Campaigns

Hi I think its great whot your doing am a gambler its gone worst id like somthink done I know people on benfits that gamble and lose all there money and cant live theres more betting shop and gambling shops then pubs id like to help more

Betting represents 52% of the Gross Gambling Yield which means FoBT represent roughly 42% of GGY (based on 80% of bookmaker profits being derived from FoBT). This correlates with a marked increases in problem gambling, an explosion of bricks and mortar LBO's and a bookmaking industry increasingly flexing its muscles and dampening down all areas of potential opposition. A campaign to ban FoBT is un-winnable as the gambling reform groups that would lead this campaign (such as Gambling Watch) are underfunded and fractured. We need a campaign that challenges the supremacy of the bookmaker on the high street and in the gaming arena. There are numerous guerrilla tactics that can be employed to do this, but it has to be through a well funded, united and gambling reformist organization - possibly a charity with one wing that helps problem gamblers and a second that challenges the causes of problem gambling. It is certainly possible to inhibit FoBT in such a way that their profit contribution to bookmakers declines and their impact on people's lives is restricted, but certainly not ban them.

In February this year my lovely, kind, funny brother-in-law was found hanging from the rafters of his garage by my devastated sister. They were preparing to celebrate 40 years of happy marriage and she had no idea that he had gambled his inheritance on fruit machines, in local "amusuement" arcades. I'm sure everyone will appreciate the utter despair and sadness this event has caused to the entire family, including his two wonderful daughters.
I would urge anyone reading this to spread the word gambling in all forms has a potential to destroy lives which must not be underestimated. My brother in law was a much-loved friend and a charming, intelligent, professional man, with a happy family life, who became utterly and secretly addicted and was clearly unable to help himself, unbeknown to the many people who loved him. Nothing will ever be the same again for our family and everyone who knew him is in a state of shock, as there were no outward signs of his problems. I would urge readers try to imagine what impact this would have in your lives (or could actually be having on someone you know, at this very moment) when making judgements about gambling regulation.

I have had to ask myself what benefit these gambling outlets of all kinds bring to the community and am very hard-pressed to think of any at all. I believe in years to come we will look back on these issues and consider how we fuelled these problems, to the detriment of vulnerable individuals in all walks of life, in much the same way that we initially failed to recognise the impact of smoking and drinking to excess. I believe that we will rue the day we failed to act to limit the number of gambling establishments and the detrimental effects of these addictions, or to help those whose secretive habit can so easily bring them to the brink or actualisation of suicide. Please help us if you can by spreading the word of this very real, life-changing story.

Very best regards, in memory of a very much missed loved one who we were unable to save and in the sincere hope that others will not have to suffer in the same way.

Sue

I was very moved reading Sue's comment and felt I needed to write something too.

Every evening my husband and I watch T.V. and are appalled by the amount of online gambling sites advertised. I feel they contravene the laws of advertising as they portray the experience as a social one rather than the reality which is a solitary, isolated activity. The fact that people can play anonymously and without being judged makes it a very dangerous pastime. They offer free gambling chips and show people celebrating their good fortune with others. These sites are tantalizing to our young people who have no idea the dangers of gambling and who do not need to show their ID at the door to prove their age, but can use their parents or older friends ID. I feel we are on the verge of a serious social problem fueled by the need to make a quick buck and will cost families dearly in more than financial terms.

I completely agree with Sarah's comments. I find the tv advertising of online gambling extremely misleading and see the potential for an epidemic amongst all frequent internet users. I have spent the last year confined mainly to my home and watch a lot of daytime tv, many of these adverts run at highly inappropriate times, seemingly specifically aimed at lonely housewives.

I think that there should be a serious attempt to lobby Government to change the laws on gambling advertisments of all kinds. Gambling addiction is, as can be seen from Sue's terribly sad story (she and her family have all my sympathy), a life threatening disease that destroys families.

The fobt machines are designed from the ground up to be very very addictive.

I will illiterate, the simulation of the roulette wheel is coded to be almost hypnotic the graphics produced by the fobt are one of its main secrets, the second addictive factor would the pace the speed of which one can win or lose, the third addictive factor now this is top secret, the game is rigged but in a way to try and keep you at the table, near misses, lucky runs, or sometimes it will just try to simply annoy you by playing the opposite of everything you do, fourth the illusion that you can win as these machines are labelled random but are far from, fifth after you are addicted which you will be because no-one who plays fobts is not an addict I can prove that any day of the week fact, back to fifth after your addicted you will try to control your impulses but its hard because hey its only 20p roulette I wont get carried away oh great just won £20 maybe its not so bad… Lastly easy access there are bookmakers around every corner literally.

Now think about these factors and decide for yourself with these machines its all about luck, and that luck is based on you playing them or not, if you have never tried a fobt that’s why your not addicted like me I’m not addicted to drugs but if I dabbled with them there is a high chance I will become addicted that’s why these machines are rightly named the crack cocaine of gambling.

They should be outlawed immediately.