The government has just said that it is going to reduce the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) from £100 to £2.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44148285
As far as I can understand it these machines are a goldmine for the bookies, so much so that we now see a bookmakers on every corner these days.
Apparently the bookies are currently limited to just two of these machines each per shop - but the profit on them is so great that it is worth their while to open other shops just to get a further two machines out there each time.
I'm not a gambler, never have been, but I know one or two who are.
One of them who likes to gamble on football results once dragged me into a bookies to put his bets on (well I could have just waited outside but I walked in with him anyway because going into a bookies was a rare occurrence for me). Whilst I was there, there was a bloke playing a roulette type of slot machine where he could be tens of pounds on each spin of the wheel. At the time he was about £350 up and was betting around £50 per time. I asked him what he had started with and he said it was something like £20 or £30 pounds (I can't remember now) and I asked him why didn't he stop and take - what appeared to me at least - his massive winnings? He told me he would win a lot more before he considered finishing.
I was only there a few minutes and he was still at about the same amount when I first met him (after going on a bit of a losing streak then winning it back again), before me and my colleague left.
I've never felt the desire to risk money to make money, particularly on slots where I know the odds are set in the house favour.
As for my colleague I asked him once why he simply didn't bet on line rather than physically go to the bookies. He told me he didn't want his wife to find out by looking on his phone, what he was up to!
I don't see the appeal of gambling although I know a number on here do enjoy it - but in a small way.
Is the government right to stick its nose in to simply stop a number of people gambling too much, who will probably only find another way to throw their money away. The consequences to the bookmakers will be enormous and I doubt it will take long before a large number of the corner shop bookies that have sprung up recently start to close with people losing their jobs.
Shouldn't people be allowed to do what they want with their own money - even if that means giving it all to the bookies rather than to their wives and kids? Surely their wives and kids would have kicked them into touch by now anyway!
What do you think?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44148285
As far as I can understand it these machines are a goldmine for the bookies, so much so that we now see a bookmakers on every corner these days.
Apparently the bookies are currently limited to just two of these machines each per shop - but the profit on them is so great that it is worth their while to open other shops just to get a further two machines out there each time.
I'm not a gambler, never have been, but I know one or two who are.
One of them who likes to gamble on football results once dragged me into a bookies to put his bets on (well I could have just waited outside but I walked in with him anyway because going into a bookies was a rare occurrence for me). Whilst I was there, there was a bloke playing a roulette type of slot machine where he could be tens of pounds on each spin of the wheel. At the time he was about £350 up and was betting around £50 per time. I asked him what he had started with and he said it was something like £20 or £30 pounds (I can't remember now) and I asked him why didn't he stop and take - what appeared to me at least - his massive winnings? He told me he would win a lot more before he considered finishing.
I was only there a few minutes and he was still at about the same amount when I first met him (after going on a bit of a losing streak then winning it back again), before me and my colleague left.
I've never felt the desire to risk money to make money, particularly on slots where I know the odds are set in the house favour.
As for my colleague I asked him once why he simply didn't bet on line rather than physically go to the bookies. He told me he didn't want his wife to find out by looking on his phone, what he was up to!
I don't see the appeal of gambling although I know a number on here do enjoy it - but in a small way.
Is the government right to stick its nose in to simply stop a number of people gambling too much, who will probably only find another way to throw their money away. The consequences to the bookmakers will be enormous and I doubt it will take long before a large number of the corner shop bookies that have sprung up recently start to close with people losing their jobs.
Shouldn't people be allowed to do what they want with their own money - even if that means giving it all to the bookies rather than to their wives and kids? Surely their wives and kids would have kicked them into touch by now anyway!
What do you think?