Channel 4 tonight (Monday) 7.30 - football's gambling addiction

[No Ney Never]

Could be interesting.

[jdrobbo]

People know my thoughts on this, so I won’t ramble on.

It’s a programme that I hope many people are watching. The sooner gambling endorsements are removed from our club, the better. The damning effect that this culture is having on many in the digital age is enormous. Very interesting that all gambling companies now seem to be promoting safer betting; rest periods; deposit limits etc. Every single one of these features was available to me on the first online gambling account that I opened in 2003. There’s not an ounce of care there: they still want your money and they’ll offer you an attractive way of giving it up.

[tarkys_ears]

Not just football - I was watching some Christ Tarrant train programmes on Sky on demand.

EVERY SINGLE EPISODE began with Jeff Stelling telling us about how safe their lovely gambling site is, followed by at least one skybet advert every 10 mins or so. I can only assume this is the same for any of these streaming services on sky.

He is just the face of sky gambling as far as I'm concerned now. Completely lost all respect for him.

[Chester Perry]

Most of the recent discussion on the subject is on the last 4 pages of this thread viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52901

[Billy Balfour]

Aye, millionaire retired footballers rocking up on gambling commercials. Selling their souls like they are down to their last mansion. Not just gambling though, is it. I think top flight football is eating itself and in real danger of becoming toxic.

[Zlatan]

*becoming toxic…?

Too late for that

[Jakubclaret]

Aye, millionaire retired footballers rocking up on gambling commercials. Selling their souls like they are down to their last mansion. Not just gambling though, is it. I think top flight football is eating itself and in real danger of becoming toxic.

It's been like that for decades, you need to be consistent with your morals & principles, some of these that are leaving the gambling commercials are setting off to the local hospital pushing disabled kids around in wheelchairs ect.

[TsarBomba]

Do we not have an issue with the promotion of alcohol in football, too?

Gambling promotion in football and gambling addiction in general is horrendous, of course it is. And i have no issue with this being looked into.

But from my perspective, there is no bigger problem than alcoholism and drug addiction, in society as a whole.

I remember as a kid watching all the Amstel, and Heineken ads before Champions League games. Or even now, Budweiser ads at major tournaments.

If we’re banning gambling advertisement, then the same needs to be done for alcohol, surely?

Edit- And then where does it end?

[Jakubclaret]

Do we not have an issue with the promotion of alcohol in football, too?

Gambling promotion in football and gambling addiction in general is horrendous, of course it is. And i have no issue with this being looked into.

But from my perspective, there is no bigger problem than alcoholism and drug addiction, in society as a whole.

I remember as a kid watching all the Amstel, and Heineken ads before Champions League games. Or even now, Budweiser ads at major tournaments.

If we’re banning gambling advertisement, then the same needs to be done for alcohol, surely?

Edit- And then where does it end?

1 thing at a time could be the best approach, I don't even think the gambling problem can be tackled with any real conviction, what do we next stop people buying scratch cards & ban amusement arcades, we could even remove fruit machines away from pubs, if people want to something they'll do it by hook or crook a way will be found.

[ClaretTony]

I’ve been in a meeting tonight but have recorded this programme and will watch it tomorrow.

Unlike some, I personally have no gambling problems. The only gambling I do is chucking £2 a week at the lottery with my mum’s old numbers.

But I’ve seen the effect on gambling. I sat in a meeting back in late 2019 alongside two lads who had serious issues and were explaining how they’d got into the mess they’d been in. Thankfully those two lads have turned bad into good, both been able to get away from gambling and now trying to help others who are where they were.

[steve_f]

It was very well presented, and a very interesting watch. I used to gamble a fair bit on the horses, never heavily, but I used to watch guys on a Friday afternoon doing their wages. Thats when I decided to stop.

[willsclarets]

The lengths these companies go to to get you gambling is ridiculous, all under the guise of pretending they care about responsibility. I bet once a week, but I get dozens of emails about setting limits, free bets, free casino spins etc etc. They have zero interest in their customers welfare, and a new form of marketing is to advertise the fact they do care. An addict isn't going to use controls or will get round them, and a recreational gambler doesn't need them.

It's permeated our game to such an extent that unless your team is playing, the gambling is the entertainment not the game itself. At least that's what I've observed with friends and it's basically reiterated to us over and over through ads. I've no problem with any vice, within limits they make life a bit more fun. But you need to protect vulnerable people for whom certain vices are utter distruction. And using football as means of reaching them is unacceptable.

[superdimitri]

Most of the recent discussion on the subject is on the last 4 pages of this thread viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52901

off topic Chester. But did you see you can still link to individual posts? With the changes you just have to copy the link hidden in the note symbol to the left of each username in the post. On mobile you can long press the note icon, on desktop right click and copy link address.

You can also link people pages of a specific thread.
Using your magic money thread as an example. Here's page 5:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20891&start=200
Page 4:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20891&start=150

All you change is the starting post number, 50 posts per page. Sadly the same method doesn't let you link to post x or page x, for that you still have to copy the small note.

Either way, I thought it may help you bookmark specific posts or pages if need be.

[Richardsbfc]

12 weeks without a bet/gamble now. Feel like the best decision I've made!

Permanently blocked myself from all my betting accounts for life. I feel like a millionaire now! Haha

That said, since I've stopped I've noticed that the TV, Radio, Phone adverts (when your watching something on your phone or playing a game) is absolutely FULL of adverts - its criminal!

[beddie]

Richardsbfc. We’ll done, you should feel very proud of yourself, keep positive and you’ll achieve your goal. I agree the sooner all adverts on the tv relating to gambling are stopped the better. Alcohol is another one, how many times do you see the big supermarkets advertising large boxes of different beers at reduced prices or so many boxes for a fixed price, it needs stopping.
I didn’t see last nights programme but hope to get it on catch up.

[Richardsbfc]

Cheers bud! It was certainly difficult the first couple of weeks but all is good now.

Funny you mention alcohol because I took the decision to permanently do it while intoxicated on a zoom call with a good friend of mine! Haha

Didn't catch the programme myself but I don't think any of the content would suprise me. I'm certainly not against gambling but I completely lost the fun of it. When you are shouting at the screen because a defenders stopped the ball going out for a corner is when you know you've had enough!

[OssyClaret]

We’ll done Richardsbfc. You’ve done the hardest thing in breaking the habit. There will be times your discipline will be tested (major tournaments, race meetings or whatever else) so be ready for it.

For anyone else that wants to close all their accounts GAMSTOP offer an excellent service

https://www.gamstop.co.uk/

The sooner we get the shirt sponsor removed the better

[djemba-djemba]

The programme was alright but barely scratched the surface of the issue (I appreciate this is difficult when they’ve just got an hour long show to do it in).

Correct me if I’m wrong but I heard no reference at all to Gamblers Anonymous which was a shame. Those meetings literally save lives. The only people who truly know the anguish of a problem gambler is another problem gambler.

[Tall Paul]

There are are a couple of problem gamblers on this site, their problem being that they don't pay up after losing bets.

[tim_noone]

There are are a couple of problem gamblers on this site, their problem being that they don't pay up after losing bets.

Tbh. Sometimes it's better to write a debt off.

[Hibsclaret]

Cheers bud!

Well done Richard but you really must try to not advertise alcohol whilst you are succeeding in your battle

As for the programme it was good but could have gone further and as someone said above the gambling tools are either not used when needed or not needed when used, so therefore virtually pointless.

Very difficult problem to solve tbh because any business tries to make money out of their customers by rewarding them with discounts etc to entice them to spend more. This is a basic business principle and why most of the billionaires in the world are exactly that. Gambling firms offering incentives are only really doing what supermarkets do etc.

There needs to be more emphasis on support for the ones needing help and unfortunately this is one of those issues where there will always be people needing help.

[Quickenthetempo]

I'm not against betting in general but the advertising of betting companies within football is ridiculous, and our club has played a huge part in that.

I don't want our clubs social media encouraging our fans to bet with their betting partners.

[Jakubclaret]

Tbh. Sometimes it's better to write a debt off.

Or a better idea not being daft enough to enter into 1 in the first place

[Tall Paul]

Or a better idea not being daft enough to enter into 1 in the first place

You seem to have a thing about blaming the victim all the time, why is that?

[Jakubclaret]

Well done Richard but you really must try to not advertise alcohol whilst you are succeeding in your battle

As for the programme it was good but could have gone further and as someone said above the gambling tools are either not used when needed or not needed when used, so therefore virtually pointless.

Very difficult problem to solve tbh because any business tries to make money out of their customers by rewarding them with discounts etc to entice them to spend more. This is a basic business principle and why most of the billionaires in the world are exactly that. Gambling firms offering incentives are only really doing what supermarkets do etc.

There needs to be more emphasis on support for the ones needing help and unfortunately this is one of those issues where there will always be people needing help.

You've pretty much summed up in that post the situation & where some of the problems are, most people can gamble & do sensibly & what do you do with the 1s that can't, it's self recognition that gambling is becoming an addiction is the key & whilst people can't or won't recognise that there behaviour is out of control you are flogging a dead horse. It's similar to an alcoholic not wishing to stop the booze what do you do, stop selling alcohol so everyone can't enjoy a drink, it's down to the people themselves to make the right sort of lifestyle choices & not down to other interventions, parallels to the Twitter debate with people wanting outside interventions when the simple choices actually start with the people making the decisions. I think some people don't actually realise just how much there actions & decision making can negatively & positively influence there life's.

[Jakubclaret]

You seem to have a thing about blaming the victim all the time, why is that?

Diddums, make the right choices to start with & you won't experience the problems you face, be responsible & own your mistakes.

[Tall Paul]

Diddums, make the right choices to start with & you won't experience the problems you face, be responsible & own your mistakes.

I fully accept the risk of betting with strangers on the internet and it's a risk I can afford to take, especially as the vast majority of gamblers are pretty honourable. That doesn't mean those who aren't shouldn't be called out when they don't pay up.

Now please answer the question, why do you blame the victims all the time?

[Jakubclaret]

I fully accept the risk of betting with strangers on the internet and it's a risk I can afford to take, especially as the vast majority of gamblers are pretty honourable. That doesn't mean those who aren't shouldn't be called out when they don't pay up.

Now please answer the question, why do you blame the victims all the time?

It's not blaming the victims it's offering advice which will stop the victims ever becoming victims to start with, it's almost as if we feel people have to be victims, people don't. People are actually in control & can decide the right way or the wrong way, Marcus rashford was a victim on twitter it was wrong he received that abuse, but was Marcus rashford himself in a position to do something about that situation especially in light of what happens on there. We can invite problems upon ourselves but another way does actually exist where problems & any sort of trouble doesn't have to exist.

[claretonthecoast1882]

It's not blaming the victims it's offering advice which will stop the victims ever becoming victims to start with, it's almost as if we feel people have to be victims, people don't. People are actually in control & can decide the right way or the wrong way, Marcus rashford was a victim on twitter it was wrong he received that abuse, but was Marcus rashford himself in a position to do something about that situation especially in light of what happens on there. We can invite problems upon ourselves but another way does actually exist where problems & any sort of trouble doesn't have to exist.

What punishment would you have on your wheel of misfortune where the public get to decide which punishment Rashford should receive for committing the offence of being on twitter

[ClaretTony]

12 weeks without a bet/gamble now. Feel like the best decision I've made!

Permanently blocked myself from all my betting accounts for life. I feel like a millionaire now! Haha

That said, since I've stopped I've noticed that the TV, Radio, Phone adverts (when your watching something on your phone or playing a game) is absolutely FULL of adverts - its criminal!

Well done on making the decision and going 12 weeks. Just ensure you seek some support if you feel yourself dropping back.


One of the two people I referred to in my post further up the thread who I'd sat with in a meeting was actually on the programme last night. It's James Grimes who admitted to losing every penny he had in one lunchtime. James has done remarkably well from that point.

[Tall Paul]

It's not blaming the victims it's offering advice which will stop the victims ever becoming victims to start with, it's almost as if we feel people have to be victims, people don't. People are actually in control & can decide the right way or the wrong way, Marcus rashford was a victim on twitter it was wrong he received that abuse, but was Marcus rashford himself in a position to do something about that situation especially in light of what happens on there. We can invite problems upon ourselves but another way does actually exist where problems & any sort of trouble doesn't have to exist.

I've made quite a bit of money gambling with people on the internet. Why should I stop doing it just because there's a small risk of being stiffed by scumbags? And why shouldn't I call out those scumbags and try to shame them into paying up?

[Jakubclaret]

I've made quite a bit of money gambling with people on the internet. Why should I stop doing it just because there's a small risk of being stiffed by scumbags? And why shouldn't I call out those scumbags and try to shame them into paying up?

You won't get paid out, you've been a silly Billy to start with, live & learn & become wiser

[Tribesmen]

I think what made me sit up was that the govenment made £4.6 billion from gambling last year in taxes .

The poor lad who took his life was very sad and even then he was still getting free bets after his death .

[jdrobbo]

12 weeks without a bet/gamble now. Feel like the best decision I've made!

Permanently blocked myself from all my betting accounts for life. I feel like a millionaire now! Haha

That said, since I've stopped I've noticed that the TV, Radio, Phone adverts (when your watching something on your phone or playing a game) is absolutely FULL of adverts - its criminal!

Nice one, Richards! Really great!

[NottsClaret]

An old thread, but good to see Bolton taking a positive step.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-ma ... r-58672469

[IanMcL]

All goes over my head. When one arm bandits became 'complicated' it took away the 'mindless fun' where you just lose yourself and relax for a few mins.

I have been to Salisbury Races a handful of times and a pound on the Tote per race was my stake, so I could shout meaningfully for a nag. (Unsuccessfully)

The rest has never entered my head. Far too complicated and chancey.

[ŽižkovClaret]

An old thread, but good to see Bolton taking a positive step.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-ma ... r-58672469

Easier when its 6 figure revenue though isn't it? Would people be happy with a non gambling sponsor if it meant we didn't sign Cornet?

It needs legislating against, and until then we'd be daft not to take the money.

[Billy Balfour]

Easier when its 6 figure revenue though isn't it?

It's still a lot of money for the likes of Bolton. At least give some credit to where it's due.

[Claret]

Well done Bolton!
If all clubs did this then no one would lose out except betting companies.

[dandeclaret]

Cut ties with Gambling…… except the club run gambling schemes.

[dandeclaret]

Well done Bolton!
If all clubs did this then no one would lose out except betting companies.

So if everybody lost £x million in revenue, nobody loses out?

I like the maths.

[claretonthecoast1882]

So if everybody lost £x million in revenue, nobody loses out?

I like the maths.

What's £7m between non gambling friends

[dandeclaret]

What's £7m between non gambling friends

Ah Sure look..,... you just make up the shortfall in other revenue streams that are in your control....... like ticket prices.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Ah Sure look..,... you just make up the shortfall in other revenue streams that are in your control....... like ticket prices.

The possible end of kids free tickets, a jump in concessions and juvenile prices, the moving of the concessions / juvenile price range in the prime seats to enable them to sell for a higher price to full paying adults will all be worth it I am sure, if it means there is no betting logo visible.

[Billy Balfour]

This forum is becoming such a depressing place. The same people, day in, day, out with nothing good to say about anything whatsoever. A good news story about a club cutting its ties with the gambling industry, and some of the resident curmudgeons can't wait to turn it into yet another argument about 'whataboutery'.

[Jimmymaccer]

Isn’t Stoke owned by something like the richest family in the UK, who in turn own BET365……….wonder how much the club is propped up by BET365. Not that it seems to have helped them much!

Would we be happy with that sort of ownership?

[Claret]

So if everybody lost £x million in revenue, nobody loses out?

I like the maths.

There are plenty of other sponsors. Even if other sponsors paid less it would be the same across all clubs so no one would get a financial advantage. It’s a sad state of affairs when even fans are happy for their clubs to be funded by money from betting firm sponsorship, dodgy new owners and other such things.

[ŽižkovClaret]

This forum is becoming such a depressing place. The same people, day in, day, out with nothing good to say about anything whatsoever. A good news story about a club cutting its ties with the gambling industry, and some of the resident curmudgeons can't wait to turn it into yet another argument about 'whataboutery'.

Its called realism

[ClaretTony]

The Bolton news is old news, it's some weeks since they announced this, but Tranmere are the latest club to make such a move. They have also partnered with 'The Big Step' and 'Gambling with Lives'.

[Claret]

The Bolton news is old news, it's some weeks since they announced this, but Tranmere are the latest club to make such a move. They have also partnered with 'The Big Step' and 'Gambling with Lives'.

Good on them!
A lot of people don’t realise how destructive gambling can be.