Gambling Addiction - Need Help, A Chat - Read This!

[Gazdavid7]

I was recently £2500 in profit and lost it all. It doesn't matter how much a compulsive gambler wins, you always want more. Your brain doesn't allow you to stop, it's impossible. 

Could have had a bloody nice Christmas with that money, but when in the heat of the moment, even losing £50 of that £2500 will send you crazy. You will try and win that back and then it spirals out of control.

No one will understand unless you've experienced it

[davieG]

16 MPs receive free tickets from betting firms
By Daniel Kraemer
BBC Political Research Unit
2 November 2018

At least 16 MPs have received free sports tickets from betting companies since the 2017 general election.

A BBC analysis of parliament's register of MPs' interests has revealed that 13% of the £175,580 worth of sports tickets accepted by MPs came from betting companies, including William Hill and Ladbrokes.

The analysis comes after Tracey Crouch resigned as sports minister and appeared to criticise politicians who have links to the betting industry.

In her letter to Theresa May on Thursday evening, Ms Crouch complained that the reduction in the maximum stake for fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) was "being delayed until October 2019 due to commitments made by others to those with registered interests."

 

Who were the freebies for?
Of the 16 MPs, nine were Labour MPs, six Conservative and one SNP.

Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, received free tickets worth a total of £5,759 since the general election. He was hosted at 13 horse racing events by Ladbrokes Coral, William Hill and Sky Bet, which also offered him free tickets to the 2017 League One play-off between Millwall and Bradford City.

Mr Davies, a backbench MP, chairs the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on betting and gambling.

He has spoken out against restricting FOBTs numerous times in Parliament.

For example, in March 2016, he said:

"The inconvenient truth is that problem gambling rates have reduced since the introduction of fixed odds betting terminals."

And in November of the same year:

"Can the Minister tell us what the point is of reducing the stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals in betting shops when people can go straight on to the internet and play exactly the same games with unlimited stakes?"

The BBC approached Mr Davies for comment but, so far, hasn't received a response. Speaking to the Times, he denied using his links to encourage the government to change its position: "I'm flattered anyone thinks I could be so influential", he said.

The second most common guest of betting companies was Conservative MP Laurence Robertson, who received the hospitality of William Hill and Ladbrokes at a cost of £5,175 since the election.

On Thursday, during an urgent question tabled by Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson, he criticised the focus on FOBTs, drawing attention to the "losses that will be suffered on the high street in terms of the jobs of men, women and young people, who will also suffer poverty, and the losses to the horse racing industry."

Mr Robertson has links to the horse racing industry and, when contacted by the BBC, he said "it would be odd if I didn't visit racecourses in various capacities."

That's because - he pointed out - his constituency of Tewkesbury includes the Cheltenham racecourse and he has been a co-chair of the APPG on racing and bloodstock for 8 years.

Mr Robertson has previously defended the industry in parliament. During a Westminster Hall debate on 26 April 2016, he said: "There are people with addictive natures who will be addicted to something, whether that is alcohol, drugs or gambling, but we are discussing only one form of gambling, and many other forms are available."

Some Conservative MPs have highlighted a series of donations made to Tom Watson by millionaire former poker player Derek Webb, who founded the anti-FOBT Campaign for Fairer Gambling. Mr Watson told the Daily Mail he had been highlighting the issue before he met Mr Webb and was proud to campaign alongside him.

Within Labour's ranks, Tonia Antoniazzi topped the list. The MP for Gower received tickets and hospitality worth £1,693 from betting firms - including for boxing and darts.

Ms Antoniazzi told the BBC that the darts tickets were to play in a parliamentary charity darts competition. She added that she has been "a constant supporter of reducing the stake of fixed odds betting terminals."

235 sports events
The BBC's analysis does not cover events attended by government ministers in their official capacity.

Out of 235 free sports events attended by MPs since the general election, two of the top three most common donors are betting companies: William Hill totalled 24 gifts at a value of £13,273 and Ladbrokes Coral Group hosted 14.

A spokesperson for William Hill said: "As a business that has sport at its core, and is a major sponsor of sports events including horse racing, we do invite MPs of all parties and views to find out more about the industry."

[davieG]

Number of child gamblers quadruples in just two years

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46286945

[davieG]

Those using Bet365 this is where the money you lost goes.

 

 

The UK's best-paid boss, co-founder of online gambling firm Bet365 Denise Coates, has received another bumper pay rise.

The firm's accounts show compensation, for the firm's "highest paid director" rising to £265m including dividends.

That was £48m higher than the total she received last year as the popularity of online gambling continues to grow.

However the industry is facing mounting criticism for not doing enough to deal with problem gambling and addiction.

The privately held company is owned jointly by Ms Coates and members of her direct family, including her brother John who is joint chief executive and her father Peter, the firm's chairman. Last year Ms Coates' pay and dividends were reported to total £217m.

In the year to the end of March her basic pay rose from £199m to £220m. The firm paid out £90m in dividends in the same year, half of which are thought to have gone to Ms Coates, as the owner of half of Bet365's shares.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46289499

[Otis]

£800,000 a day. Unimaginable money.

[Ric Flair]

5 hours ago, davieG said:

Those using Bet365 this is where the money you lost goes.

 

 

The UK's best-paid boss, co-founder of online gambling firm Bet365 Denise Coates, has received another bumper pay rise.

The firm's accounts show compensation, for the firm's "highest paid director" rising to £265m including dividends.

That was £48m higher than the total she received last year as the popularity of online gambling continues to grow.

However the industry is facing mounting criticism for not doing enough to deal with problem gambling and addiction.

The privately held company is owned jointly by Ms Coates and members of her direct family, including her brother John who is joint chief executive and her father Peter, the firm's chairman. Last year Ms Coates' pay and dividends were reported to total £217m.

In the year to the end of March her basic pay rose from £199m to £220m. The firm paid out £90m in dividends in the same year, half of which are thought to have gone to Ms Coates, as the owner of half of Bet365's shares.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46289499

WHAT THE FCUK?!!!! I think this is all we need to know about how this industry has spiralled way out of control. 

[ScouseFox]

she built her own company and made it the world leader in a huge industry so she's paying herself her own money. she also employs fu cking loads of people and pays them pretty handsomely, too. not really sure her bonus/salary is an issue, here. 

[Ric Flair]

14 minutes ago, ScouseFox said:

she built her own company and made it the world leader in a huge industry so she's paying herself her own money. she also employs fu cking loads of people and pays them pretty handsomely, too. not really sure her bonus/salary is an issue, here. 

Aaaaah didnt realise she owned it, still obscene.

[ScouseFox]

yer she founded it out of pretty much nothing and turned it into one of the most successful businesses and companies this country's probably ever had. think the rest of her family own some of it too but majority is her's and she definitely started it.

 

fully involved in listening and reading all about any arguments of the morality of the gambling industry as a whole but not really sure who's to criticise someone simply for being incredibly fu cking good at what she does. 

[Ric Flair]

On 21/11/2018 at 22:19, ScouseFox said:

yer she founded it out of pretty much nothing and turned it into one of the most successful businesses and companies this country's probably ever had. think the rest of her family own some of it too but majority is her's and she definitely started it.

 

fully involved in listening and reading all about any arguments of the morality of the gambling industry as a whole but not really sure who's to criticise someone simply for being incredibly fu cking good at what she does. 

I suppose it's a moral thing, gambling shouldn't be illegal but it needs to be regulated far more than it is being. Companies and the government have hugely benefitted from the obscene increase in profits in the last 15 years as online gambling has been blown out of the stratosphere. 

 

I'm trying not to be biased here as I'm a hopeless compulsive gambler which could have damn near ruined my life but I have to shoulder nearly all of that blame. All gamblers have to but the bombardment of adverts, free bets and various covert things they do is very naughty and is costing lives. What's truly disgusting is the government and NHS contribute zero funds to helping the gambling epidemic, there is an initiative that gambling companies have to pay in to to support responsible gambling but theres no care involved in what's happening.

 

Ultimately, she has earnt the dough and can do what she likes with it but if there were more stringent regulations in place, there'd be less gambling and less profit which has to be a good thing for the welfare of this country.

 

Bet 365 pay something staggering like £80m in tax and yet our government dont use any of it for problem gamblers. Shame on them.

[davieG]

Barclays has become the first High Street bank to allow its customers to "switch off" certain types of spending on their debit cards.

The idea is to help vulnerable customers, particularly problem gamblers, or those in serious debt.

However, all account holders can now block their own spending in a number of categories, including supermarkets, restaurants, pubs and petrol stations.

It follows pressure from charities and money experts such as Martin Lewis.

How a banking app stopped my gambling
How does it work?
Customers are not able to block specific retailers, but instead can decide which categories of spending are allowed.

These are:

Groceries and supermarkets
Restaurants, takeaways, pubs and bars
Petrol stations
Gambling - including websites, betting shops and lottery tickets
Premium rate websites and phone lines, including TV voting, competitions and adult services
Customers who want to select any of the categories above can do so via the Barclays app (see below). However, they will need to download the latest version of it.

It is also possible to phone the bank, or go into a branch.

For the moment, the tool only applies to spending on debit cards, although it should apply to credit cards at a later date.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46512030

[Col city fan]

http://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-griffiths-to-take-break-from-football-due-to-gambling-issues-20181212?c=1544625346758&fbclid=IwAR3_GHiv0zYvlkYlHYOcqKrshVyp87q7ntdca2iSHwZQQuSlSNHoT0_vKIE

[HesNotGudjonsonn2]

Hi Guys,

 

I was wondering if someone on here could enlighten me. I am not a regular fruit machine player but was in a bar waiting for a friend today so indulged a little. I put in £20 and got on the board with a chance of a top pot of £98 and a Silver pot of £50..I lost this time. However, I still had time to kill so added another £20, got on the board again but this time the top pot was £88 and the silver pot was £40. How come the pots go down when I am adding to the pots? It makes no sense to me. Information would be gratefully received as I feel someone has fiddled with it as it couldn't possibly do that as a fair game, could it?

[Alf Bentley]

26 minutes ago, HesNotGudjonsonn2 said:

Hi Guys,

 

I was wondering if someone on here could enlighten me. I am not a regular fruit machine player but was in a bar waiting for a friend today so indulged a little. I put in £20 and got on the board with a chance of a top pot of £98 and a Silver pot of £50..I lost this time. However, I still had time to kill so added another £20, got on the board again but this time the top pot was £88 and the silver pot was £40. How come the pots go down when I am adding to the pots? It makes no sense to me. Information would be gratefully received as I feel someone has fiddled with it as it couldn't possibly do that as a fair game, could it?

 

I reckon this post might be better suited to the Betting Thread, rather than the Gambling Addiction thread..... 

[davieG]

11 hours ago, HesNotGudjonsonn2 said:

Hi Guys,

 

I was wondering if someone on here could enlighten me. I am not a regular fruit machine player but was in a bar waiting for a friend today so indulged a little. I put in £20 and got on the board with a chance of a top pot of £98 and a Silver pot of £50..I lost this time. However, I still had time to kill so added another £20, got on the board again but this time the top pot was £88 and the silver pot was £40. How come the pots go down when I am adding to the pots? It makes no sense to me. Information would be gratefully received as I feel someone has fiddled with it as it couldn't possibly do that as a fair game, could it?

They're designed so that you lose more the more you play, I'd suggest instead of being concerned about it you just forget the whole idea and move on to something more fruitful (pun intended)

[Russell sprout]

For those with gambling addiction,

and wanting to help themselves,

and New Years resolutions etc,

get some passport pictures taken and go to every bookmakers and exclude yourselves,the minimum when I done it was 12 months through William hill,most others do 3 years,the staff in the bookies are really respectful of you when you do this so don’t be embarrassed,

we will always be gambling addicts but this is a boundary in place to help,

for online gamblers download K9(like the dog)

find someone you trust to send the link to there email as it’s no good you received good it as you can unlock it whenever you want,this will block all adult content from YouTube to porn to gambling,but let’s be serious gambling is an illness take this seriously,

dont tell yourself you will never bet again,

its to daunting so be in the mindset of just avoiding that next bet,it really is mind over matter,good luck all from a recovering compulsive gambler 

[brucey]

On 27/12/2018 at 11:25, Russell sprout said:

For those with gambling addiction,

and wanting to help themselves,

and New Years resolutions etc,

get some passport pictures taken and go to every bookmakers and exclude yourselves,the minimum when I done it was 12 months through William hill,most others do 3 years,the staff in the bookies are really respectful of you when you do this so don’t be embarrassed,

we will always be gambling addicts but this is a boundary in place to help,

for online gamblers download K9(like the dog)

find someone you trust to send the link to there email as it’s no good you received good it as you can unlock it whenever you want,this will block all adult content from YouTube to porn to gambling,but let’s be serious gambling is an illness take this seriously,

dont tell yourself you will never bet again,

its to daunting so be in the mindset of just avoiding that next bet,it really is mind over matter,good luck all from a recovering compulsive gambler 

Great advice mate. Just to add, within the K9 admin settings, there is a custom option so it blocks only gambling and not the other stuff.

 

Have you signed up to Gamstop?

 

Edited 29 December 2018 by brucey

[Russell sprout]

7 hours ago, brucey said:

Great advice mate. Just to add, within the K9 admin settings, there is a custom option so it blocks only gambling and not the other stuff.

 

Have you signed up to Gamstop?

 

If you sign up to k9 it will literally block anything deemed adult content,my wife is the only one who knows how to unblock it as the password was through her email address,

i don’t really think about gambling anymore it been 6 years for me though I did slip up a few years ago but admitted my error straight away to mrs,

she was fuming understandably but I’m stronger for it,

weve had the best Xmas financially in years,as we’ve saved over the year,

yestaday I brought her some uggs for £140,

never would I have done that whilst gambling,

vichais death the other month has taught me that as a recovering gambling addict,

which is what I will always be as your only 1 bet away from becoming a gambler is that it’s important to give,

he was a generous man and though I’m by no means loaded,it’s important for me that I acknowledge my mistakes and right my wrongs by giving having taken for so many years 

[Russell sprout]

On 03/11/2018 at 08:19, Gazdavid7 said:

I was recently £2500 in profit and lost it all. It doesn't matter how much a compulsive gambler wins, you always want more. Your brain doesn't allow you to stop, it's impossible. 

Could have had a bloody nice Christmas with that money, but when in the heat of the moment, even losing £50 of that £2500 will send you crazy. You will try and win that back and then it spirals out of control.

No one will understand unless you've experienced it

As an addict which you like me are,

you never win,

its a short term loan from the bookies that they will take back,

ive read your posts and no exactly how you feel,

ive been in that position,

but it can all get better,that I promise you,

the amount you win or lose,or how much or little you gamble is almost irrelevant,

its how often you gamble which determines a compulsive gambler,

i attended gamblers anonymous for 4 years and it helped loads,

i can honestly say that no matter how bad you feel,your story is not shocking at all,

its a typical gambler story and the fact you’ve posted what you did shows you take responsibility for it,

i reply to these posts cuz I take pleasure is trying to help others the way others helped me,

pm me if you need someone to talk to,

thats the best therapy 

 

Edited 29 December 2018 by Russell sprout

[Ric Flair]

7 months gambling free, not an achievement but as the new year beckons it's a reminder of the journey I'm on and how determined I am to abstain for the rest of my life. It's been an up and down year mentally, even after stopping gambling I was mentally fcuked. This has passed and I'm now out of the protection mode and in to making a life that has no place for any form of gambling, it's a great place to be. I must never let up on this pursuit.

 

Hope others out there are doing well, as always I'm here if anyone wants a chat. Them fcukers in the industry wont destroy us any longer.

[Russell sprout]

12 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

7 months gambling free, not an achievement but as the new year beckons it's a reminder of the journey I'm on and how determined I am to abstain for the rest of my life. It's been an up and down year mentally, even after stopping gambling I was mentally fcuked. This has passed and I'm now out of the protection mode and in to making a life that has no place for any form of gambling, it's a great place to be. I must never let up on this pursuit.

 

Hope others out there are doing well, as always I'm here if anyone wants a chat. Them fcukers in the industry wont destroy us any longer.

Your 7 months into the rest of your life,

its a great achievement so far,

but as said above your only one bet away from starting again,

so just avoid that next bet,

take it one day at a time,don’t tell yourself your gonna go all of January without a bet,

you will have some bad days and some great,but on the bad days there the important days where you need to tell yourself ‘I’m not going to have a bet’,

it does get easier I can gaurentee that,

well done again and when your next in holiday or whatever you enjoy doing you can remind yourself that being gamble free has paid for your trip

 

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, Russell sprout said:

Your 7 months into the rest of your life,

its a great achievement so far,

but as said above your only one bet away from starting again,

so just avoid that next bet,

take it one day at a time,don’t tell yourself your gonna go all of January without a bet,

you will have some bad days and some great,but on the bad days there the important days where you need to tell yourself ‘I’m not going to have a bet’,

it does get easier I can gaurentee that,

well done again and when your next in holiday or whatever you enjoy doing you can remind yourself that being gamble free has paid for your trip

 

Cheers mate, I've got a good routine that I stick to which is helping give me the best shot at abstaining. I go to GA as often as I can and I have counselling from Gamcare. I feel like I am strong enough to never bet again but i'll not change my routine if I can help it, why would I when it's helping me so much. It also makes me feel a better person and more appreciative of my life and not be so materialistic which is something compulsive gamblers really struggle with. They worry about what others have and what they think they haven't got and try and go and get it, without hard work. It's all a load of bollocks. I realise that now.

[Russell sprout]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

Cheers mate, I've got a good routine that I stick to which is helping give me the best shot at abstaining. I go to GA as often as I can and I have counselling from Gamcare. I feel like I am strong enough to never bet again but i'll not change my routine if I can help it, why would I when it's helping me so much. It also makes me feel a better person and more appreciative of my life and not be so materialistic which is something compulsive gamblers really struggle with. They worry about what others have and what they think they haven't got and try and go and get it, without hard work. It's all a load of bollocks. I realise that now.

Accept the things you cannot change,

courage to change the things you can,

and wisdom to know the difference

[Ric Flair]

23 hours ago, Russell sprout said:

Accept the things you cannot change,

courage to change the things you can,

and wisdom to know the difference

Amen to that squire!!!

 

I went last night for the first time in around a month, due to Christmas and the missus doing extra shifts in the evening. Anyway, I could have easily not gone again and then who knows how long that absence could go on once you're used to not doing something. Anyway, I made myself go and it was hugely beneficial. There was a lad there who used to attend for 4 years but hasn't been seen for 13 months due to having a baby and then thinking he didn't need to go any longer. He came back though as although he hasn't relapsed, he feels his mindset was returning to the way it was when he was gambling and he's been deeply out of sorts. It gave me the reminder I need GA to keep me focused and it's more than just tackling the abstinence from gambling, it really is a powerful place.

[The Syrup]

Not had a bet for over 6 months myself and GamStop has prevented me from signing up to betting sites (I've tried!), seems that its is easy to get round though!. I guess no system is perfect.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46830810

Edited 13 January 2019 by The Syrup