[News] Gambling Awareness Week

[Halftime Oranges]

Good Evening

I'm here to point you in the direction of Gambling Awareness Week and the services of Breakeven Sussex a local charity in Brighton.

Breakeven provides 'free' counselling for anyone who is affected by problem gambling. Whether you gamble yourself, or are adversely affected by the gambling of a family member or friend, Breakeven can help you.

As part of gambling awareness week we are holding a drop in service this week for people to get more information 12pm-4pm up until Friday and also 12-3 this Saturday and Sunday.

So if this is something that you may need more information on please come down and we can see if we can help you

We are based at:

Citibase - Brighton
95 Ditchling Road,
Brighton
BN1 4ST

So drop in and say hello and one of our counsellors will be more than happy to speak to you. http://www.breakeven.org.uk/https://twitter.com/breakevensussex

 

[The Rattler]

Tenner says you can't help me

 

[Questions]

Lost the best part of a £100 nicker at the weekend so I,m definetly aware of it this week.

 

[Hillian1]

I don't gamble, but am willing to have a crack.

What do you suggest?

 

[dazzer6666]

I'm ok with it as long as the Mrs isn't aware

 

[Hampster Gull]

Jokers. Hope you're able to help those who need it Halftime Oranges

 

[Ernest]

Instead of putting nice yellow posters in shop windows why don't bookies get rid of the all fixed odds gambling machines in the shops ? That is what is causing the gambling problems

 

[Frutos]

Why is 'free' in inverted commas in the original post?

 

[Questions]

FU**.

That's just reminded me U.S. will be here soon with his Cheltenham tips. That's the week you need to be aware.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Realistically, do you expect problem gamblers to attend that sort of session? This sort of "awareness" week is a feeble attempt by the current government to correct the perceived wrongs of the previous government who let the gambling industry explode, pretty much unchecked. It is a nothing campain without a serious desire to target the fixed odds betting machines.

Over the counter betting isn't the problem in the majority of the cases, those people are throwing their life away online now. The in-shop problemers are all on the machines. Target the problem rather than have a snazzy catchphrase.

#cynicistintheknow

 

[8ace]

Why is 'free' in inverted commas in the original post?

It's free if you roll two sixes at the end of the session.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Realistically, do you expect problem gamblers to attend that sort of session? This sort of "awareness" week is a feeble attempt by the current government to correct the perceived wrongs of the previous government who let the gambling industry explode, pretty much unchecked. It is a nothing campain without a serious desire to target the fixed odds betting machines.

Over the counter betting isn't the problem in the majority of the cases, those people are throwing their life away online now. The in-shop problemers are all on the machines. Target the problem rather than have a snazzy catchphrase.

#cynicistintheknow

I do share some of your cynicism, the bookmakers 'backing' this week's campaign are doing so because they know in this day and age you have to show at least SOME pretence of caring about the lives you could be ruining or it's 'bad for business'. Besides, the government will demand it or hit them in some other way.

If it was called 'The Dangers of Gambling Awareness Week' - which would be more accurate - maybe they wouldn't be so keen.

But I don't think you can dismiss the efforts of organisations like the one above, they are picking up the pieces like their alcohol and drugs equivalents. People do realise they have a problem in all of these areas and seek help, maybe only a few, but that's better than none.

 

[Halftime Oranges]

This is solely to provide some awareness that as an organisation we exist and what we can offer people affected by gambling. Thanks guys.

 

[Guerrero]

Gambling is a drug,and I have seen many friends succumb to both gambling and drugs.
Lives wrecked.Families ripped apart.
Not really a joking matter.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

I do share some of your cynicism, the bookmakers 'backing' this week's campaign are doing so because they know in this day and age you have to show at least SOME pretence of caring about the lives you could be ruining or it's 'bad for business'. Besides, the government will demand it or hit them in some other way.

If it was called 'The Dangers of Gambling Awareness Week' - which would be more accurate - maybe they wouldn't be so keen.

But I don't think you can dismiss the efforts of organisations like the one above, they are picking up the pieces like their alcohol and drugs equivalents. People do realise they have a problem in all of these areas and seek help, maybe only a few, but that's better than none.

I certainly don't dismiss them, as the old adage goes, if they help just one person... It's very difficult to get to the people who genuinely needs help, and I speak from experience. When I worked for Ladbrokes, there were a number of people we helped to "self exclude" from George Street, one of them we had the conversation with after he was crying on the machine. I even went for a pint with the guy in the 'Spoons opposite before he choose to sign the form for 5 years. The next day he was sitting in William Hill, not far from the same state.

This is a big issue, and I take it very seriously.

This is solely to provide some awareness that as an organisation we exist and what we can offer people affected by gambling. Thanks guys.

And I mean you and your organisation no disrespect at all. Gambling is a cancer on society which has gone largely ignored for some time because the bookies want the money. They want to encourage more people to make the move from over the counter betting to the machines because you're more likely to drop a £20 in a machine than you are to put it on a horse or a dog. You're also more likely to chase the original £20 in a machine than you are to chase a loss on a horse.

Awareness for organisations like yours is important, but I wonder how much visibility there is in stores across the city and how much support you'd really receive from the "marketplace managers" in store. Shops are already closing all over the show (Ladbrokes stores on First Avenue, Livingstone Road and Dyke Road - with question marks hanging over the smaller shop on Portland Road and the Church Road. A couple of William Hills have closed their doors too.), so I doubt you'd get too much support in store.

 

[goldstone]

Maybe our chairman should go along? I understand he likes the odd game of poker.

 

[Justice]

I'm all in.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Gambling is a drug,and I have seen many friends succumb to both gambling and drugs.
Lives wrecked.Families ripped apart.
Not really a joking matter.

I'd agree with this while pointing out that traditionally, with few exceptions (e.g. the demise of Desert Orchid), pretty much anything goes on NSC...

The proliferation of gambling, including the National Lottery, is just another blindingly obvious example of how those in power promote/allow developments that are clearly against the interests of ordinary people. It has not yet worked its way through, and remains a largely hidden problem, but it is a massive problem.

 

[ArfurW8]

I do wonder if the number of people with a gambling problem is vastly under estimated, we all know that on-line betting has become increasingly popular but the number of bingo and casino sites seem to be increasing as well.
I am sure that most people can gamble responsibly but I do think that with extra gambling opportunities there is a high number of people who are finding themselves with a problem, it is the vulnerable people who need to be protected.
Not quite sure what the answer is but there must be some ways to deal with it.

The FOBT problem is well documented,the maximum bet on these machines really should be lowered although as they are such a cash cow for the bookies I cannot really see this happening.
I do not think that you should be able to deposit money with credit cards, if you need to do that then you probably shouldn't be gambling.
As for adverts such as the Ladcrooks "Betting Boys", anything that glamourises gambling really shouldn't be allowed.

 

[symyjym]

I may attend but I wouldn't put any money on it.