Gambling Nation

The Dark Horse · Post by **The Dark Horse** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 3:59 pm

I agree Lugsy, but a lot of people would class that kind of thing as conspiracy theory, its reputation being tarnished by the rubbish it's often associated with.

maverick69 · Post by **maverick69** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:30 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1lTR8V90qU

Chris Hitchens was a genius, shame he died

mikej82 · Post by **mikej82** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 7:45 pm

Flashing lights are getting to some of you lot

redlinesman · Post by **redlinesman** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:55 am

I think one of the most interesting things was that gambling websites should be able to identify problem gamblers from their betting activity. This must surely be implemented shortly and become a standard regulation in the UK.

betchrider · Post by **betchrider** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:48 am

They already can just as they can identify winners and ban them

Drpepper · Post by **Drpepper** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 9:44 am

It's counter productive though and unenforceable, with the sheer volume of gambling websites, any banned customers will simply migrate to other websites, and even if you managed to get an all-encompassing framework in place, there'll always be some unscrupulous websites somewhere who will welcome these customers, so they have nothing to gain and everything to lose from banning problem gamblers. It's sad, it's not fair, but it's just the way it is.

maverick69 · Post by **maverick69** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 10:06 am

Drpepper wrote:It's counter productive though and unenforceable, with the sheer volume of gambling websites, any banned customers will simply migrate to other websites, and even if you managed to get an all-encompassing framework in place, there'll always be some unscrupulous websites somewhere who will welcome these customers, so they have nothing to gain and everything to lose from banning problem gamblers. It's sad, it's not fair, but it's just the way it is.

That's life , that's what all the people say, ridding high in April, shot down in May

blackmogu · Post by **blackmogu** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:44 pm

redlinesman wrote:I think one of the most interesting things was that gambling websites should be able to identify problem gamblers from their betting activity. This must surely be implemented shortly and become a standard regulation in the UK.

Problem gambling patterns can only be discerned when you know someones total disposable income. Unworkable.

Ruler of The World · Post by **Ruler of The World** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:34 pm

You make me laugh. Do we really think betting companies don't know who problem gamblers are? Do you really think that if they knew someone was a 100% a mental addict gambler, they would ban them? Of course not! They are their best source of income! If someone started saying stuff like like "Oh I pawned this today to have a spin" or actually ASKED to be excluded, fair enough, action will be taken but while that person just comes in and ploughs cash into those terminals or on to those horses, dogs, football bets and walks out without dropping to the ground crying or smashing a machine or the shop up, he's 'a customer' and effectively an 'asset'. It doesn't matter if he is an old man who stinks the shop out, whoever this 'asset' is, as long as they behave normally they're fine. The other way someone could get attention drawn towards them is if their Mrs or someone from the family was to walk in on them and kick up a fuss, have a go at them publicly or tell the staff he's a mental gambling prick, etc.

Apart from that, let's look at when online casinos have "VIP" customers. With some companies this means this person gets free cash every month or couple of weeks like I do with Ladbrokes, might get the odd bonus too, is this to HELP us? Obviously not, its to keep us in the game, a reminder because we have a record with them where we're depositing excessively. These companies TARGET problem gamblers but they have no proof of whether this person is in fact a problem gambler or just someone who likes to gamble, they just take that chance because they know in the long run everyone loses unless they hit 1 of those major progessive jackpots. Even then, the progressive Jackpot winner will be paraded to tempt others to play - everything pays for itself in the long run, these companies are highly intelligent and know exactly what they're giving away. No such thing as a free lunch? LOL, the free lunch is like a free bit of crack to a crack addict who has no money left to buy crack, a free portion just large enough to keep them hooked until their next pay day or giro day comes along and they can buy some again. I'm not saying they're evil, crack addiction is completely different to gambling as no good can ever come out of taking crack and a gambler always has a chance to win but its still an addiction and the urges are similar (not that I've tried crack). This is business, a gambler loves a gamble, they know this, he has a record so they keep him involved. Its like someone who loves buying sports cars getting invitiations to test drive new ones if he has a record of buying them.

The whole point is, gambling is a business just like everything else. People should not lose sight of that. You could make a villain out of anyone who runs any business if you twist it right, at the end of the day we decide whether or not we want to gamble. Sinister ways of making us continue to use a business is only seen as wrong when it involves gambling these days - no one points the finger at Tesco for giving money off vouchers or 3 for 2 offers to make us spend more than we really want to.

eastangliapro · Post by **eastangliapro** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 8:29 pm

am i fuck reading all that

kong · Post by **kong** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:52 pm

I read it till the end. Initially its a good rant, but the last paragraph is spot on.

eastangliapro · Post by **eastangliapro** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:54 pm

i have a tendency to doze off when i'm bor..zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

oldskool · Post by **oldskool** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:36 am

it's repeating on bbc1 now if anyone else is awake at this time

trayhop123 · Post by **trayhop123** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:29 pm

darky n lugs

i did say it was a overlong and wishy washy

there are of course many unsubstantiated truths

but the real power ,,,, starting with the banks etc , is sound

and of course there are people within the oil industry that want to supress new forms of energy etc

regardless of whats fact or conjecture ,,,,,,,, its still compulsive viewing

mr lugsy · Post by **mr lugsy** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 3:36 pm

???? i didn't even comment on it! , i love a bit of conspiracy just like the next irrational paranoid guy!