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Responsible Gambling: Help & Guidance

Discussion in 'Horse Racing' started by TopClass, Mar 12, 2017.

  1. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    Gambling addiction

    There may be as many as 593,000 problem gamblers in Great Britain. The anticipation and thrill of gambling creates a natural high that can become addictive.

    The internet has made gambling more accessible, allowing more and more people to do it from home. This is thought to be one of the reasons for the increase in the number of women gamblers.

    Problem gamblers are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, stress, anxiety and depression.


    Gambling addicts are also more likely to go to prison as a result of criminal activity. This is almost entirely theft and fraud. And there's also a link between gambling and alcohol abuse. Many gambling addicts are also addicted to alcohol.

    But there's evidence that gambling can be successfully treated in the same way as other addictions. Cognitive behavioural therapy usually has the best results.

    Specialised addiction services that mainly focus on substance misuse often treat gambling problems, too. They use the same techniques to treat gambling addictions that they use to treat substance misuse.

    http://responsiblegambling.betfair.com/supporting-agencies/

    Get help if you think you're addicted to gambling
    National Problem Gambling Clinic

    If you live in England or Wales and are over 16, you can refer yourself to the only specialist NHS clinic for problem gamblers. For more information, visit the clinic's website.

    GamCare

    The main support organisation in the UK is GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) and provides face-to-face counselling.

    Gamblers Anonymous

    Gamblers Anonymous uses the same 12-step approach as Alcoholics Anonymous and also has a support group for relatives called Gam-Anon.

    If you know someone with a gambling problem
    GamCare: supporting a problem gambler

    Read stories from people who support a friend or relative with a gambling problem, and share your own experiences.

    GamAnon

    Get help and support if you're affected by someone else's gambling problem, including how to recognise the signs and where to find your nearest meeting.

    Real stories of gambling addiction
    GamCare: recovery diaries

    Read the stories of people with gambling addictions. You can post messages of support and tell your own story in the GamCare forum.

    NHS Choices links
    External links
     
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    Last edited: Apr 17, 2017
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  2. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Thank you for posting this Toppy. Although most on here would never admit (being part of the "boom" culture and never admitting to losing) most punters lose money in the long term and most are unwilling to face up to it. The facts are clear - bookmakers have the over-round on every race and don't lose - only the punters lose. Some face up to it, others ignore it and post about how they have had accounts closed down for winning too much <laugh> - pure fantasy island.

    This thread is open for anyone to post - without judgement - about concerns or fears they have about their gambling habit.

    I'll start it off.

    I earn good money, have a stable home life, a great family. But I throw away money gambling on horses. I keep a record of every bet and, even when I think I am doing well, a bad run of results puts me into the red and I get into loss chasing. It's a vicious circle, where I think that just one good bet landed will make everything right. But long term I realise only the bookies win. That is why I am packing it in. I have some ante post bets running at Cheltenham but after that I will close down my betting account and turn my back on horse racing. The thrill has gone. I no longer want to be sucked in to having a bet because there is a big race on Saturday. I'd rather be out in the world, seeing and doing new things, having new experiences.

    I am not judging anyone who loves horse racing and likes a bet - fair play to all of you. But I think a horse racing forum should offer a chance for people to talk about the darker side of gambling, the frustration, the shame, the sickness. If you win all the time and don't have an issue, then feel free to ignore this thread. But if you want to post, offer thoughts, advice ask questions, then please do.
     
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  3. TopClass

    TopClass Well-Known Member

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    Oddy well done on sharing and being brave enough to open that up to the forum. It should be commended and I hope this thread offers those who need some direction the little bit of help that is required.

    Its useful for everyone to see and refer back to from time to time. Sense check what you are doing? "Am I in control of my betting?" should be a question you review on a regular basis.

    Finally- do not be scared. You are most certainly not alone and as the stats above indicate, you are one of many who is or has been affected by the gambling boom in recent years.

    This thread is an open thread and one that must absolutely be respected at all times. Only the brave will speak up here- so I expect support and respect in equal measure from everyone.

    As Oddy says- it isn't necessarily for everyone, but it is there if ever required. Thank you.
     
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  4. Cyclonic

    Cyclonic Well Hung Member

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    A couple of decades ago, I used to be one of those seven days a week punters. I don't fully understand why I did it, but I knew deep down that I couldn't take a day off. I knew I had a problem. My family didn't suffer too much from it as my bets were small and with extra free cash. We banked, we stayed out of financial strife, but as Oddy stated, when I finally made the effort to start keeping records, I was shocked at the findings. I thought I was a punter who had my head screwed on right, I knew what I was doing, but I was living a false dream. I knew that all those "mates" I saw on a daily basis were doing their arse too. But they were on the same high as me, and we were all full of ****. In the end I was "lucky" enough to have had a health issue that just about put me in the ground, it allowed me a few holidaying months in hospital. It sort of broke the cycle. I think I can now count on one hand the number of bets I've had in the last 20 odd years. I know it can be hard to shake the impulse if it has us by the nuts, but I think most of us are able to stand up to most addictions, and be quite suprised at how well we handled the stoppage. So if it's giving anyone the ****s, try a little break, you never know where it'll lead.
     
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  5. Onlyfoolsandhorses

    Onlyfoolsandhorses Active Member

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    Great posts Oddy & Cyc as I believe we all need periodic reminders of how things can go from enjoyment to a problem very quickly when folks get in too deep.

    I would describe myself as someone who punts too frequently, albeit for small stakes, but never for more than I can afford to lose but when I ask myself why I do it, it's hard to come up with a logical answer. I don't believe I do it to win a life changing sum of money as I don't believe I would suddenly stop if I did (otherwise why not just do the lottery). I don't think it's for the satisfaction of getting one over the bookies as they win more times than we do and it can't be for pure enjoyment as we curse a horse, jockey or player when it denies us a win - so why do so many people continue to become engrossed in one of societies oldest 'past-times' ?

    One of the main problems in modern times is the ready and easy access to online sites. You can now bet 24/7 and with cashless transactions, punters don't realise the frequency or the amount that they are spending today. In the past, you had to go to the bookies shop during the day and that was often a deterrent enough where folks didn't want to be seeing entering such an establishment or didn't care for the typical atmosphere found in such places. It's probably not surprise lately with the rise in online female gamblers who get addicted playing during the day to pass the time. This has so often been the fundamental reason for getting into gambling with many stories of footballers getting into gambling problems due to the amount of time on their hands during the day when not training or playing. We are now bombarded with gambling advertising she it's impossible to watch any sporting event on any channel now without being told during the break of the latest odds on the next goal scorer or bookie specials for the upcoming event. Gambling advertising has now taken over from cigarette advertising used to be in the past so it's no surprise to see an increase in the number of people who have developed problems in recent times.

    As Oddy aluded to above, it's often not the financial loss that most people feel when gambling but even more so the time lost, time spent researching, reading blogs, posts, sites, etc. which could be put to so much better use. You can sometimes win your money back and more but you,lol neve win the time back.

    I took some time away from gambling last year and to be honest didn't miss it really. I got back into it a few months ago and even though I would say I'm up a little financially, I too will be taking another break post Cheltenham and perhaps stick to the bigger events in the future to have the odd 'fun' punt knowing if I lose it's no big deal but if I win, I can enjoy the winnings until the next one.

    Always keep it real folks...
     
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  6. redcgull

    redcgull Well-Known Member

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    Interesting topic Toppy, and how so relevant with the high profile week we are about to witness and the amazing amounts of money that will be spurned.

    From my own perspective, and Oddy has hinted at it earlier, the way that bookies are portraying having a bet now is 'fun' showing us how easy it is to get involved in winning something big from a betting industry that really has boomed recently and shows no signs of slowing down...

    I wouldn't say I'm a big gambler or big better and can quiet honestly say that I can watch a full days racing without a single penny being put down on it but that's only because I have changed in my attitude and methods on how I bet now. I would say I have an addictive attitude to life where if I do like something I want more of it, not all the time or to the max, but just the way I am in life.

    In my early days of working behind a bar at 18 the idiots of the pub were the lads who seemed to spend all night on the bandit to eventually win £10 max or a £4 repeater jackpot. Now when a pint cost you 68p, ( yes kids, 68p, and I bet a few on here can go a lot lower than that as well...!!) to win £10 set you up for a very good night or weekend, and we probably all thought what a jammy sod for doing so. But the truth would be that more than likely was gonna be skint for the rest of the week anyway, but you never saw that at the time.

    But if I was one of the youth of the day now I'm not sure how I would get away from the whole betting scene as nearly all of the kids, and when I mean kids the 18-25 year olds, seem to have some sort of football accy going nearly all of the time. They check their phones constantly wondering weather to cash-out or not or continue to play chicken with it until it gets to the max. I think I might be one of those boys should I be their age today as I think it is easier to fit in to the whole gambling way of life now-a-days then it was then.

    I have rules, I keep to them, and touch wood I can say that I have control of my betting programme, habit, to a degree that if I do lose a few bets it dosnt hurt me to go chasing it, or delve into my account to try and bail me out. But this is only after looking at myself first to ask 'What am I getting out of this to keep putting more money in to it and why keep on doing it...??'

    It's a minefield of endless opportunities and you can be in a hole a long time if you don't watch/manage yourself, but you have to start with yourself first to see what you want to get out of it for you...!!
     
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  7. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Great posts guys, really interesting stuff <applause>
     
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  8. SimonJ

    SimonJ Well-Known Member

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    Very timely and very worthwhile well done chaps.
    As a relative newbie here, this is my feedback.

    Technology has made it very, very easy to gamble and gamble on any number of things, at any time.
    The apps on your phone make the gambling "infrastructure" so accessible that it's all too easy to fall in to a habit.
    Footy gambling and the gamut of in play options are a perfect illustration.
    On installing the Bet365 app on my 'phone, I'm now aware of how many tennis matches are going on every day around the world! :emoticon-0104-surpr
    The number of options open to you to make a bet are mind boggling.

    For my part, I have definitely fallen into the category of an early over achiever, as in my first 18 months my return was, in my humble opinion, amazing and so the interest was sky high and stayed that way. ( I remember one very profitable Thursday Plumpton meeting in particular ).
    That buzz is, shall we say, addictive.
    This season, my hit rate has been the polar opposite, and it's then that you notice what an effect this can have on you. ( 4th being a particular finishing spot for my picks )
    During all that, I have maintained a minimum amount bet; the only time that was broken was on Ladies Day at Chester, but that was budgeted for anyway.

    One thing I've had to be careful of is the frustration of a missed opportunity and then trying to do one better than the one you missed; very dangerous.
    The "if only" and "should've" feeling is quite powerful and is actually, I think, likelier to cause trouble (at least for me).
    The buzz of a win gives me a smug self satisfaction; the frustration of a missed win entices me to make bets I wouldn't otherwise have looked at.

    I like the idea of self enforced breaks, perhaps giving yourself time out with a target meeting or target race in mind?
    I've not done much at all in the past 2 to 3 weeks in anticipation of this week coming up, for example.
    In fact, this board could be self-regulating in that respect, in that we could help each other with that kind of target.

    An interesting thread, thank you, looking forward to reading what everyone has to say.
     
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  9. Chaninbar

    Chaninbar The Crafty Cockney

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    Yep a very good thread and very timely given we're about to embark on 4 days of madness. I have to say I relate to a lot of what has already been said on here. I've often questioned whether I'm addicted to gambling. I suspect I probably am but I can honestly say I've never gambled with money I couldn't afford to lose. I do think because I've been really skint in the past (not gambling related but just surviving early 90s property slump) I fully appreciate being solvent financially and wouldn't compromise that security. I'm also fairly open with the missus about my gambling and don't hide anything from her. I don't particularly enjoy flat racing but I still bet on it which annoys me. I will try (as I have the last few seasons without success) to curb my betting during the summer. Final comment I would make is that occasionally (not often) on here there is a bit too much machismo regarding scale of bets.
     
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  10. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    I'm afraid it's all down to will power. We all have the power to develop our will power, even if it means having to be taught how to do that. Without will power it is almost impossible for the addicted to stop because the addicted person will not accept that they want/need to stop. That has to be the first step.

    For those that haven't reached the stage of being addicted but recognise they could be heading that way, it's not difficult at all. Apologies to those who may have heard this before but this is how I ended up stopping betting.

    I immersed myself in studying form. I read books/articles on how to succeed in betting. I eventually convinced myself that only certain types of races were "safe" to bet on (ie non handicaps with big prize money where the best horse is most likely to win). Then I would select my fancy and spend ages trying to find a reason why each horse could conceivably beat mine. Once I had a race where mine was "unbeatable" I had a "pretend bet". Needless to say, some got beaten. I would then re-study the form to try to unearth how I missed the one(s) that beat mine. Sometimes there didn't seem to be a reason. Eventually I was convinced that betting to make money was not a good idea. However I still got my enjoyment from studying the form and selecting winners; but didn't have the financial grief of backing losers. This is why I enjoy competitions (including running them). I get as much enjoyment from seeing my selection win as I would if I had backed it because it is a sense of achievement with no risk attached. I still have a bet very occasionally (ie if I go on one of my rare visits to the track) but the amount I stake is budgeted for in the same way as any other outing (in other words it is budgeted as an expense with no return expected). Any return is a bonus.

    You do not have to give up your interest in horse racing in order to stop betting. Concentrate on different aspects, such as the beauty of the horse, the skill of the rider, the thrill of the race. However, it won't take long before you find yourself only interested in the best races with the best horses, much the same way as in any other sport. For those who find that betting would still add more interest simply budget the stake money as a weekly expense, much as one does (presumably) with cigarettes or any other past time. At least you might get something back instead of it all going up in smoke and damaging your health.

    But always prioritise. Don't spend money on betting that would be better spent on something else.

    I've only mentioned horse racing because it is an interest in itself; it isn't necessary to try to make money from it, but as part of a budgeted outing it is always nice if you come back with more money than you went with. Not many outings where you can do that. As far as any other form of gambling is concerned I'm totally lost as to the interest, particularly machines - they should all be banned
     
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  11. Archers Road

    Archers Road Urban Spaceman

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    With respect Ron, talk of willpower is of no earthly use to an addict. Anybody who is able to control their vices through use of the will is not an addict, merely a person who recognises that their bad habits need reigning in.

    Addiction is an illness, and you can't cure an illness by willing it away. An addict has reached the point of powerlessness over the substance or behavior that is destroying their lives. As such they can't defeat what ails them through the use of willpower anymore than a cancer sufferer can.

    Fortunately, help is available, and as you rightly say, admitting the problem and asking for help is the first step. By way of example, Step 1 of the alcoholics anonymous programme is as follows;
    "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, and that our lives had become unmanageable."
     
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  12. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    Well I don't think I am disagreeing with you there AR. Once you have passed the state of being unable to utilise will power it becomes an illness. I was trying to make the point that will power is the only way to avoid the illness, not to cure it. Problem with a lot of people is that they have no will power, nor the desire to develop it. They are the ones in danger of it developing into an illness; it doesn't start off as an illness.
     
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  13. Archers Road

    Archers Road Urban Spaceman

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    No need to change anything really Ron. It's a common misconception that addicts are weak people who lack willpower, but I know that's not what you meant.
     
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  14. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    Crikey, you were quick; I decided to leave it in the end and deleted it.
     
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  15. Bostonbob

    Bostonbob Well-Known Member

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    Very interesting reading chaps.

    It's a funny old thing gambling and addiction. They go hand in hand. I don't believe anyone when they say they can leave it alone whenever they want.

    I usually spend all my Summer's avoiding horse racing apart from the odd big race or day out at York. I find that gives me a recharge and i'm excited about the jumps season when the Autumn rolls back round. However, this Winter, my dad's been very poorly after a 4 year battle with cancer that culminated in his death on the 3rd February. Coupled with that we've had complications with my wife's pregnancy. It's not been a great time and i've been too busy to get stuck into much racing. It's done me good.

    I've barely been on here to contribute but have checked in fairly regularly to see what's going on etc. What i've found is that you don't care as much when you aren't immersed in it. By that i mean you don't mind missing a grade three in Ireland or a substandard grade 2 in England when you aren't checking the cards every day. You certainly couldn't care less whether there's an all weather meeting or not. That's definitely a good thing. Fewer bets. Less exposure - both financially and mentally. You lose less, you risk less and you don't have the same stress. All good things.

    Equally, if you miss a long stretch you are playing catch up when you come back. To be good at selecting the right horses at the right time you have to be dedicated. Watch everything, rewatch everything. Trade on Betfair all the time etc.

    I started betting like most do. Tiny stakes. Couple of quid on the football. Fiver on the horses. Maybe Royal Ascot etc. Then you get lucky and win a bit. When you've won a decent sum, betting a couple of quid to win a tenner doesn't cut it. You up your stakes. Oddy mentioned about account closures - it's happened to me loads of times. I used to think it was a badge of honour but actually it's a pain in the arse but more than that it leads to you having accounts with everyone - a very dangerous thing indeed. I opened an account with BetonBrazil.com this week for Christ sake! I now bet irregularly but when i bet i put a fair amount of money on it.

    Then what can happen? You win/you lose. It doesn't really matter because eventually you will lose more than you win. The big wins don't come often enough to cancel out the more regular losing bets. You chase the losses. Eventually you have a decent win which makes you forget about the losing streaks even though you're still down over all.

    What's been good for me is:

    Separating what you are good at/enjoy and leaving the rest alone - for me it's jumps racing and NFL. Nothing else.
    Breaks - self explanatory
    Stakes - i can't take a 'smaller' bet seriously so i don't be for a couple of quid any more. I found i'd have a lot of smaller bets and now i have a lot less, larger bets. I found what i could handle the best was establishing a level where i had to really think about whether i wanted to risk the money and what i miss out on if i lose.

    What's been bad for me is:

    Too many accounts
    Getting sucked into random festivals - Goodwood, Galway, Royal Ascot, Champions Weekend, Arc Weekednd, Fairyhouse, Punchestown - I don't look at them any more because i lose money at them.

    Not really a post designed to help anyone else if i'm honest. Just one that i've used to have a vent as i rarely talk about betting with anyone other than people who also like a bet.
     
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    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
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  16. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    Cheers Bob. Very sorry to hear about your dad, and your wife's difficulties. Best wishes to your wife
     
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  17. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Yeah all the best Bob, that really puts things into perspective. Some nice views on the betting too. Thank you <applause>
     
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  18. Bostonbob

    Bostonbob Well-Known Member

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    Thanks chaps. I'm the princely age of 33 so i always thought i'd be too old to be upset/shaken by it but that's not proven the case. I had a month or so of sorting out my dads life insurance policies and savings etc for my mum and the funeral/eulogy to prep and deliver which kept me occupied so it's only really hit me in the last couple of weeks. Naff in a word.

    Stacey's alright in the end. We're having the baby on the 25th April. Can't wait.
     
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    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
  19. smokethedeadbadger

    smokethedeadbadger Well-Known Member

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    Bob, i'm sorry to hear about your dad passing and am glad to hear that your wife is doing ok. I recently lost my grandad who was the ripe old age of 96 and barring my wife and kids was the closet person to me. He's the first real person close to me that i have lost and it completely hit me for six, the funeral nearly broke me.

    Very interesting to read your perspective on gambling some of it struck a chord with me and my betting patterns.

    Thanks for posting and all the best for you upcoming arrival
     
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  20. ChelseaCOE2012

    ChelseaCOE2012 Well-Known Member

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    Bob sorry to hear about your father <rose> glad that the wife is now ok and good luck with the baby, congrats!!

    Agree with your post, very good post. I was doing the same with basketball earlier from about november, i'm **** at it but the first 6 bets i won and then i was doing like a £10 acca every night for about 3 months, lost every single one, and then luckily i stopped for a second and thought hang on, i'm about £1000 down on this and aside from that i'm not even watching the games so it's like i'm even getting anything out of it either i'm just giving away £300+ a month!

    Similar with football, was doing football acca's etc but not even taking any notice of them and just forgetting about them, just such pointless betting its like you're getting anything out of it and it was just not the fun side of betting it was the stupid sign of betting trying to win £££ and when you're trying to win £££ it very rarely happens.

    Slots were always my problem online, i'd win money from horses then just play slots and end up losing it most of the time, actually went back a year and did a tally and i was about 4k up on horses, but overall was still 2k down purely through slots, and stupid football / basketball bets and poker! Ended up self excluding myself from all sides apart from sports betting but i just don't bother with basketball or football anymore.

    Also as someone said earlier, mid-week betting was a killer betting 7 days a week was just ridiculous. So i pretty much chopped it down to just weekends if i'm not doing anything bar Cheltenham or going to the actual races. One thing that helped a lot was not bothering to look at the racecards for the next day everyday as there was too many horses i was following there would always be 5-6 a day i'd recognise.

    Gladly never really got into the FOBT's, the point that always got me was the jackpot is £500, what is the point, like slots are bad in general and you will always end up down, but at least online its uncapped, e.g. you could get a bonus and win a few thousand from a £1/£2 stake whereas in the shop you can only win £500. Does make me laugh sometimes when people are in the bookies on them and you can hear some of them going yeh yeh this number is coming in on roulette or they think they can read a pattern or they think there actually is a ****ing pattern <laugh>

    Good thread to have anyway, as it is very easily to get addicted.
     
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