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

[Ric Flair]

On ‎30‎/‎08‎/‎2019 at 22:59, Russell sprout said:

I am a recovering gambling addict,

and on a holiday to Benidorm this summer slipped up,

across from our hotel was a pub where u can place bets,

i popped out to get the kids some drinks and my curiosity got the better of me,

having euros on me it seemed like Monopoly money and I foolishly put 20 euros on a greyhound at 4/1 and it won,

All of a sudden it felt easy again and having gone so long without a bet it was almost like the first ever time I won in terms of the buzz,

i went back to the Mrs and gave her the money and told her I just won it betting,

but she didn’t seem pissed off to my surprise,

instead telling me she doesn’t mind me popping across the road for an hour here and there,

im a greedy gambler and would go and have a bet for the whole 11 days whilst we was away,

somedays 20 euro others 50,

our kids money,

the mrs thinks it was 5 and 10 here and there but it still started to piss her off cuz it was every day,

i even gambled 50 euros on that stupid potato game they play on the streets,

mrs was fuming and we sat down for a drink in silence,

my kids looking sad at mum and dad arguing in holiday😞

i told her I know it’s getting silly and will knock it on the head,

shortly after returning we went away in England for a week,

we played bingo 1 night and I won £125,

but was also putting any change from drinks in the fruit machine,

my mum joined us on this holiday and i openly told her about the bingo,

she said that’s stupid of me and I made my excuses that it was only a one off,

then one night I asked my mum for some change to get a drink as Mrs was on the fair with the kids,I was also with my mother in law who knows of my past gambling,

as I headed to the bar I went on a fruit machine,

then I see my mum standing next to me giving me the evils,

she was watching where I was going,

’get off it now’,she said,

and she walked away,

upon my return to the table she was disappointed and fuming,

and told me this,

then the mrs and kids arrived who knew something had gone off,

when the kids went to play I confessed everything to my mum,

mother in law and wife who knew I was betting but not how much,

and as understanding as they were I could still see the disappointment in them,

and I had never seen it like that before,

im now 23 days into my recovery and feel ashamed at what I’ve done but feel a better person now everyone knows my dirty little secret,

my mum catching me was the best thing to happen to me and sometimes having to keep looking over your shoulder isn’t a bad thing if it stops you gambling.

Well done on facing up to your problems mate, focus and harness this now and work tirelessly to build a better life. A healthy and happy life away from gambling, for you and your family and loved ones around you. Get yourself to a local G.A meeting as well, they save lives those places. I'll be at mine tonight and what I get out of being there for 2 hours every week is worth a million hours elsewhere in my recovery.

[David Guiza]

6 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

A very good piece that is, one I think bookmakers would find very hard to wriggle out of.

I listened to John Robins' Richard Herring podcast last night from a week or so ago and he brought up the BBC documentary. 

One thing he mentioned was that people compare it to the alcohol industry, but that they're way off the mark. He said that the gambling industry doesn't want the people who will have a week ridiculous accumulator of 50p etc on 10 teams, they want the people who will re-mortgage their house. The alcohol industry would survive without alcoholics, but the gambling industry couldn't without their addicts. 

 

I do have a man-crush on John Robins and think he's doing fantastic work in awareness of the subject, pleased to see it getting more traction now he's on the BBC. 

[Ric Flair]

10 minutes ago, David Guiza said:

I listened to John Robins' Richard Herring podcast last night from a week or so ago and he brought up the BBC documentary. 

One thing he mentioned was that people compare it to the alcohol industry, but that they're way off the mark. He said that the gambling industry doesn't want the people who will have a week ridiculous accumulator of 50p etc on 10 teams, they want the people who will re-mortgage their house. The alcohol industry would survive without alcoholics, but the gambling industry couldn't without their addicts. 

 

I do have a man-crush on John Robins and think he's doing fantastic work in awareness of the subject, pleased to see it getting more traction now he's on the BBC. 

It's interesting trying to compare different industries that have a percentage of users/customers that are addicts. Currently the gambling industry have very little in the way of restrictions on advertising, their responsibilities in the health and well being of their target audience and in the taxes charged to them by comparison. It is very much like the tobacco and alcohol companies 20-40 years ago where they would sponsor anything and everything but since there's been pressure globally on how bad it is for you there has invariably been restrictions put in place. I'm not so sure how much this prevents people from becoming addicts, it's very subjective but right now it feels like there's a free ride for the gambling companies and they really don't give a fcuk. It is being rammed down people's throats all day and every day, if you want to spectate either in person or on TV, listen on the radio etc then you will be bombarded with gambling at sporting events. It's the disgusting tactics of the companies giving out free bets to their most loyal (most persistent gamblers = compulsive gamblers) and essentially ensuring they keep coming back and losing more and more of their own money once the free bonus's run out. This is no different than a drug dealer every week giving their helpless crack punter a free couple of hits before their giro lands, or Smirnoff or Carling teaming up with Wetherspoons and having an all you can swig hour for free every Tuesday at 10am. On the face of it the offerings look generous but it's yet another money maker or they wouldn't do it and that's the danger with gambling. Anyone prepared to keep playing online slots or casinos aren't recreational or non-problem gamblers, they are addicts even if they aren't ready to admit it yet.

 

I'd love to know if the drinks industry could match the damning statistic that 78% of their revenue comes from only 4% of their customers, I highly doubt it and that's why it's not comparable. I must admit it's probably easier to overcome and manage being a compulsive gambler, where as being an alcoholic means you're whole social life is put under serious pressure constantly as you try to abstain. Our country is built on drinking, where as gambling although it is now synonymous with sport it is easier with the right recovery and discipline to keep away from and it not feel like you are deliberately hiding or depriving yourself of certain things in life. Either way it's a horrible addiction and more needs to be done to help society, I have a hope that eventually there will be more being done for this but right now it's very sad to see.

[David Guiza]

16 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

It's interesting trying to compare different industries that have a percentage of users/customers that are addicts. Currently the gambling industry have very little in the way of restrictions on advertising, their responsibilities in the health and well being of their target audience and in the taxes charged to them by comparison. It is very much like the tobacco and alcohol companies 20-40 years ago where they would sponsor anything and everything but since there's been pressure globally on how bad it is for you there has invariably been restrictions put in place. I'm not so sure how much this prevents people from becoming addicts, it's very subjective but right now it feels like there's a free ride for the gambling companies and they really don't give a fcuk. It is being rammed down people's throats all day and every day, if you want to spectate either in person or on TV, listen on the radio etc then you will be bombarded with gambling at sporting events. It's the disgusting tactics of the companies giving out free bets to their most loyal (most persistent gamblers = compulsive gamblers) and essentially ensuring they keep coming back and losing more and more of their own money once the free bonus's run out. This is no different than a drug dealer every week giving their helpless crack punter a free couple of hits before their giro lands, or Smirnoff or Carling teaming up with Wetherspoons and having an all you can swig hour for free every Tuesday at 10am. On the face of it the offerings look generous but it's yet another money maker or they wouldn't do it and that's the danger with gambling. Anyone prepared to keep playing online slots or casinos aren't recreational or non-problem gamblers, they are addicts even if they aren't ready to admit it yet.

 

I'd love to know if the drinks industry could match the damning statistic that 78% of their revenue comes from only 4% of their customers, I highly doubt it and that's why it's not comparable. I must admit it's probably easier to overcome and manage being a compulsive gambler, where as being an alcoholic means you're whole social life is put under serious pressure constantly as you try to abstain. Our country is built on drinking, where as gambling although it is now synonymous with sport it is easier with the right recovery and discipline to keep away from and it not feel like you are deliberately hiding or depriving yourself of certain things in life. Either way it's a horrible addiction and more needs to be done to help society, I have a hope that eventually there will be more being done for this but right now it's very sad to see.

Yeah, I imagine alcoholism is a far greater hill to climb over but, as you mention, at least steps have been taken to counteract the chances of that happening to an individual. 

 

As you have referred to, if you draw parallels between drug/alcohol and gambling addiction and how accessible gambling is in comparison to the other two, then it really illustrates how ridiculous it is. 

 

Practically every poor area in Britain will have numerous bookies too, you can almost judge the quality of an area by how many bookies per square foot there are. It's atrocious how open they are at attracting their clientele. 

[davieG]

The mother of a woman who killed herself after gambling away £36,000 in a fortnight hopes a new NHS service will stop others facing the same pain.

 

Kimberley Wadsworth even gambled away money raised to pay off her debts, leaving her mother Kay homeless.

The Northern Gambling Service clinic in Leeds is the first outside London.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said no-one's access to support should depend on where they live.

Kimberley, 32, who lived in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, started gambling at casinos and online in 2015 against a backdrop of depression, the death of her father and an unhappy marriage.

She tried to hide it from her mother, but had spent £44,000 on gambling, including £17,000 from her grandmother's will.

Mrs Wadsworth, 65, said: "I sold my house in Leeds, the family home. I gave her £36,000 so that she could pay off her gambling debts and she didn't pay it off.

"She didn't pay a penny off and she just gambled it all away within two weeks and I became homeless."

She said she had arranged for Kimberley to see a hypnotherapist to get her through her gambling addiction but she never went.

Instead, she sent her mum a message which read "It's too late for me, mum", before taking her life.

 

More on this here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-49687500

 

[Dan LCFC]

Think I'm going to knock it on the head. Just gotten stupid again lately with this whole in-play nonsense where I try and build money up quickly. I keep getting so far and blowing the lot. It's stupid and while I'm not out of pocket, I've got a lot less than I should have.

 

All gotten stupid.

[StanSP]

2 hours ago, Dan LCFC said:

Think I'm going to knock it on the head. Just gotten stupid again lately with this whole in-play nonsense where I try and build money up quickly. I keep getting so far and blowing the lot. It's stupid and while I'm not out of pocket, I've got a lot less than I should have.

 

All gotten stupid.

I've found that you feel quite relieved in the immediate instance of stopping. It's once that wears off that it's a bit difficult to maintain and resist the temptation. 

 

Good luck though. It's not an easy thing at any stage to stop betting. 

[Unabomber]

I’m starting to think it should all just be banned. People dying etc is just heartbreaking to read and to think companies are literally profiting from this. I bet abit still maybe about £20 a week. Used to bet a lot more and would win a decent amount but it would go eventually chasing bets etc. Never became addicted fortunately but can see how easy it can be. 

 

It does annoy me when the likes of talksport run these stories every now and again yet proceed to hammer you with betting ads. Same with sky bet who proclaim “when the fun stops stop” every now and again. Yet they ****ing ram betting ads down your throats at every possible opportunity!!! They literally have their super 6 thing running every week. It’s such a dangerous industry where the hypocrisy is scary.

Edited 18 September 2019 by Unabomber

[Col city fan]

On 18/09/2019 at 20:36, Unabomber said:

I’m starting to think it should all just be banned. People dying etc is just heartbreaking to read and to think companies are literally profiting from this. I bet abit still maybe about £20 a week. Used to bet a lot more and would win a decent amount but it would go eventually chasing bets etc. Never became addicted fortunately but can see how easy it can be. 

 

It does annoy me when the likes of talksport run these stories every now and again yet proceed to hammer you with betting ads. Same with sky bet who proclaim “when the fun stops stop” every now and again. Yet they ****ing ram betting ads down your throats at every possible opportunity!!! They literally have their super 6 thing running every week. It’s such a dangerous industry where the hypocrisy is scary.

Spot on mate re the hypocrisy. It oozes out of every one of these bloody adverts.

’The best site in the world... it’s like being there’ etc, then to proceed with all the bumf on ‘responsible gambling’

I don’t know the answer though Una? People have always gambled and will always find a way.

[goose2010]

On ‎05‎/‎09‎/‎2019 at 15:20, David Guiza said:

I listened to John Robins' Richard Herring podcast last night from a week or so ago and he brought up the BBC documentary. 

One thing he mentioned was that people compare it to the alcohol industry, but that they're way off the mark. He said that the gambling industry doesn't want the people who will have a week ridiculous accumulator of 50p etc on 10 teams, they want the people who will re-mortgage their house. The alcohol industry would survive without alcoholics, but the gambling industry couldn't without their addicts. 

 

I do have a man-crush on John Robins and think he's doing fantastic work in awareness of the subject, pleased to see it getting more traction now he's on the BBC. 

If you are Leicester based John's stand up is at the Y Theatre next Thursday. It is brilliant i went to see it in Edinburgh and am extremly tempted to go and see it again on Thursday.

[Ric Flair]

On ‎18‎/‎09‎/‎2019 at 18:15, StanSP said:

I've found that you feel quite relieved in the immediate instance of stopping. It's once that wears off that it's a bit difficult to maintain and resist the temptation. 

 

Good luck though. It's not an easy thing at any stage to stop betting. 

You're absolutely right, it's not easy but it comes down to the desire and determination to stop. In many ways it's probably easier for someone like me, a hopeless compulsive gambler to move heaven and earth to commit to abstaining from gambling and working tirelessly to change many things in my life that were directly or indirectly linked to gambling than it is for potential problem gamblers that might be on the cusp of being out of control. I was on a one way path to where I got to but for many years I was a sort of functioning compulsive gambler but at those stages I think the ability to just stop and maintain that would have been extremely difficult. I obviously wasn't ready. This is key, you have to be 100% committed and serious to changing. It's very subjective as to whether a person SHOULD stop something that they may or may not be controlled by but they will never maintain change and long term recovery from something that they don't treat with the utmost respect.

 

Likewise if I were to abstain from drinking for good, I would struggle. I'd struggle because I don't believe I have any significant problems with boozing, over the years I've drank to excess countless times and been a complete penis but as I've grown older and gained more responsibilities, my lifestyle has changed and I don't do that bar the odd occasion now. Because of that, once the will power of having a break from drinking wears off and the cravings started, i'd weigh up why I was maintaining sobriety and if the pro's didn't outweigh the con's then I think i'd return to recreational and social drinking. This I am sure would be the same for many people, whether they have addictions to other things or if they at times worry they are over doing something such as gambling, drink etc.

 

My heart goes out to anyone effected by addictions and their families, friends and loved ones. I wish we as humans could avoid all of this but often whatever the choice of addiction is it's the cause of trying to escape from some sort of pain or mental anguish. Obviously more can be done by our government or the gambling and drink/drug industry to protect society, it's truly disgusting some of the tactics that are used to prey on vulnerable people as well as the general population being bombarded with it. One of the sickening things I've found out recently is those crap apps and candy crush type games that lots of kids are being encouraged to play have the same platform as many gambling slot machine type play and in some cases these games and apps are actually owned by gambling companies or sister companies. The many features in these games to buy more lives/tokens/unlock levels etc is all mirrored to fruit machines/slots and casino games and you wonder why there are so many young people that seamlessly get in to gambling in their teens and as soon as it's legal there's no stopping them. Coonts.

[Col city fan]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

You're absolutely right, it's not easy but it comes down to the desire and determination to stop. In many ways it's probably easier for someone like me, a hopeless compulsive gambler to move heaven and earth to commit to abstaining from gambling and working tirelessly to change many things in my life that were directly or indirectly linked to gambling than it is for potential problem gamblers that might be on the cusp of being out of control. I was on a one way path to where I got to but for many years I was a sort of functioning compulsive gambler but at those stages I think the ability to just stop and maintain that would have been extremely difficult. I obviously wasn't ready. This is key, you have to be 100% committed and serious to changing. It's very subjective as to whether a person SHOULD stop something that they may or may not be controlled by but they will never maintain change and long term recovery from something that they don't treat with the utmost respect.

 

Likewise if I were to abstain from drinking for good, I would struggle. I'd struggle because I don't believe I have any significant problems with boozing, over the years I've drank to excess countless times and been a complete penis but as I've grown older and gained more responsibilities, my lifestyle has changed and I don't do that bar the odd occasion now. Because of that, once the will power of having a break from drinking wears off and the cravings started, i'd weigh up why I was maintaining sobriety and if the pro's didn't outweigh the con's then I think i'd return to recreational and social drinking. This I am sure would be the same for many people, whether they have addictions to other things or if they at times worry they are over doing something such as gambling, drink etc.

 

My heart goes out to anyone effected by addictions and their families, friends and loved ones. I wish we as humans could avoid all of this but often whatever the choice of addiction is it's the cause of trying to escape from some sort of pain or mental anguish. Obviously more can be done by our government or the gambling and drink/drug industry to protect society, it's truly disgusting some of the tactics that are used to prey on vulnerable people as well as the general population being bombarded with it. One of the sickening things I've found out recently is those crap apps and candy crush type games that lots of kids are being encouraged to play have the same platform as many gambling slot machine type play and in some cases these games and apps are actually owned by gambling companies or sister companies. The many features in these games to buy more lives/tokens/unlock levels etc is all mirrored to fruit machines/slots and casino games and you wonder why there are so many young people that seamlessly get in to gambling in their teens and as soon as it's legal there's no stopping them. Coonts.

 

[Russell sprout]

61 days gamble free and 9 weeks on Wednesday,

feeling good right now and even got the garden decked out and brought the Mrs a hot tub(on offer at Asda)

its a long road ahead but we wouldn’t have had these things if I was gambling,

it gets easier but I’m living proof on how easy it is to slip up,

keep your focus everyone and just avoid that NEXT bet,

thats the mindset i go by

Edited 7 October 2019 by Russell sprout

[Ric Flair]

On ‎07‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 19:38, Russell sprout said:

61 days gamble free and 9 weeks on Wednesday,

feeling good right now and even got the garden decked out and brought the Mrs a hot tub(on offer at Asda)

its a long road ahead but we wouldn’t have had these things if I was gambling,

it gets easier but I’m living proof on how easy it is to slip up,

keep your focus everyone and just avoid that NEXT bet,

thats the mindset i go by

Great to hear mate, keep focused and stay healthy pal!

[davieG]

Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend says he once lost £46,000 in one night but being charged by the FA for betting "probably saved me as a human being".

Townsend, 28, says a mixture of an addictive personality and boredom while on numerous loan spells away from Tottenham contributed to his gambling.

In 2013, he was fined £18,000 and given a ban by the Football Association for breaching betting regulations.

"It snapped me back to reality," Townsend told the Players' Tribune.

"I really feared for my whole career. When the thing that you love in life can be taken away from you, it changes your perspective."

Townsend says, while on loan at Birmingham, he was in a hotel in Blackpool the night before the Championship play-off semi-final in May 2012 and could not fall asleep.

Instead, he kept "checking my phone, placing more bets".

"I'm probably the only lad in history to lose £46,000 lying in bed on a Wednesday night in Blackpool," he added.

Townsend admits he was thankful to the FA for realising he was "just a stupid kid who made a mistake" after being caught by the governing body.

He began having counselling for his gambling addiction.

"That not only saved my football career, it also probably saved me as a human being," explained the former England international.

"It opened me up to the possibility that actually talking to somebody about what I was going through was OK.

"I'm not telling this story for the whole world. I'm telling it for the people out there who have had their knocks - for those who have been misunderstood, depressed, lost, and especially the ones who have battled addiction."

If you've been affected by anything in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.

[Ric Flair]

I've not seen many party manifesto's focusing on tackling the gambling epidemic? Too busy bickering about the NHS which funnily enough has a direct impact from addictions.

[ScouseFox]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

I've not seen many party manifesto's focusing on tackling the gambling epidemic? Too busy bickering about the NHS which funnily enough has a direct impact from addictions.

their main aims are here:

 

https://www.igamingbusiness.com/news/conservatives-pledge-gambling-act-review-manifesto

 

 

[Ric Flair]

35 minutes ago, ScouseFox said:

their main aims are here:

 

https://www.igamingbusiness.com/news/conservatives-pledge-gambling-act-review-manifesto

 

 

Cheers, seems like none of them have really gone in to too much detail but at least they are bothering to name check it. Will delve a bit deeper.

[ScouseFox]

4 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Cheers, seems like none of them have really gone in to too much detail but at least they are bothering to name check it. Will delve a bit deeper.

yeah very brief bar the lib dems who gave it a bit of thought. 

 

everyone promising to look at the gambling act is a long time overdue tbf, 2005 was a long time ago in this day and age. 

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, ScouseFox said:

yeah very brief bar the lib dems who gave it a bit of thought. 

 

everyone promising to look at the gambling act is a long time overdue tbf, 2005 was a long time ago in this day and age. 

Yeah when you consider back then there was barely any online gambling and FOBT's in bookies had only just come in as well. In the last 14/15 years it has spread like wildfire and they've been given free reign to do whatever the fcuk they like, the gambling commission are an absolute disgrace an'all.

[urban fox]

Probably don't really belong on this thread, and only looked at it out of a somewhat loosely professional interest but got sucked in by some of the bravery shown here by many posters.  I have never been a gambler (apart from my weekly 2 quid lottery ticket) but as a smoker of over 40 years standing i know just how hard it is to try and fight addiction. I have tried several times to give up and even when i was smoke free i ended up relapsing. The last time, I went on the Vapes, gradually cutting the nicotine levels down, set myself a target that, with the money i was saving, i would treat myself to a pair of top of the range Swarovski Binoculars (£2 grand) as i am a keen birdwatcher. After 18 months or so i had reached my target, bought the bino's and not touched a single fag. I thought i had finally cracked it until the day that i left my vape at home, was in the boozer with a couple of mates, and having had a couple of beers took a smoke that was offered, believing, despite all the evidence of previous experiences, that just one wouldn't hurt. Three years down the line and i am back on almost twenty a day again.

I know the risks that i am running with my health, but at least, unlike those with a gambling addiction i am not putting my family and home at risk. 

 

I have nothing but the utmost respect for those on here who are facing up to their demons when constantly bombarded by the betting companies pushing their wares. I think the way that gambling is advertised is despicable. Online bingo for example showing young women obviously enjoying themselves with their "free" ten spins etc actively promoting the "fun" element and being part of the crowd etc then having the gall to use the slogan about when the fun stops. Even the slogan itself is truly bad. FUN in huge letters and stop in smaller font is subliminally suggesting that gambling is a fun thing to do.

Best wishes to all and i think that it is great that such a thread is on here. We are all types and from all backgrounds but we have one thing in common and that is LCFC and its another thing that goes to show we are a family. Families look out for each other and threads like this must be a great comfort and hopefully an inspiration to some. If it helps just a few then well done to those that were brave enough to start it and the admin/mods for supporting it.

[davieG]

Time to stop paying her outrageous salary.

 

Bet365: UK's best-paid boss hits £320m jackpot

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Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES Image captionDenise Coates was awarded a CBE in 2012 for services to the community and business

Bet365 boss Denise Coates has received a £320m payday, confirming her position as the UK's best paid executive.

The co-founder of the online gambling firm was paid a £277m salary plus dividends as the popularity of online gambling continues to grow.

The firm's accounts show that in the year to end-March her salary rose from £220m on the previous period.

But the rise comes as the industry faced mounting criticism, including over children gambling.

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.

Ms Coates earned a first-class degree in econometrics - the application of statistical methods to economic data - from Sheffield University before joining the High Street betting firm, run by her father.

She identified the potential of online gambling in 2000 and invested in the domain name Bet365.com so that she could drive the family business in that direction.

Bet365 made a profit before tax of £791m in the year, compared with £661m the year before.

The firm paid dividends of £92.5m, half of which are thought to have gone to Ms Coates, as the owner of about half of Bet365's shares.

The group of firms owns Stoke City Football Club, which made a loss of £8.7m in the year.

Child gambling

In October, Cardiff University research suggested that two-fifths of 11 to 16-year-olds had gambled in the past year.

The study said this was "particularly concerning, given that across the UK, most forms of commercial gambling are only legal for those aged 18 and over".

Fruit machines were the most popular form of gambling, followed by playing cards for money with friends and scratchcards.

Dr Graham Moore of the Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement said at the time: "The evidence shows that people who gamble earlier in life are more likely to become problem gamblers in adulthood."

However, a Gambling Commission study in October suggested that 11% of children had gambled within a week of the survey being conducted.

But in addition, the regulator warned in July of research that indicated links between "problem gambling and suicidal thoughts or attempts".

 

 

[Unabomber]

No matter what anyone says what she pays herself is absolutely ****ing sickening. 

[Wymsey]

On 18/12/2019 at 21:08, Unabomber said:

No matter what anyone says what she pays herself is absolutely ****ing sickening. 

Agreed.

Probably not but hope, for ethical reasons, she donates at least 1% of her wealth to charity (ironically charities that support those with gambling issues etc).

[Parafox]

2 hours ago, Wymsey said:

Agreed.

Probably not but hope, for ethical reasons, she donates at least 1% of her wealth to charity (ironically charities that support those with gambling issues etc).

Maybe that's a bit naïve. She and other betting chain chief execs, make their living out of exploiting those with a gambling problem. Simple as. They have no real interest in helping gambling addicted people because the profits they make put them high on the FT index of the most profitable companies therefore providing equity release for their shareholders. what they do is entirely lip-service.

Gambling is as addictive as alcohol, drugs, tobacco, pornography, when a weakness in a person is exposed. Addiction is usually a result of some troubling issue that needs a distraction to take your mind off the shit affecting your life. I understand the buzz one gets from a decent win. I've occasionally placed a bet but to me, it's a waste of money. That said, on the rare occasions when I've won, I understand euphoric feeling of superiority and "beating" the bookies is something that some will get hooked on. Just like a drug.

Hard to overcome like any addiction, and those that defeat it, you have my total admiration. 

Stay strong, don't give in.

Life is better without addiction of any kind.