Growing Gambling Problem in Ireland??

wixfjord · 26-03-2008 4:54pm #1

Im beginning to notice a very big gambling trend in people of my own agegroup of 18-25, mainly males (and myself included). Most of my friends would gamble on poker, dogs, horses football etc. on a regular basis. GAA clubs and social groups seem to turn to poker tournaments/horse nights as an easy way to make money, by playing on this trend and using the macho element in Irish society ("Im not afraid to put a grand on a horse" etc etc!). My generation have more money than ever and seem to be spending the vast majority of it on booze and gambling. I myself feel also that with internet poker and gambling its much easier to throw away money. It also seems that every big sporting event is seen as just another big gambling opportunity! Poker is the main culprit. I know of young guys (20-21) in my local (small) town who dont work and make their living on weekend poker tournaments! All it takes is one bad hand and these guys have to eat beans for the week, saving for next weekends entrance fee! Has anyone else noticed this?? Seems we may have a problem on our hands in the future.

kev_s88 · 26-03-2008 4:57pm

id hardly call it a problem

biko · 26-03-2008 4:58pm

I feel this is part of a "get rich quick" thinking that's new to Ireland. Before people would be happy working hard to build up a nest egg but these days it's all instant gratification.
"I want a house and a BMW and I want it NOW!"

Wossack · 26-03-2008 4:58pm

noticed it also... not my cupan tae at all, but know a couple of.. err.. 'professional gamblers' alright

all online stuff... its too easy to get into imo, but whatever - its not my cupan tae, to each their own and all that

AlmightyCushion · 26-03-2008 4:58pm

I bet €20,000 that you're wrong.

Rb · 26-03-2008 5:04pm

You probably just suck at it and are jealous of their success tbh.

zuutroy · 26-03-2008 5:10pm

wixfjord wrote: »

Poker is the main culprit. I know of young guys (20-21) in my local (small) town who dont work and make their living on weekend poker tournaments! All it takes is one bad hand and these guys have to eat beans for the week, saving for next weekends entrance fee!.

This part of your post shows a fundamental lack of understanding of poker and how people can succesfully apply bankroll management to avoid such situations.

BKtje · 26-03-2008 5:12pm

Friend of mine has been living of online poker for over 2 years now.
I really do envy his lfiestyle at times. The fact that you can make (or lose) your money in any country in the world means you can travel around and still "work".

RasTa · 26-03-2008 5:15pm

wixfjord wrote: »

All it takes is one bad hand and these guys have to eat beans for the week, saving for next weekends entrance fee! Has anyone else noticed this?? Seems we may have a problem on our hands in the future.

lol donkaments.

Hellm0 · 26-03-2008 5:15pm

I work with lads who are down the casino every weekend playing poker, they see it as a means to make extra money. That said both have degrees in stat's and mathematics and can work out alot of the odds on the spot(I cannot). Seems a bit ridiculous to me though, the game looses all of the fun when your constantly crunching numbers + gaging other peoples hands.

phantom_lord · 26-03-2008 5:17pm

i lost 5k last week, I'd hardly say i have a problem tho.

stevoman · 26-03-2008 5:31pm

i love an oul gamble. i go down to paddy powers everyday at lunch and do me a lucky 15. i won today! way hey!

wixfjord · 26-03-2008 5:37pm

zuutroy wrote: »

This part of your post shows a fundamental lack of understanding of poker and how people can succesfully apply bankroll management to avoid such situations.

Im quite bad at poker! Hence:

wixfjord wrote:

I myself feel also that with internet poker and gambling its much easier to throw away money.

However I know these guys and they certainly dont know how to successfully apply bankroll management, like most normal poker players in towns all over Ireland, its safe to presume.

helimachoptor · 26-03-2008 6:07pm

I would agree. In my life all 26 eyars I've gambled twice (unless its the lotto then its probably once a month) My bro on the other hand 19 is always playing poker or in the bookies as are his friends.

c0rk3r · 26-03-2008 7:06pm

Most poker players are delusional anyway. You only have to look at the recent Irish open poker to realise this. 708 players enter at 5k each. 63 player make a profit meaning that 9.8% of players got a payout. But what about the other 645 people ? all losers!

Most poker players do not make a profit. But to those that do, fair play.

ninebeanrows · 26-03-2008 7:11pm

i would say yea, alotta people do seem to be talking up the oul gambling, although i think most of the people i know can handle it, just abit of fun;)

Mr.Plough · 26-03-2008 8:47pm

cooker put up some of your run hotter then god graphs imo

mdwexford · 26-03-2008 9:24pm

This is wrong, poker is a really easy way to make lots of money.
I recommend anyone who hasnt tried to give it a go with all your cash, you'll more than likely win loadsa moniez.

Rb · 26-03-2008 9:31pm

mdwexford wrote: »

This is wrong, poker is a really easy way to make lots of money.
I recommend anyone who hasnt tried to give it a go with all your cash, you'll more than likely win loadsa moniez.

Yeah I agree 100%.

You can deposit on some sites with even your laser card these days!

phantom_lord · 26-03-2008 9:49pm

dam right. i hear ipoker is the best network btw

look how easy it is!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c215/phantom_lord1983/ship.jpg

hands played is on the x axis

zuutroy · 26-03-2008 10:03pm

phantom_lord wrote: »

dam right. i hear ipoker is the best network btw

look how easy it is!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c215/phantom_lord1983/ship.jpg

hands played is on the x axis

If poker players are deluded, I certainly hope to be as deluded as this gent:

http://www.cardrunners.com/images/image/stingermar.jpg

chump · 26-03-2008 10:15pm

because i gamble a lot i think gambling is OK

my mommy doesn't gamble and is of the opinion that gambling is not OK

WHO IS RIGHT

MrJoeSoap · 26-03-2008 11:40pm

I've no problem with it! Since I took it up again I've doubled my investment.

Heisenberg. · 26-03-2008 11:41pm

This post has been deleted.

Sherifu · 26-03-2008 11:57pm

wixfjord wrote: »

Seems we may have a problem on our hands in the future.

I bet we won't.

Rb · 27-03-2008 12:01am

Sherifu wrote: »

I bet we won't.

Indeed.

Unless the grannies/housewives happen to start getting addicted to the online bingo I'm seeing advertised on tv so much, then what'll happen? Our inheritances will go down the drain and we won't get proper dinners anymore, then we'll have a problem on our hands.

Jesus Wept · 27-03-2008 3:08am

Sinners, the lot of them, hell bound, damnation. :mad::mad::mad::mad:

GLaDOS · 27-03-2008 4:02am

My brother gambles on football. Started off with a free tenner credit on some site and he turned it into a few hundred. Only bets on 2 matches a week or something though, doesnt take it too seriously.

jayteecork · 27-03-2008 7:36am

I think Ireland has always had a huge gambling culture.
It certainly isn't a recent thing.
My old man said he only got a pass degree as he was at the Listowel racing festival beforehand.
Then, the Listowel racing festival is in September so he's obviously bull****ting out of his ass. He got a pass degree as he was't that smart I'd wager.

jayteecork · 27-03-2008 7:41am

zuutroy wrote: »

If poker players are deluded, I certainly hope to be as deluded as this gent:

http://www.cardrunners.com/images/image/stingermar.jpg

That's not profit though, surely?

Xavi6 · 27-03-2008 7:43am

I love an oul flutter but will only do it on something I actually have knowledge on i.e. I bet on the football but wouldn't touch the horse racing. I only bet small and hence win small but I've quadrupled my Betfair account in the last 8 weeks. I'm into triple figures now and it'll help pay off my credit card!

Also nothing wrong with a good poker night. Think about it - 50 euro a head to play, 20 euro for a crate and 20 euro for food is less than you'd spend on a night out on the lash.

jayteecork · 27-03-2008 7:46am

Xavi6 wrote: »

20 euro for a crate

20 euro for a crate each?
24 Bottles doesn't last pissing time at one of those things.

zuutroy · 27-03-2008 10:18am

jayteecork wrote: »

That's not profit though, surely?

sure is, over a 10 day stretch too.

bohsman · 27-03-2008 10:33am

I gamble very little, cheltenham, the grand national and the odd football match, I do play poker for a living though.

Tar.Aldarion · 27-03-2008 11:36am

Problem? Shesh, it'sfun. If people ruin their lives because of these things, natural selection. ;-)

Growing Gambling Problem in Ireland??

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