[Football] Fixed odds betting machines.

[Leekbrookgull]

I've done a few nags and woof-woofs over the years, most certainly down on the deal overall. Never seen the appeal of these things though.

So have we Hove,Lingfield Park etc and most people expect to LOSE yet have a few drinks and live with it yet this something else.

 

[Ernest]

I've been in bookies putting my small footie bets on, and in the time it's taken to choose my games, I've seen people go back to the counter with their credit card about 4 times saying 'another £100 on machine 1 pls'.

That's a scary situation to get into.

Only debit cards in shops and winnings paid back onto the same cards but online you can use credit cards and are charged as a cash advance so you've already lost money before you start gambling

 

[DavidRyder]

Only debit cards in shops and winnings paid back onto the same cards but online you can use credit cards and are charged as a cash advance so you've already lost money before you start gambling

Ah it may well have been debit cards then, but just as bad.

 

[maffew]

Not sure if we are sleepwalking into a gambling crisis or perhaps just starting to wake up and come to our senses...

The smoking "ban" has had a hugely positive effect.

Something similarly radical in relation to banning the promotion of gambling is now long overdue.

IMO opinion you are right to an extent BUT its worse in a way

I dont really recall anyone taking their lives and losing houses, families, businusses,jobs due to smoking

Not thats its ok but I would much rather smoke than gamble although I know both are bad

 

[Simster]

Thats where its wrong . you should not be allowed to get credit to then gamble . I believe (and i may be wrong) but in Vegas you cannot withdraw cash to bet on a credit card ) .
It should be regualted so that no credit is available . If you want to spunk your money from your debit card so be it .

But what is to stop you transferring money from your credit card to a bank account and betting out of that?

There are just so many loopholes an addict will exploit, sadly. I just think these FOBTs need regulating to £5 a day or something similar.

 

[Arthritic Toe]

I can see no rational justification for allowing these things to exist at all in a civilised society. They exist for the sole purpose of extracting money from people who are vulnerable or who have an uncontrollable addiction. The gambling companies make vast amounts of money out of their victims misery. Its not a valid argument to say that people should individually take responsibility for their actions. All those who are able to do that, do do that. Just because people exist who are unable to be responsible, doesn't make it ok for an organisation to take all their money. Its just wrong.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Thats where its wrong . you should not be allowed to get credit to then gamble . I believe (and i may be wrong) but in Vegas you cannot withdraw cash to bet on a credit card ) .
It should be regualted so that no credit is available . If you want to spunk your money from your debit card so be it .

With you on credit or debit cards,however i have to many people buy supermarket shopping on a credit card.

 

[maffew]

But what is to stop you transferring money from your credit card to a bank account and betting out of that?

There are just so many loopholes an addict will exploit, sadly. I just think these FOBTs need regulating to £5 a day or something similar.

Nothing. Though in Vegas you still buy chips on debit card/cheque even or withdraw from a cashpoint which are every where at extortionate rates so you are down before you go down some more

 

[rippleman]

Isn't the clue in the two words "fixed odds"? Hands up anybody who thinks the bookies are going to fix the odds in the punters favour?

I enjoy a punt; mostly on footie or horses. But at least then I have something to watch and I'm using my own judgement. Not just pushing a button and discovering in a couple of seconds that I've done my bollocks.

If people want to play them, that's fine by me. Doesn't impact on me or my way of life.

 

[scamander]

I pop in for the odd bet and I've noticed the terminals attracting a very zealous type of gambler. In some places you'll note the staff keeping tabs on whose coming in and trying to slink onto them (presumably banned customers trying to come back in). I've sat and been reading the Racing Post and small groups of guys will come in and go immediately to them, if the one they normally use is busy they'll immediately leave (I'm assuming that they are doing the rounds).

A while back Private Eye did a small piece on how a government committee were set up to look into this a while back. They went on a fact-finding mission laid on for them by a major bookmaker. No surprises for guessing what the outcome was.

 

[Triggaaar]

have had to deal with people ruined by scratch cards and lottery tickets.

How many lottery tickets are they buying each week?

 

[Arthritic Toe]

Isn't the clue in the two words "fixed odds"? Hands up anybody who thinks the bookies are going to fix the odds in the punters favour?

I enjoy a punt; mostly on footie or horses. But at least then I have something to watch and I'm using my own judgement. Not just pushing a button and discovering in a couple of seconds that I've done my bollocks.

If people want to play them, that's fine by me. Doesn't impact on me or my way of life.

Well it may do if you get mugged by an addict who needs more funds to feed his habit.

 

[Triggaaar]

I've never played one, but aren't they basically Roulette, which is fixed odds when 'live' betting too?

I don't think it's the same - you might win at Roulette, and then play and win again, and again, and again (if you're lucky). You can't do that with the machines, if they've paid out a bit, don't they spin the wheels and ensure that you don't win, regardless of whether or not you're lucky?

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

I can see no rational justification for allowing these things to exist at all in a civilised society. They exist for the sole purpose of extracting money from people who are vulnerable or who have an uncontrollable addiction. The gambling companies make vast amounts of money out of their victims misery. Its not a valid argument to say that people should individually take responsibility for their actions. All those who are able to do that, do do that. Just because people exist who are unable to be responsible, doesn't make it ok for an organisation to take all their money. Its just wrong.

This is the most sensible post on here.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Maybe the Coates family will explain ? Don't hold your breath. Coates aka Stoke City.

 

[Titanic]

I don't think it's the same - you might win at Roulette, and then play and win again, and again, and again (if you're lucky). You can't do that with the machines, if they've paid out a bit, don't they spin the wheels and ensure that you don't win, regardless of whether or not you're lucky?

That wouldn't be 'fixed odds' would it, just plain fixed!

 

[Rugrat]

How many lottery tickets are they buying each week?

Well 'they' is a variable but a lot of my business was the poor end of banking and I never ceased to be horrified by how much (of real disposable) was spent on lottery tix, scratch cards and Sky (often more than 100%). Thankfully I got away from it some years ago but I've no doubt that the same applies today and FOBT's is just another dream chaser for those that can least afford it

 

[Triggaaar]

That wouldn't be 'fixed odds' would it, just plain fixed!

That's what I thought it was, but I think I was mistaken. What's confused me is the signs that say something like 'This machine pays out x%', stating it as a fact, rather than simply odds.

 

[Triggaaar]

Well 'they' is a variable but a lot of my business was the poor end of banking and I never ceased to be horrified by how much (of real disposable) was spent on lottery tix, scratch cards and Sky (often more than 100%).

Ignoring scratch cars and Sky (how is Sky related to this), can you give an example of how much someone might spend on lottery tickets alone?

I understand with scratch cards, as you might get an instant win, and the odds of getting something right then and there isn't too remote, but I don't get the idea of multiple chances of winning a jackpot which you still have no realistic chance of winning.

 

[Arthritic Toe]

I don't think it's the same - you might win at Roulette, and then play and win again, and again, and again (if you're lucky). You can't do that with the machines, if they've paid out a bit, don't they spin the wheels and ensure that you don't win, regardless of whether or not you're lucky?

There's no need to do that. The laws of probability do it all for you - in just the same way that the existence of the green zero on the roulette table achieves a profit for the house.