A question about Gambling addiction

Dots1982 · 13-05-2016 11:59AM #1

I know it is politically correct to be extremely understanding of all types of addiction but as a gambler myself there is something i don't understand about gambling addiction.

No one I know has got rich from gambling. People have had big wins but most of the time I think they have given it all back down through the years. Why in that case do people not realise it is a hobby that costs money rather than makes money?

I know some people are stupid and illogical and have no self control. But people like Oisin Mcconville are highly intelligent and come across as logical yet he nearly ruined his life with gambling.

This might come across as a bit superior but sometimes i think the gambling industry gets a bad rap because some punters can't accept YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO MAKE MONEY FROM GAMBLING.

MagicIRL · 13-05-2016 12:05PM

I'll bet you anything I'll make money from it...

not yet · 13-05-2016 12:06PM

Bet you a tenner you get no help here..

Red_Wake · 13-05-2016 12:08PM

Dots1982 wrote: »

This might come across as a bit superior but sometimes i think the gambling industry gets a bad rap because some punters can't accept YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO MAKE MONEY FROM GAMBLING.

The gambling industry are an absolute shower of bastards.

They deliberately target areas where people are less educated as these people are more likely to become problem gamblers. Compare how many bookies are in working class areas vs middle class areas.

They've ruined sport IMO, odds are constantly being shoved in your face by commentators, rather than discussing the game and the players. SSN discussing the odds various bookies offer is disgraceful.

whatismyname · 13-05-2016 12:09PM

Gambling addiction is rarely about making money.

The buzz. The release. The escapism. All kinds of things but making money .

And in the moment the person may even believe it's about making money, and they may even on some level be aware of the unlikelihood of making a return, and may even be aware that even if they did they'd probably blow it all anyway, but in the moment, even if they are aware of that on some level, it may not even matter, as they get so caught up in the buzz, excitement, the rush, the ways that it makes them feel good at the time.

luftmensch · 13-05-2016 12:10PM

Anyone who put money on Leicester City would disagree.

Kauto · 13-05-2016 12:11PM

Dots1982 wrote: »

I know it is politically correct to be extremely understanding of all types of addiction but as a gambler myself there is something i don't understand about gambling addiction.

No one I know has got rich from gambling. People have had big wins but most of the time I think they have given it all back down through the years. Why in that case do people not realise it is a hobby that costs money rather than makes money?

I know some people are stupid and illogical and have no self control. But people like Oisin Mcconville are highly intelligent and come across as logical yet he nearly ruined his life with gambling.

This might come across as a bit superior but sometimes i think the gambling industry gets a bad rap because some punters can't accept YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO MAKE MONEY FROM GAMBLING.

No you dont get rich from gambling but you can make a nice income to go along with your wage if you actually know what you are doing.
You see clowns in the shops everyday backing on these virtual things and by God it is depressing seeing them burning 2 and 3 euro a time.
The biggest bet i would have would be €200-€300 and i mainly back on horses. Very hard to get a bet online nowadays as they wont accept more than €20-€30 and you get restricted very quickly.
The Paddy Powers of this world are pure scum and target the vulnerable but once they deem you know what you are doing you wouldnt get 2 bananas to win a banana with them.

Tombi! · 13-05-2016 12:13PM

It's about the enjoyment of when you win.
I've spent maybe... 50 euro? At most over my entire lifetime gambling. I think I saw about 30 quid of it back.

But in a videogame one time, I ended up playing a minigame in it, it was a sort of "higher or lower" type game. You could bet ingame (so fake) money.
I started playing it. It was fun. Ended up playing it for around 6 hours straight.
It was just the excitement of when I won. That's all it is.

AnonoBoy · 13-05-2016 12:14PM

I'm pretty sure the OP doesn't really understand how addiction works.

Sure don't them heroin addicts know that heroin's bad for you?

osarusan · 13-05-2016 12:14PM

Bookies are sad places. I go there every now and then if I've an hour to kill. I can get a free cup of coffee in most of them, and they have live football on at weekends. And you might even win a few quid. A few means maybe 10 as I'll be betting 2 or 3 euro on a something like 4/1 shot. Even then, I'll choose a race that's at least 10 minutes away and spend that 10 minutes trying to inform myself even a little bit. If i lose that I don't bet again.

But the amount of people who bet without any study whatsoever, race after race, is just awful. Walk up to the newspaper pinned on the wall, choose a horse within seconds, place the bet, lose the bet, call the jockey a useless wanker and the trainer a c*nt, and then do it all over again for the next race. It's so sad.

Kauto wrote: »

You see clowns in the shops everyday backing on these virtual things and by God it is depressing seeing them burning 2 and 3 euro a time.

That virtual stuff is the saddest stuff of all.

not yet · 13-05-2016 12:15PM

Red_Wake wrote: »

The gambling industry are an absolute shower of bastards.

They deliberately target areas where people are less educated as these people are more likely to become problem gamblers. Compare how many bookies are in working class areas vs middle class areas.

They've ruined sport IMO, odds are constantly being shoved in your face by commentators, rather than discussing the game and the players. SSN discussing the odds various bookies offer is disgraceful.

The above, plus I hate the fcuking way they try to make it look inclusive with a bunch of guys out for the day having a ball. You can't watch a match on Sky anymore without some smug B rated actor telling you how simple it is to get the app etc..

It's is the most destructive thing in any working class community bar drugs..

jamesbere · 13-05-2016 12:18PM

If your smart with your gambling you can make money but only a small few do I think. Since online gambling came into existence gambling addiction has risen. Between sports, casino and bingo there's a wide variety of ways to get a person sucked in.

Dots1982 · 13-05-2016 12:19PM

Kauto wrote: »

Dots1982 wrote: »

I know it is politically correct to be extremely understanding of all types of addiction but as a gambler myself there is something i don't understand about gambling addiction.

No one I know has got rich from gambling. People have had big wins but most of the time I think they have given it all back down through the years. Why in that case do people not realise it is a hobby that costs money rather than makes money?

I know some people are stupid and illogical and have no self control. But people like Oisin Mcconville are highly intelligent and come across as logical yet he nearly ruined his life with gambling.

This might come across as a bit superior but sometimes i think the gambling industry gets a bad rap because some punters can't accept YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO MAKE MONEY FROM GAMBLING.

No you dont get rich from gambling but you can make a nice income to go along with your wage if you actually know what you are doing.
You see clowns in the shops everyday backing on these virtual things and by God it is depressing seeing them burning 2 and 3 euro a time.
The biggest bet i would have would be 200- 300 and i mainly back on horses. Very hard to get a bet online nowadays as they wont accept more than 20- 30 and you get restricted very quickly.
The Paddy Powers of this world are pure scum and target the vulnerable but once they deem you know what you are doing you wouldnt 2 bananas to win a banana with them.

Perhaps you're right but there are professional tipsters in the racing post or on tipster websites like WeLoveBetting.com and I don't see any of them making money. They may break even. If you think you can money from gambling that supplements your income than good luck to you but it's damn difficult.

Kauto · 13-05-2016 12:24PM

Dots1982 wrote: »

Perhaps you're right but there are professional tipsters in the racing post or on tipster websites like WeLoveBetting.com and I don't see any of them making money. They may break even. If you think you can money from gambling that supplements your income than good luck to you but it's damn difficult.

Yes it is diffcult but its all about discipline(Which goes out the window from time to time).

Most of those 'Tipsters' in the racing post are columnists who couldn't pick their nose. If you wanted to back blindly they follow Garry O'Brien on Attheraces and you will make money year on year.

maudgonner · 13-05-2016 12:25PM

Kauto wrote: »

You see clowns in the shops everyday backing on these virtual things and by God it is depressing seeing them burning 2 and 3 euro a time.

Forgive my ignorance, this is the first time I've ever heard of virtual betting. I googled and it looks like betting on e.g. a fictional football game, basically a video game?

WTaF! How does it work? How can it be ensured that it's not rigged to make sure the team with the least bets wins? I have to be missing something? It's one of the most bizarre things I've seen in a long time, we've run out of things to bet on so now we're creating them electronically.

osarusan · 13-05-2016 12:28PM

maudgonner wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance, this is the first time I've ever heard of virtual betting. I googled and it looks like betting on e.g. a fictional football game, basically a video game?

"Virtual racing".

Computerised horse races from 'courses' with a name like Fakingham racecourse, timed to fill the 10-15 minute gap between actual races. There are also computerised car races and there even used to be football matches, but I haven't seen them in a while.

The logical monetising outcome of the ground-breaking conclusion that 'these people will bet on anything.'

Dots1982 · 13-05-2016 12:30PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I'm pretty sure the OP doesn't really understand how addiction works.

Sure don't them heroin addicts know that heroin's bad for you?

If you think gambling and heroin addiction is the same then it is you who doesn't understand addiction in my opinion.

Kauto · 13-05-2016 12:31PM

osarusan wrote: »

"Virtual racing".

Computerised horse races from 'courses' with a name like Fakingham racecourse, timed to fill the 10-15 minute gap between actual races. There are also computerised car races and there even used to be football matches, but I haven't seen them in a while.

The big thing in Betting shops is now virtual roulette. I love gambling but i dont think i could ever back on something like that.
God help us if FOBTS ever come into Ireland like the UK. Fellas blowing £1,000 in 10 Mins on them. Nobody over there watches Horse racing in the shops its all FOBTS. They reckon FOBTS are more additive than Crack Cocaine.

Healio · 13-05-2016 12:35PM

Kauto wrote: »

The big thing in Betting shops is now virtual roulette. I love gambling but i dont think i could ever back on something like that.
God help us if FOBTS ever come into Ireland like the UK. Fellas blowing £1,000 in 10 Mins on them. Nobody over there watches Horse racing in the shops its all FOBTS. They reckon FOBTS are more additive than Crack Cocaine.

The roulette in irish shops is actually there because of the fobt ban, as it stands it is actually worse as in they cannot limit stakes to a max amount per spin.

AidySevenfold · 13-05-2016 12:37PM

Ladbrokes are slowly offering them and accept credit cards as payment in which is not good for some people.

I gamble but I know when enough is enough and its only football I'd back. Don't go near the horses, dogs, virtuals or whatever else. If you stick to the European leagues it's pretty simple to make a decent amount a week along with your wages.

maudgonner · 13-05-2016 12:42PM

I just don't understand how you can be certain it's not rigged? I mean there are plenty of stories about rigged roulette wheels, horses 'not trying' and games being thrown. Those are fairly hard to prove and can result in conviction.

But if the betting companies develop the virtual games themselves then it would be trivially easy to control the outcomes according to where the money has been placed?

Dots1982 · 13-05-2016 12:44PM

Kauto wrote: »

Dots1982 wrote: »

Perhaps you're right but there are professional tipsters in the racing post or on tipster websites like WeLoveBetting.com and I don't see any of them making money. They may break even. If you think you can money from gambling that supplements your income than good luck to you but it's damn difficult.

Yes it is diffcult but its all about discipline(Which goes out the window from time to time).

Most of those 'Tipsters' in the racing post are columnists who couldn't pick their nose. If you wanted to back blindly they follow Garry O'Brien on Attheraces and you will make money year on year.

I'm a very disciplined gambler & I still make very little money. I think you probably need a sound mathetical model to make money or else just be a good picker. Fine being disciplined if you can't pick your nose...you'll only minimize your losses.

Kauto · 13-05-2016 12:45PM

maudgonner wrote: »

I just don't understand how you can be certain it's not rigged? I mean there are plenty of stories about rigged roulette wheels, horses 'not trying' and games being thrown. Those are fairly hard to prove and can result in conviction.

But if the betting companies develop the virtual games themselves then it would be trivially easy to control the outcomes according to where the money has been placed?

Most of the virtual games are not developed by the bookies but by another company. Hard to rig the result when the same race is been shown in all bookies shops and most of the bets are placed within 10-20 secs of the off time.

osarusan · 13-05-2016 12:46PM

maudgonner wrote: »

I just don't understand how you can be certain it's not rigged? I mean there are plenty of stories about rigged roulette wheels, horses 'not trying' and games being thrown. Those are fairly hard to prove and can result in conviction.

But if the betting companies develop the virtual games themselves then it would be trivially easy to control the outcomes according to where the money has been placed?

I think they're more likely to just programme it so that the favourite doesn't win that much, rather than having it react to betting patterns each time.

I've wondered about it myself. I'm assuming that the 12.53 from Fakingham shown in Paddy Powers in Limerick is the same race and outcome as the 12.53 shown in PP in Dublin.

To be honest, you don't even need to rig it in the way you suggested to make money from it, if you just don't have the favourite win all the time*.

*which is obviously rigging of a kind anyway.

Kauto · 13-05-2016 12:48PM

Dots1982 wrote: »

I'm a very disciplined gambler & I still make very little money. I think you probably need a sound mathetical model to make money or else just be a good picker. Fine being disciplined if you can't pick your nose...you'll only minimize your losses.

Very simple if you back a horse at 12/1 that you think should be 5/1m you will make money.

Will give you an example tonight in Kilbeggan 6.40. Call Me PJ is 14/1. He will be 7/1 or shorter come race time which is closer to this through odds. If you keep backing horses at longer prices than they should be you will make money.

Healio · 13-05-2016 12:52PM

maudgonner wrote: »

I just don't understand how you can be certain it's not rigged? I mean there are plenty of stories about rigged roulette wheels, horses 'not trying' and games being thrown. Those are fairly hard to prove and can result in conviction.

But if the betting companies develop the virtual games themselves then it would be trivially easy to control the outcomes according to where the money has been placed?

You do not need to rig a roulette wheel, if you are a bookmaker, there is negative expected value on every bet the player does.

maudgonner · 13-05-2016 12:54PM

Kauto wrote: »

Most of the virtual games are not developed by the bookies but by another company. Hard to rig the result when the same race is been shown in all bookies shops and most of the bets are placed within 10-20 secs of the off time.

I dunno, they wouldn't have to rig the race before the post time though - the'd have the duration of the race to process the bets too. As long as they have access to the data about the bets being placed I don't see how it couldn't be done.

As Osarusan said though, it would probably just be easier to make sure the favourite doesn't win too often.

Of course The Sting is one of my favourite films, so I might just be reading too much into this

maudgonner · 13-05-2016 12:56PM

Healio wrote: »

You do not need to rig a roulette wheel, if you are a bookmaker, there is negative expected value on every bet the player does.

Yes, but if you rig it you can increase that. I get your point, but rigging outcomes will always make the bookie more money.

Dots1982 · 13-05-2016 12:59PM

Kauto wrote: »

Dots1982 wrote: »

I'm a very disciplined gambler & I still make very little money. I think you probably need a sound mathetical model to make money or else just be a good picker. Fine being disciplined if you can't pick your nose...you'll only minimize your losses.

Very simple if you back a horse at 12/1 that you think should be 5/1m you will make money.

Will give you an example tonight in Kilbeggan 6.40. Call Me PJ is 14/1. He will be 7/1 or shorter come race time which is closer to this through odds. If you keep backing horses at longer prices than they should be you will make money.

Not really a horsey man but a bet's a bet so thanks for the tip.

DrumSteve · 13-05-2016 12:59PM

I'd love to be able to watch a match without seeing Ray F*cking Winstone trying to get me to gamble away my wages like some proper facking nawty geezer.

**** off Ray.

The Backwards Man · 13-05-2016 01:00PM

I have the world's only foolproof gambling system, and setting as it's a lovely sunny day I'll share it with you all free of charge.

1. Develop a deep seated pathological hatred of football teams/horse trainers/tennis players

2. Back them to win in every event they take part in.

3. Profit/Satisfaction

A question about Gambling addiction

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