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Apparently our hobby is now on a par with those who are addicted to illegal substances or go to Alcoholics Anon.
There is a relatively new group called gambleaware.com and this is apparently the brainchild of someone who was on speaking terms with a member of the previous Labour Cabinet. I don’t know if there is a connection with the long standing Gamblers Anonymous.
After a conversation started by myself in the local Totesport office I became puzzled. I asked why an organisation loosely connected to the government of the day should be having ‘happy hours’ on horse racing,greyhounds,football,and gaming machines,but also displaying posters for ‘gambleaware.com’. I wonder when it will be that those of us who visit a betting office each day will need to provide evidence that we have paid all of our bills,and a certificate to say we have attended a course for new punters,a sort of license of competence,resulting of course in bookmakers ‘en mass’ throwing themselves in front of passing chemist shops,like a Wall St crash. Will we have to declare that we understand that there is a remote possibility that we may lose ? God help us….but I visited the website anyway and I found it entirely depressing and hysterically amusing ! If there is any member of the RF who really needs help may I humbly suggest that the real solution is my recommendation that everyone should enter the world of punting by treating it as a new hobby.The majority who consistently lose should ask themselves if they are willing to dedicate themselves to LEARNING about racing,what is FORM etc etc. I have known thousands of people who bet in exactly the same way they did on the day they started,following favs,second favs,trainers,favourite jockeys and so on.My dear departed Dad had a daft system which entailed handicaps,backing 5 year olds carrying 8 stone or less,starting at 8-1 or more,and doubling his stakes if trained by George Todd in staying races. Let me tell you I learned fast and was making a small profit when I was 16 and using his nom de plume to include my own wagers.
I am however indebted to my Dad for his wisdom when one day he whispered to Michael in Ladbrokes,Erdington ‘I can tell you how to walk out of here with a small fortune. Michael was all ears as Dad continued with ‘start with a big one’. Thanks Dad…never forgotten. I am now about to offer an antidote to the banal ‘gambleaware’…I shall offer my services by providing basic advice to those who need to learn the game. Great hobby but play the percentages !John , on this site there is only one Gamble
Be aware
he is out there !!!(somewhere )
Ricky
Ricky,
Does our hobby contain the membership of Satanists then ?
Say a little prayer for me,you devil !
John
- Total Posts 17716
What is the point of this thread, exactly?
Are you suggesting that gambling addiction isn’t as destructive as its drug and alcohol-based cousins, that bookmakers don’t have a moral duty to make their customers aware of solutions to problem gambling and that ‘consistent losers’ need only be better educated about form?
It’s the way the world is. Every drinking advert and alcoholic drink has ‘drinkaware’, it’s the nanny state unfortunately.
dear Armchair jockey
the point is the irony in bookmakers being forced (by legal or moral obligation) to carry cigarette style warnings on the dangers of gambling whilst being free to have happy hours to encourage more gambling.Proper responsible gamblers need no inducement to follow their passion so I can only assume that these inducements are aimed at the gullible novices who regard pulling a handle or pushing a button as gambling. Therefore I say again that those who consistently lose should most certainly give up,or learn how to study form and occasionally enjoy the buzz of the odd good win or at least enough to cover the inevitable losses. Firstly it’s a hobby,so learn to enjoy your hobby,and the way to get that enjoyment is to be competent enough to have every chance of winning. I feel that a lot of nonsense is spoken by counsellers and psychologists and if you enjoy this hobby then you have a duty to study it, spend some time on it,make the effort and it can certainly reward you financially. I have always gambled well within my means and for the last 20 or 30 years I have usually won enough to pay for a decent holiday. People who do not have enough intelligence to learn are those who pay for the bookmaker’s Rolls Royce.I would be interested to know other people’s views because I am certain that many of us are able declare fairly consistent profits (or at least break even)from our hobby.Wise words old John. Treat the racing game as hobby, aim not to become a millionaire but to preserve your bank. I’ve been backing since the mid 70’s, I am still hooked but hopefully a lot wiser. Nowadays, losing runs seem to last twice as long as they once did so you have to allow for that. If you believe you can back one winner in six bets, operate with a bank that allows for losing runs of twelve or more. Back in the highest possible grade, ignore low grade racing. Poor races are where hidden dangers lurk, horses with disguised ability, jobbers, as they are called.
I don’t see any irony in having advertisments for gambling and Gambleaware/Gamcare in the same establishment. In fact, I am glad these posters are visible for addicts to see and at least have the opportunity to act on their addiction. How are addicts supposed to know who to get in touch with if they don’t see the name of a supportive group in places where they are "at risk"? Gambling addicts should have our sympathy and help; NOT be laughed at as punters who can’t bother studying form. Some addicts do study form, they’re just not that good at evaluating it. I am sure there are some on this forum.
Every one of us should think, there but for the grace of – the person that doesn’t exist – go I.
Value Is Everything- Total Posts 17716
Some addicts do study form, they’re just not that good at evaluating it. I am sure there are some on this forum.
And how would you know, Ginger?
Anyone can sympathise with an addiction Reet, even as someone being stalked, I can sympathise with the stalker.
Value Is EverythingIf you believe you can back one winner in six bets, operate with a bank that allows for losing runs of twelve or more.
I should say!!
Randomly backing a true 5-1 shot (i.e. one winner in six returning break-even) would actually mean there is a c.18% chance of a losing run of 12 at any given point. In other words, if you started backing true 5-1 shots tomorrow there is already an 18% chance that your losing run of 12 was about to occur.
Last summer I had 1100 bets at an average of 4.87-1. My worst losing run was a fun-packed 38. Two of those runs pretty much back-to-back would put a 100-point bank under massive pressure.
You will need a minimum bank of 150pts and even that might be a bit skinny.
Mike
Anyone can sympathise with an addiction Reet, even as someone being stalked, I can sympathise with the stalker.
Sorry Ginger and retlad….it was not my intention to start a row, and I do indeed have the utmost sympathy for people who are unsuccessful addicts, especially those who pull handles ! It just makes me so mad that people treat the matter of gambling without enough regard to improve their knowledge of form and value.This is a serious hobby but it can pay for itself as well.
My grouse with Totesport is that the creation of Happy Hours is perverse when the gambling industry is being asked to promote gamble aware ! I’ve yet to see a punter banned for losing !Your concern is noted John.
Point is, many punters with a gambling problem do have a fair knowledge of form. Many buy the Racing Post etc.Once a punter has been identified as addicted, I believe the "losing punter" can volantearirly be "banned" from specific bookmakers.
I don’t see why bookmakers should not be allowed to advertise their special offers; at the same time as doing the decent thing in "advertising" hotlines for problem gamblers. The two advertisments are surely aimed at two different punters.
Value Is EverythingIf you believe you can back one winner in six bets, operate with a bank that allows for losing runs of twelve or more.
I should say!!
Randomly backing a true 5-1 shot (i.e. one winner in six returning break-even) would actually mean there is a c.18% chance of a losing run of 12 at any given point. In other words, if you started backing true 5-1 shots tomorrow there is already an 18% chance that your losing run of 12 was about to occur.
Last summer I had 1100 bets at an average of 4.87-1. My worst losing run was a fun-packed 38. Two of those runs pretty much back-to-back would put a 100-point bank under massive pressure.
You will need a minimum bank of 150pts and even that might be a bit skinny.
Mike
A losing run of 38 would test the patience of most backers, I would have abandoned the method following about 12 losers, concluding that the game is not worth the candle. I normally back at an average of 3.5 so would expect a far better strike rate.
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