to hear from you and remember you very well.

The self-exclusion is great and a real help to keeping off. I did sneak in once and way playing and got recognised so was asked to leave - not too humiliating !!!

Although you didn't lose I can tell you are annoyed with the slip. The main thing is that it does not encourage you to go back and try and get a little more (which does not sound the case).

I find I was fine if I kept away but one peskey go and it would start the cycle again always ending with one of those 'fill up the machine' losses we hate the most!

Really is good to hear you are doing well and know you will keep it going ! Rather than dreaming of big wins on the machine I now dream of everyone stopping playing so they go bust !!

Have a great 2013 and beyond.

Dave

Never ever forget - you are buying, yes buying entertainment. The machines have not been put there for people to make a long term profit.

Question is - can you afford this form of entertainment because there is no refund available if you didn't like it?

It is crazy to suggest the roulette machines are rigged - the real problem is the machine gets to choose the winning number after you have selected which numbers to place your cash on !

Its like spinning a coin and letting your opponent call 'heads' or 'tails' but only after they have peeped at the result before calling !!

Of course they will pick your numbers now and again to keep you interested but you seriously think they are going to be programmed so they end up out of pocket? So it's not rigged, they are just the rules you have to abide by if you are stupid enough to play.

Must be like taking candy from a baby !!

I'm new on here and just had a counselling assessment due to problem gambling. How those FOBT's are legal is beyond me. With betting shops literally everywhere it is hard to control the urge to go and chance my luck. It really helps to read the posts here from people going through the same thing. The near misses on the Roulette machine just keeps you thinking of your strategy and that you will get that number up the next spin. I was even dreaming of the spin and numbers. Horse racing is an even bigger problem for me. But thats another subject.

Have to keep this site on my phone and if I feel like betting I read some posts and that takes my mind off it for a while.

Hopefully I will be contacted soon for regular counselling sessions and get this addiction sorted for good.

The problem is when you are addicted to something rational thinking and reasoning go out the window. This is why the government should never have allowed this gambling culture to prosper the way it has.

Many countries outlaw gambling altogether. The government will have to act soon and stop turning a blind eye.

Thanks to all the posters. It really helps.

Hi Gav

I am sure the counselling will go well and get you back on the right path.

I agree, the high street is not the place for FOBTs. I used to want gambling banned but guess there are millions of people who are controlled and are satisfied with a small flutter so banning it for them would not be fair. Its a bit like alchohol, most can have a sociable drink but a small group of people keep going and going and drink to excess does this mean alcohol should be banned?

The machines are designed to give a near miss as this affects the brain as much as a win.

I would strongly recommend you self-exclude from all local shops as this is a great deterant - it also buys you thinking time when you are tempted to bet elsewhere.

Start a diary buddy, read other peoples and you will soon realise this can be beaten and you can get back to living a more fulfilling life without any gambling.

Dave

Hi Dave

Counselling assessment went well yesterday and I will be assigned a counsellor in the next few days.

Walking back from the assessment yesterday through the High Street and passed must be about 6 bookies without going in.

I still think these FOBT's should be banned. All they cause is misery. I don't know anyone that can just go in once in a while and lose and leave it at that. The amount you can lose very quickly is scary. You start with the intention of staying with small stakes until a few spins go against you and then panic and before you know it doing £80 or £100 a spin.

I feel guilty about spending £30 on a Playstation game but can feed hundreds into this Roulette and not think twice.

All the best.

Hi Gav

Glad counselling went well and glad you did not go into the bookies well done - would have been a bit of an insult to your counsellor if you had though.

You are like many on here (me included) in that you are reluctant to buy things but will feed money into a machine.

You have made a great start so just keep aiming to stay off those machines 'today' and the rest will take care of itself.

Dave

I wonder how many mugs have stood in front of the roulette machines today feeding note after note it, hoping, chasing, winning then losing it all and have now returned home, poorer, sadder and putting a brave face on in front of the family?

How much better does it feel when it isn't you !!

The great thing is it doen't ever have to be you again.

The urges to play the machines will not magically disappear overnight. They may reduce after a loss but eventually come creeping back.

Its not disimilar to when people go on a diet because they feel too fat - the urge to have another chocolate bar doesn't leave them it's more about whether they can resist stuffing another one in. Once they resist and notice their weight starts to reduce and they feel healthier it becomes easier to resist the chocolate bar as they know what it will do to them in the long term. They may think one little bar won't hurt but because it tastes good they want another and another and before they know it can't stop eating all the things that are bad for them - and the result, all the weight returns, and possibly more.

What is important is how you react to urges. It is proven the overwhelming urge to gamble lasts for 15 minutes then subsides so think ahead about what you will do when the next wave of urges come along. Be ready to for them !!

The machines have no hands to take the money from you - they only get it if you give it to them.

Keep up the good work in this thread mate. Every post just makes so much sense.

Ive spent many a time sat at a machine on a losing streak, some guy over my shoulder watchin me. I just wanted to turn round and smack them right in the face.

Ive sat at the machine ploughing note after note knowing full well i hadnt done any xmas shopping and still had my bills to pay.

Ive sat at the machine whilst out for the day with my mates for a few beers. I lose my money and the day is cut short.

Ive lost my all my money in the machine, i go home try and be brave but turn nasty, not pleasent to my partner.and say horrible things.

I remember down to my last £100, £13 on numbers 0 3 19 26 32 and the rest spread around on 4, 21 35. Hit the spin button and knew it was in the zero section. Great i said as the ball spun and then landed in number 15. Totally forgot to back number 15. The famous near miss well and truly in action. I walked out and walking to my car i aimed a punch at the rough cast wall, full force bursting open my hand.

Ive took sick days from work through losinging in these machines, had panic and anxiety attacks, sleepless nights, racing heatbeat, increased smoking, depression, isolation, the list goes on and on and on.

Just some of the effects thses machines have had on me and i mean SOME!!!!

Keep up the good work in this thread mate. Every post just makes so much sense.

Ive spent many a time sat at a machine on a losing streak, some guy over my shoulder watchin me. I just wanted to turn round and smack them right in the face.

Ive sat at the machine ploughing note after note knowing full well i hadnt done any xmas shopping and still had my bills to pay.

Ive sat at the machine whilst out for the day with my mates for a few beers. I lose my money and the day is cut short.

Ive lost my all my money in the machine, i go home try and be brave but turn nasty, not pleasent to my partner.and say horrible things.

I remember down to my last £100, £13 on numbers 0 3 19 26 32 and the rest spread around on 4, 21 35. Hit the spin button and knew it was in the zero section. Great i said as the ball spun and then landed in number 15. Totally forgot to back number 15. The famous near miss well and truly in action. I walked out and walking to my car i aimed a punch at the rough cast wall, full force bursting open my hand.

Ive took sick days from work through losinging in these machines, had panic and anxiety attacks, sleepless nights, racing heatbeat, increased smoking, depression, isolation, the list goes on and on and on.

Just some of the effects thses machines have had on me and i mean SOME!!!!