Panorama there

[RFC55 108,485]

Anyone else agree with the question they asked?

Do the FOBT (machines) turn ordinary gamblers into addicts?

in my experience its a resounding yes. Not ashamed to admit but these things had fucked me up a bit a while back. Literally any money i had would go in them and i played in a team which 5 of the other lads where the same.

its a weird feeling playing the machines when yer losing 4 or 5 tun in them as you start to lose control. if im losing 50 or 60 quid say on horses or coupons i can walk out but the machines you would stand there untill you either won or lost virtually everything you could.

The machines account for 1/4 of the betting shop profits so they wont be going anywhere sooon. Im glad i now only stick in about a tenner at most. We all know all gambling is a risk but these things are so easy to lose your life to its unreal. I know a few lads from here have struggled with them, i wont mention them as if they wana comment then thats their choice.

btw winning or losing on them that feeling of losing control is exactly the same

[CaptainAmerica18 846]

A certain yes. I work in a bookies and see people everyday who might only bet a fiver or less on horses or coupons, yet put a good few ton at a time in the machines. Absolute bastards so they are. I'd also say they account for more than 1/4 of the shops profit.

The un-named bookies I work for () at this minute in time have a daily target to hit on profits and are rewarding the shops which hit the most targets. This can vary from £300 to £1000.

Machine tournaments are another hook. Might not seem like it at the time but it's a simple way to get people into playing them.

[RFC55 108,485]

A certain yes. I work in a bookies and see people everyday who might only bet a fiver or less on horses or coupons, yet put a good few ton at a time in the machines. Absolute bastards so they are. I'd also say they account for more than 1/4 of the shops profit.

The un-named bookies I work for ( ) at this minute in time have a daily target to hit on profits and are rewarding the shops which hit the most targets. This can vary from £300 to £1000.

Machine tournaments are another hook. Might not seem like it at the time but it's a simple way to get people into playing them.

The shop i use is like that mate. The machine tourneys have guys who you only see into stick a coupon on and leave. you hear them asking "right wit dae a dae noo"

you think they could ever force legislation to remove them from shops mate or are the machines there to stay?

[CaptainAmerica18 846]

The shop i use is like that mate. The machine tourneys have guys who you only see into stick a coupon on and leave. you hear them asking "right wit dae a dae noo"

you think they could ever force legislation to remove them from shops mate or are the machines there to stay?

Wasn't too long ago they allowed up to 4 machines in a shop, previously 2. They are the only reason the shops are open till 9.30-10 at night, especially in the winter when the racing finishes quite early.

The government makes money from it all aswell, tax, licences etc. so I can only see them increasing in number and probably shops staying open longer.

[RFC55 108,485]

Wasn't too long ago they allowed up to 4 machines in a shop, previously 2. They are the only reason the shops are open till 9.30-10 at night, especially in the winter when the racing finishes quite early.

The government makes money from it all aswell, tax, licences etc. so I can only see them increasing in number and probably shops staying open longer.

Panorama missed a trick there mate. The simple point to make really is, the goverment are not bothering their arses due to the money the betting industry makes them every year.

[CaptainAmerica18 846]

Panorama missed a trick there mate. The simple point to make really is, the goverment are not bothering their arses due to the money the betting industry makes them every year.

That's pretty much it. Most people probably don't know that gambling is taxed because the bookies actually pay it for you, so not to take away from winnings and keep the punters in.

[caseyjones 3,009]

They aren't as bad as online casinos - you don't even need to leave the house for them to fuck you up.

I've put £512 down on single hands of Blackjack before when chasing losses, and got into serious debt, partly due to them. You only deal in numbers and forget the £££.

[caseyjones 3,009]

That's pretty much it. Most people probably don't know that gambling is taxed because the bookies actually pay it for you, so not to take away from winnings and keep the punters in.

I remember paying tax in the bookies. Ten percent, either on your stake or it came out any winnings.

[CaptainAmerica18 846]

They aren't as bad as online casinos - you don't even need to leave the house for them to fuck you up.

I've put £512 down on single hands of Blackjack before when chasing losses, and got into serious debt, partly due to them. You only deal in numbers and forget the £££.

I try to avoid online at all costs, sometimes can't be arsed going to a shop though. I would never hand more than £20 over the counter for anything, yet online can find myself chucking £100 on a horse if I'm chasing. It's remarkable. As you say, it's all just numbers on a screen online.

[CaptainAmerica18 846]

I remember paying tax in the bookies. Ten percent, either on your stake or it came out any winnings.

There's my history lesson for today but certainly these days i'd be surprised if any newer gamblers knew of tax on betting.

[RFC55 108,485]

They aren't as bad as online casinos - you don't even need to leave the house for them to fuck you up.

I've put £512 down on single hands of Blackjack before when chasing losses, and got into serious debt, partly due to them. You only deal in numbers and forget the £££.

Online can be grim mate. I'm happy enough with some poker and some coupons or horses online

[caseyjones 3,009]

There's my history lesson for today but certainly these days i'd be surprised if any newer gamblers knew of tax on betting.

Just checked, and it was only abolished in 2001. I thought it was further back than that.

[caseyjones 3,009]

Online can be grim mate. I'm happy enough with some poker and some coupons or horses online

Aye, I steer clear of it now. I'm too good at the football to bother about it!

[RFC55 108,485]

Aye, I steer clear of it now. I'm too good at the football to bother about it!

aye if coupons pay paid out for being one away

Between online and machines it really is too easy

[caseyjones 3,009]

aye if coupons pay paid out for being one away

Between online and machines it really is too easy

I'm close though.

[RoyCropper 574]

i tried to ban myself next day walked in straight to the machine no cunt said anythign. lost 150 there on saturday nyt wired out my face in less than a minute

[Gaz92 966]

I used to play them quite a lot. Just daft things like being 10 minutes early for work so jumping in and sticking a tenner or 20 in one of them. Highly addictive. I do all my gambling online now, and I know some people think that's more tempting, but at least if I don't go into the bookies I'm not tempted by the machines!

[BillyBoy11 63]

As some of you may know I started going to GA 3 months ago because of the machines, I was spunking all my money in them monthly. Some of the stories Ive heard about them are frightening, far far too easy to get hooked.

By all means theyre alright if you play them occassionaly and can walk away, but people like me cant accept the first loss, so keep playing til theyre up or until more often than not they have no money left to put in.

[Gazzalivesforever 1,987]

I've seen boys blow four figures in those machines in under an hour. Seen boys take cash payments for roofing work. Stop off at bookies and come out owing others money. I know my limitations, set my winning target (usually £100) and set how much I'm prepared to lose (usually no more than £20). Sometimes I go over, sometimes I spend less but never will I put in more than £50. If I lose £50, it's a bad day.

[derek1872 548]

I worked for William Hill and im sure its more than 1/4 of the take from those evil bastards. I watched people put on 50p each way bets on the horses but throw in £500 in the machines. Horrible things I wouldnt go near them.