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Responsible Gambling: Help & Guidance

Discussion in 'Horse Racing' started by TopClass, Mar 12, 2017.

  1. Archers Road

    Archers Road Urban Spaceman

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    One word; powerlessness.
     
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  2. woolcombe-folly007

    woolcombe-folly007 Well-Known Member

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    Here's one for you! With the increase in these "tipsters" on Twitter majority of them tipping up look good trebles and accumalators. Some of them have a few thousand of followers that follow them. Is this leading to more irresponsible betting from these socialites on twitter who have no idea on horses let alone what they are betting on!! All they see is the pound signs! Ok yes they have good days where they may get a couple of hundred pound accy come in but they are literally just betting blind!!! What's worst somebody actually charge! Ok I have been guilty in the past of following one in particular for a hit and yes I made abit out of them but they offer no reasoning behind it and i just didn't Like it I was more concentrating on the money aspect and the result rather than the actual race itself so stopped!

    Now completely differnt to us not606ers Marjority of us have a real passion and love for this sport and having a bet again for some add to the enjoyment but the end result really is the Same for all of us here (apologies if you feel I'm speaking for you and I'm wrong) but we all love horses and the sport whether we bet on it or not! But these twitter "tipsters" and majority of thier followers are only after one thing!!
     
    #42
  3. redcgull

    redcgull Well-Known Member

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    World Championship 2017: Neil Robertson admits he was 'hooked' on gaming

    Neil Robertson says he is focused on his snooker again after getting "hooked" on computer games.
    Australian Robertson, world champion in 2010, has revealed he would sit up all night playing games, which affected his ability to practise the next day.
    "You can't win professional snooker matches when you are tired," the 35-year-old told Eurosport.
    Robertson leads Noppon Saengkham 8-1 in the first round at the Crucible and they play to a finish on Thursday.

    'I'm two months sober'

    Robertson, who has won 12 career ranking titles and is a former world number one, says at one stage computer games threatened to become "more important than the snooker".
    "I've had really good application in my practice after dragging myself away from playing too many video games," said Robertson, who has not reached a ranking final since his win at the Riga Masters in June 2016.

    Robertson also revealed that his obsession with gaming was a problem during the 2013-14 season, when he famously scored 100 centuries.
    "The years I had the 100 centuries, I should probably had around 120 because I got addicted like hell to Fifa 14," he said.
    "I was obsessed with winning the title against other players. That really affected the second half of my season.
    "I wouldn't say I would have won a lot more tournaments if it wasn't for video games, but I think I would have given myself more opportunities to go further in other events."

    It's a strong pull is obsession, compulsion, addiction and attacks us from everywhere...
     
    #43
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  4. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp....pounds-scale-uk-gambling-problem-experts-warn

    Experts warn of £12.6bn scale of UK gambling problem | Paul MacInnes | Sport | The Guardian
    Thursday 27 April 2017 13.56 EDT

    Experts are warning that the UK must face up to the scale of its gambling problem with a lack of research, and industry influence, preventing proper scrutiny of a growing national habit.

    Joey Barton’s 18-month suspension from football on betting-related charges, and the player’s response in which he spoke of an “explosion in sports betting”, has brought the spotlight back on to a practice that is increasingly ubiquitous within the national game, though its influence hardly ends there.

    According to the most recent estimates, Britons lost £12.6bn through gambling last year, almost £300 per person, with 48% of people questioned by the Gambling Commission having admitted to gambling at least once in the previous month. The number of problem or pathological gamblers registered at 0.7%, up from 0.5% in 2015, but as many as 5.5% of those questioned identified as “at risk” gamblers, more than double the figure recorded the previous year.

    This comes at a time when online or “remote” gambling, particularly betting on football matches and the “in play” events within them is exploding in popularity. Yet according to academics not nearly enough is known or understood about the effects of gambling on those who do it, while the industry and its associated technologies continue to become more sophisticated.

    “What we have [with online gambling] is a new platform for providing a whole range of existing gambling services which effectively increases exposure and availability to unprecedented levels,” says Dr Sean Cowlishaw of Bristol University. “It is a profound change and vulnerable groups such as young people have the ability to gamble 24 hours a day from the comfort of their home. And we have no idea of the extent of the problem.”

    “Technology advances at such a fast pace the structures that are tasked to control it don’t keep up,” says Professor Gerda Reith of the University of Glasgow, who has been working in the field of gambling harm for more than two decades. “That’s a fact of life but I think by not recognising that it’s such a problem we’re creating a problem. We’re not facing up to the potential for harm, particularly with regards to remote gambling that could lead to problems in the future.”

    Cowlishaw’s most recent research interviewed 1,000 men between the ages of 18-24 and found that as many as one in four displayed signs of a gambling problem. He believes effective research is being stymied by a lack of funding and undue influence on the part of the gambling industry.

    “There needs to be a recognition there are conflicts of interest that need to be actively managed,” Cowlishaw says. “Most of what we know [about gambling harm] isthrough research and evidence heavily influenced by industry. Industry funds all the research in the country through Gamble Aware. The amount of money put up is incredibly small and the industry has been able to maintain control over the topics addressed.”

    Gamble Aware is the charity formerly known as the Responsible Gambling Trust, charged by the department for culture, media and sport with commissioning research into, and treatment of, gambling harm. It is funded entirely by contributions from the gambling industry (while a donation is mandated by government, the amount is not).

    Cowlishaw believes this structure is problematic. “It’s implicit in the structure that the gambling industry is an acceptable partner,” he says.

    “If we look at research into tobacco and, increasingly, alcohol we can see the involvement of commercial groups can impede effective policy development. When we look at proposals for dealing with problem gambling, such as self-exclusion schemes or identifying people gambling in harmful ways, they all rely on partnerships with industry.”

    Self-exclusion is a process by which problem gamblers ask a bookmaker or casino to exclude them from gambling for an agreed period of time.

    Professor Jim Orford is a vocal critic of the UK gambling industry. He is part of the School of Psychology at Birmingham University and the founder of the group Gambling Watch UK.

    “The way I see it is there’s a collusion between the industry and government and that pulls in a lot of researchers and treatment providers who become dependent on industry financing to keep their work going,” he says. “I call this the gambling establishment. People become complicit in it.

    “It’s in the interests of industry [to behave this way]. I’m not blaming them entirely, if they’re told their activities are legitimate they are going to do what businesses do.

    “It’s in their interests to say it’s safe and there are a small number of people who are pathological gamblers. The truth is these things are on a continuum. For every one who is so obvious that they are pathological there are 10 who are gambling in a risky way, some of whom will be able to pull back and some who won’t.”

    Five of Gamble Aware’s 13 trustees have direct links to the gambling industry. In the financial year 2015-16, it raised £7.6m in contributions from the gambling industry. Of that it spent £919,654 on research. Meanwhile £3,788,698 was given to the gambling harm treatment charity Gamcare. Of Gamcare’s 11 trustees, six have direct connections to the gambling industry.

    Gamble Aware was the subject of a complaint of conflict of interest to the charities commission last year. It was cleared of the charge and found by the commission to have a suitable conflict of interest policy in place. It strongly rejects claims it is too close to the industry and say collaboration is vital.

    “The government has prescribed a voluntary donation-based system to fund research, education and treatment to deliver a national responsible gambling strategy,” says the Gamble Aware chief executive, Marc Etches, in a statement given to the Guardian. “Gamble Aware has always been totally transparent about industry funding and relationships. They put us in a stronger position to help people with gambling problems and prevent gambling related harm in the first place.

    “Our research relies on data and information sharing from the gambling industry and our treatment services rely on staff who work in the industry to make sure those at risk get the support they need. Given those circumstances, we believe it’s only sensible and pragmatic for us to have trustees from the industry and staff with experience of it.”
     
    #44
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  5. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Nice one Toppy, hope you are still abstaining? I closed my account after Aintree and I must say I haven't once been tempted to have a bet. I can easily ignore the old triggers (e.g. Big race or meeting, or someone's tip or advice on the forum, or a personal fancy). It just doesn't interest me any more.

    The article is very insightful and confirms what I have long felt - the gambling industry is being pretty much left to self-regulate abd is, of course, failing to do so. The ever-expanding online offer of betting possibilities is sucking more and more people in and, just like other forms of addiction, what might start out as a small step can ultimately lead to destruction of that person's life. More must be done.
     
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  6. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    I'm sure there is a problem but this report doesn't sound very convincing when it says 48% of people questioned admitted to having gambled at least once in the last month. What? Come up with something more startling than that. And a staggering £300 per year lost per person. FFS that's about £6 per week, less than too many people spend a day on smoking. If I lost an average of £6 a week enjoying myself having a flutter and watching the races and football, I wouldn't see that anywhere near the problem of smokers and heavy drinkers and drug takers. What constitutes gambling; a bet on the horses, on the football, scratch cards, slot machines, casinos, bingo etc etc? I think the report should have focused purely on addicted gamblers by type of gambling and not weakened the argument with pointless stats.

    There will always be a minority who get addicted, just as people become addicted to drink, cigs, drugs, tablets etc and they need to be caught before they get that far (not just gamblers). As for solving the problem. Where an account has to be opened it is easy to monitor betting patterns and if the Govt had access to those patterns they could step in. However, much of the "gambling" doesn't require opening an account so how can they be spotted in time? It's as difficult as spotting someone becoming addicted to smoking, drinking etc and stopping those in time. So, what % of this "gambling" problem can be monitored? Good luck with the rest because, as far as I can see, unless the individual realises and seeks help (unlikely) it can only be addressed by loved ones and friends and for them to seek help if needed.
     
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  7. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Two (or 3 or 4) wrongs don't make a right though do they Ron? Fact is that the percentages on all markets are in the bookies favour, so they will always win and the punter will always lose. The expansion of betting markets through the internet is a worrying trend and I don't believe one can liken a gambling addiction to an addiction to a physical substance such as alcohol or nicotine (huge problems in themselves). The 300 quid per year is, I assume, per capital so if you take away those who legally aren't allowed to gamble you do start getting into more meaningful territory. As long as people continue to trivialize it by using the phrases the gambling industry love (punt, flutter etc - all very harmless, you hardly notice the money leaving your pocket) then the problem will continue to grow.
     
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  8. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    Fair enough Oddy but why is the fact that it's available on the internet any more of a problem than anything else widely available on the internet and even more widely available in the shops/pubs etc. The thing is, people choose to spend their money how they like. Some like to bet on the football and horses, some like to smoke themselves to death or drink themselves to death and possibly cause physical harm to others through drunkenness. I find that more offensive than someone having a "flutter" and getting some enjoyment out of it. All forms of addiction are a major problem but I don't see any figures showing that gambling is a bigger problem than any other addiction. My guess is that it is nowhere near the problem of other addictions. What % of the population is deemed addicted to smoking and how does one determine addicted. What % of the population is deemed addicted to drink and how does one determine addicted. What % of the population is deemed addicted to gambling and how does one determine addicted, or even define gambling. My dad and just about every dad I knew when I was a kid used to have a bet on the horses every Saturday do the Pools every week. Is that addicted? We need to refine this definition of "gambling", break it down into what types are growing out of control. Betting on the horses/football once a week (or God forbid, once a month as the report alarms us) is no more of an addiction than going to the cinema every week or paying to watch your team playing football every week etc). With the former, you may even win now and again and treat the family to a break or something.

    I'm not trivialising addition to gambling by any means but I'd be surprised if there are more people actually addicted (ie can't stop and can't help themselves) to gambling than there are addicted to the other things I've mentioned. How much is spent on cigarettes a year and what does that work out to per person. Nearly everyone I know smokes and whilst they say they could stop if they wanted, I don't believe them. I don't know anyone who bets on the horses or football, or any other form of gambling. There are more people hooked on free games on their mobiles and I see that as a major socialising problem in future.

    As I said earlier, I have no doubt there is a growing problem but when I read a report that is supposed to be alarmist, I expect it to be lot more objective and convincing than that one
     
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  9. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    But governments around the world are trying to tackle addiction to alcohol and cigarettes (and other substances) as they are seen as damaging. Addiction to gambling can be just as damaging and I see nothing wrong with a report raising awareness of this and encouraging more control mechanisms be put in place. I'm by no means saying gambling addiction is on a par with alcohol or nicotine addiction BUT on the one hand, cigarette companies are banned from advertising and have to put sickening fotos on their packaging. On the other hand, the racing media is full of adverts encouraging gambling (despite the small print saying "bet responsibly"). Come to think of it, surprising so much advertising for alcohol is allowed.

    Anyway, nearly time for a beer
     
    #49
  10. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    Neither do I Oddy. They could have made a better job of it is all I'm saying.

    <laugh>.. and I fancy a cuppa. I think I might be addicted to tea <laugh>
     
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  11. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    888 hit with record £7.8 million fine for failing vulnerable customers

    From the Racing Post Website:

    "Online gambling firm 888 have been hit with a record fine of £7.8 million by the Gambling Commission for "serious failings" in the protection of their customers.
    The commission said they had found "serious flaws" in 888's social responsibility measures including failing to take action when one customer staked more than £1.3m over a 13-month period, including £55,000 stolen from their employer.
    A technical failure also meant more than 7,000 customers who had chosen to self-exclude were still able to access the operator's bingo platform and could continue to gamble having deposited £3.5m into their accounts.
    The commission's chief executive Sarah Harrison said: "Safeguarding consumers is not optional. This penalty package of just under £8 million reflects the seriousness of 888's failings to protect vulnerable customers.
    "The 888 sanction package will ensure those affected don't lose out, that the operator pays the price for its failings via a sum that will go to tackling gambling-related harm, and that independent assurance will be given to see that lessons are learned."
    Of the penalty package, £3.5m is repayment of deposits made by the self-excluded customers and compensation of £62,000 to the employer from whom money was stolen.
    A further £4.25m will be paid to a socially responsible cause to invest in measures to tackle gambling-related harm.
    The commission has also ordered an independent audit of 888's processes relating to customer protection.
    In response, 888 said in a statement: "The company has been working co-operatively with the UKGC throughout its review and has concluded a voluntary regulatory settlement with the UKGC.
    "The company accepts the conclusion of the review and is committed to providing players with a responsible as well as enjoyable gaming experience."
    Despite the news, 888's share price rose by more than five per cent to 266.25p on Thursday morning."
     
    #51
  12. Cyclonic

    Cyclonic Well Hung Member

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    I once had an 888 poker account. The bastards never let me win. Wonder if I can get a sniff of the payout? <laugh>
     
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  13. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    Good use of the funds, hopefully
     
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  14. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    **** everyone ...............................

     
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  15. StretchForTheLine

    StretchForTheLine Active Member

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    If I might chip in here, people...

    I'm watching some winter Olympics today, where the experts are expecting our most successful team outcome yet.
    We are not historically a nation of Lugers, Nordic skiers, nor indeed many of the sports included in the games, yet we manage to compete on a fairly equal basis, due to funding from...you guessed it...the National Lottery.
    So long as our government is encouraging the entire population to gamble, they are going to distance themselves from any intervention in the industry which is currently lining their pockets, (and saving them from investing any of their 'own' money in the whole process).
    We either need to look elsewhere for the answers to this growing problem (and I commend this very thread for bringing public attention, as a first step), or we need to bring pressure on central government to admit their participation and responsibility, before taking appropriate action.

    Just MHO, but dressing up a lottery ticket as 'don't let it be ..', or 'nicer problems to have' is just a fatuous attempt to palm off a 'flutter' on the lotto, as not being the same as 'real gambling'.

    Meandering waffle over.:emoticon-0113-sleep
     
    #55
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  16. stick

    stick Bumper King

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    The older I get the more cynical I become regarding how so many things are funded. Charitable donations and the National Lottery pick up the slack of so many things that government funding should have in the budget.
     
    #56
  17. StretchForTheLine

    StretchForTheLine Active Member

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    I totally agree, Stick(see, I'm like, young - 'cause I like, totally used the word "totally" like, in the right way:emoticon-0136-giggl), but what I find more disconcerting is MPs, (currently Karen Bradley, though they're all pretty much the same) appointing the likes of Sarah Harrison, Chief Executive; Bill Moyes, Chairman, Board of Commissioners UK Gambling Commission; on what basis, we'll never know - to come to such bland & non-specifically decisions as "A further £4.25m will be paid to a socially responsible cause to invest in measures to tackle gambling-related harm"; with no mention of which cause, who will be responsible for administering the funds, etc.(i.e. no accountability).
    I'm sure there is no question whatsoever of nepotism, nor undeclared interests on behalf of any of the parties involved; nor the vilification of anyone asking the questions that really need answering; but I'm equally sure that until this issue itself is addressed, the broader question of addiction will be dutifully swept under the red-tape carpet & pockets will continue to be lined...
     
    #57
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  18. gazboy

    gazboy Well-Known Member

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    At least he never mentioned that Mo fella!
     
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  19. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    Today the Government looks set to reject calls for Fixed Odds Machine (FOM) terminals in bookmaker shops to have maximum £2 stake limits.

    Currently people can bet £100 per spin, approximately every 20 seconds. Apparantly the Gambling Commission (ie the ‘chosen’ government gambling regulator) thinks that there is insufficient evidence to back the call for £2 stakes and is “protecting gamblers” with a £30 proposed stake cap instead.

    <doh>


    It’s all in the name of profit, I’m afraid. I’d also love a very close look into the shareholders links to current cabinet members in parliament. I bet there’s a lot of financial interest going on here.
     
    #59
  20. bayernkenny

    bayernkenny Well-Known Member

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    Seems to be a £2 limit for non roulette slots and a £30 limit on roulette FOBT's. As the current regulations state that no more than four machines are allowed in each branch of a bookmakers is there or is there going to be legislation to stop youknowwho from changing to four roulette machines in each of their branches.

    The government has as much back bone as my excrement!
     
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