Gambling & the GAA

[citytc]

Gambling is for losers. If you're actually successful and consistently win, which is a very small percentage, the bookmakers will limit how much you can bet or ban you. If you consistently lose, the bookmakers will do nothing but take more and more money from you. If you want to rob houses or rob businesses to pay for it, bookmakers don't care. A horrendous addiction that often isn't visible until there's serious damage done. The ease of gambling on a mobile, and the fact that you're not handing cold hard cash over a counter, makes it even more dangerous.

 

[Cloudy O'Ranieri]

Gambling is for losers. If you're actually successful and consistently win, which is a very small percentage, the bookmakers will limit how much you can bet or ban you. If you consistently lose, the bookmakers will do nothing but take more and more money from you. If you want to rob houses or rob businesses to pay for it, bookmakers don't care. A horrendous addiction that often isn't visible until there's serious damage done. The ease of gambling on a mobile, and the fact that you're not handing cold hard cash over a counter, makes it even more dangerous.

That's not quite true anymore. There's far much more pressure now from regulators that gambling companies take responsibility for this by profiling their customers and justifying affordability. Massive fines have been issued by the UKGC to enforce this.

Having said that, there's always going to be an onus on the individual to control their spend. If people want to get money down, they'll find ways.

There's no real solution, as somebody who wants to spend more than they can afford on gambling is going to try to do it, regardless of the legality of it.

 

[Hallbopping]

That's not quite true anymore. There's far much more pressure now from regulators that gambling companies take responsibility for this by profiling their customers and justifying affordability. Massive fines have been issued by the UKGC to enforce this.

Having said that, there's always going to be an onus on the individual to control their spend. If people want to get money down, they'll find ways.

There's no real solution, as somebody who wants to spend more than they can afford on gambling is going to try to do it, regardless of the legality of it.

A digital ID that follows you from one gambling company to the next would be a start.

 

[micko85]

As a person who is recovery from gambling 7 and half years. i have seen first hand what it can do a person. playing gaa it started off doing accumulators for ether soccer or gaa and of course won big at the start. problem really started with online accounts. greed had taking over and of course i taught i was going to have the fancy car and house from just gambling. it went from bad to worse in a very short period of time. robbed begged stole from everyone that was close to me and asking people that i didn't really know for 20 euros. it had came to stage where i had massive death and keep saying one big win would solve it all. always one out of course. i remember i had 20 horse accum on. hence the insane thinking of gambler in the height of trouble. 19 had won last race was over in England and my horse out of 6 running was favorite at 8/15 next best horse was 6/1 i was thinking this pain is finally over and i was in the chance of winning a 6 figure some of money. low and behold it came no where. suicide taught entered the mind. luckily i got caught out and relation saved my life no doubt. i enter GA meetings now on regular basis. since been in recovery i same seen numerous relapses within the group and unfortunately lost 3 members to suicide. its a massive problem in this country with young males and i have seen also gaming now is turning into the same mode. parents would want to be very careful. i could go on and on. but for certain i am in a good place today thanks to family and ga recovery.

 

[Hallbopping]

As a person who is recovery from gambling 7 and half years. i have seen first hand what it can do a person. playing gaa it started off doing accumulators for ether soccer or gaa and of course won big at the start. problem really started with online accounts. greed had taking over and of course i taught i was going to have the fancy car and house from just gambling. it went from bad to worse in a very short period of time. robbed begged stole from everyone that was close to me and asking people that i didn't really know for 20 euros. it had came to stage where i had massive death and keep saying one big win would solve it all. always one out of course. i remember i had 20 horse accum on. hence the insane thinking of gambler in the height of trouble. 19 had won last race was over in England and my horse out of 6 running was favorite at 8/15 next best horse was 6/1 i was thinking this pain is finally over and i was in the chance of winning a 6 figure some of money. low and behold it came no where. suicide taught entered the mind. luckily i got caught out and relation saved my life no doubt. i enter GA meetings now on regular basis. since been in recovery i same seen numerous relapses within the group and unfortunately lost 3 members to suicide. its a massive problem in this country with young males and i have seen also gaming now is turning into the same mode. parents would want to be very careful. i could go on and on. but for certain i am in a good place today thanks to family and ga recovery.

Fair play to you for sharing your story and for breaking the cycle. That’s quite a sad post but it’s great to see that you are doing well now.

 

[Cloudy O'Ranieri]

A digital ID that follows you from one gambling company to the next would be a start.

What would that solve? Not all problem gamblers will have multiple accounts. Also, not all people who have multiple accounts are problem gamblers.

As it is, when gambling companies do source of wealth or affordability checks, they can see what other firms their customer is betting with, and how much.

 

[Hallbopping]

What would that solve? Not all problem gamblers will have multiple accounts. Also, not all people who have multiple accounts are problem gamblers.

As it is, when gambling companies do source of wealth or affordability checks, they can see what other firms their customer is betting with, and how much.

It would make gambling companies more responsible for ensuring those with gambling problems don’t fall even further into debt.

Correct me if I’m wrong but the source of wealth checks are more concerned with AML than they are about how much a customer can actually afford to gamble.

 

[Cloudy O'Ranieri]

It would make gambling companies more responsible for ensuring those with gambling problems don’t fall even further into debt.

Correct me if I’m wrong but the source of wealth checks are more concerned with AML than they are about how much a customer can actually afford to gamble.

SoW is primarily AML, but if the customer is displaying signs of using credit facilities during these checks, that can't just be ignored.

 

[Hallbopping]

SoW is primarily AML, but if the customer is displaying signs of using credit facilities during these checks, that can't just be ignored.

But they do ignore it. There’s nothing to stop me topping up my Revolut card with my credit card and using Revolut to gamble.

I’m not advocating banning gambling either online or in person but the regulations are nowhere near enough. The 2024 Gambling Regulation Act was watered down considerably after much lobbying. Gambling advertising and free bet promotions are still allowed. There is no such thing as a free bet and anyone who suggests otherwise is highly naive.

Gamblers have to self exclude from online gambling if they have a problem. Who are we kidding here?

 

[Vladimir The Bear]

As a person who is recovery from gambling 7 and half years. i have seen first hand what it can do a person. playing gaa it started off doing accumulators for ether soccer or gaa and of course won big at the start. problem really started with online accounts. greed had taking over and of course i taught i was going to have the fancy car and house from just gambling. it went from bad to worse in a very short period of time. robbed begged stole from everyone that was close to me and asking people that i didn't really know for 20 euros. it had came to stage where i had massive death and keep saying one big win would solve it all. always one out of course. i remember i had 20 horse accum on. hence the insane thinking of gambler in the height of trouble. 19 had won last race was over in England and my horse out of 6 running was favorite at 8/15 next best horse was 6/1 i was thinking this pain is finally over and i was in the chance of winning a 6 figure some of money. low and behold it came no where. suicide taught entered the mind. luckily i got caught out and relation saved my life no doubt. i enter GA meetings now on regular basis. since been in recovery i same seen numerous relapses within the group and unfortunately lost 3 members to suicide. its a massive problem in this country with young males and i have seen also gaming now is turning into the same mode. parents would want to be very careful. i could go on and on. but for certain i am in a good place today thanks to family and ga recovery.

Fair play.

I couldn't get over the amount of young lads gambling in the dressing room on there phones before and after training by the time I was finishing up.

And from what I hear it's every club.