betting shop gaming machines

as you can see i'm pretty sure about this!

Been reading this thread and have to say it's very interesting. It's so easy to get hooked to anything these days, and what the hell does gamble responsibly mean?

I love betting on sport (football and tennis mainly) and its always exciting to watch if you've bet. However the one thing that has given me profit is online roulette. I've made over £400 quid since November so not about to give up my day job. Plus some of this has gone on sports betting. Roulette has challenged me to be disciplined but this is something i am able to do. I only try to win 10-20 quid a time, and i have had losses but have always managed to win money back and profit in the next go. Having read this thread I will stay away from the machines in the bookies and to be honest I do all my betting online anyway.

I wish you better luck with any future bets million.

I don't go in betting shops much nowadays but when I do I am becoming increasingly concerned about the people using these machines. In the main they are young men most of whom only seem to be in there to go on the machines. Never see them putting a bet on at the counter. Their demeanour is also significant - very few of them look happy and seem anxious - some look guilty using money they can ill afford.

The speed at which you can lose money is the most alarming issue and only adds to the panic which seems to take over. Someone on here  suggested having a word with them to warn them of the dangers but I feel that would be a waste of time and would seem a bit hypocritical coming from a fellow gambler.

I seriously feel that the government should look towards either decreasing the number of machines or banning them altogether. Many lives and relationships will be destroyed unless something is done.

I would also ban any adverts to do with gambling - sick of seeing paddy mcguiness and that other to$$er ray winstone (your the daddy)- these people would eat $hit for money and have no regard for the morality of promoting gambling.

Rant over!

aliboy3--well done mate if u r disciplined--its somthing i could do when in front but went mental when chasing big time---you wouldnt believe reading my post but i am a really good judge on sport and horses but could flush a couple of months good gambling down the pan in one day--so you can imagine what state i got in on roulette

thanks million. I'll admit though at the casino i don't have the same discipline. It must be something to do with the environment. Plus the fact that the minimum bet is higher at the casino. I recently tried to not bet on the fottie, but i like it too much. It was cancelling out my roulette profits, or giving me free bets on the fottie which ever way you look at it.

I find the whole thing fascinating. A couple of years ago I tried the financial betting on here and lost some big bets, so have learned what works for me and what doesnt. But even if I lose with footie bets I know i would still bet on, so heres hoping for some luck!

be lucky mate

how can anyone win on roulette

james bond always did --lol

THE latest a guy picks up a chair smashes **** out of the machine  smashes it to bits no staff come out   10 minutes later the bloke from corals   arrives in his van puts a new screen into the machine  no police  saturday afternoon   staff now told just to get the screen replaced no police no publicity.

it's possible tobermory. I never go for single numbers, always odd or even, or 1-18 and 19-36. i'ts not perfect but it works. i also realised not to place a bet on every spin.

dont surprise me--when i went ballistic i said  --why couldnt you hav barred me 6 months ago-

Apr 17, 2012 -- 10:10PM, million1 wrote:

james bond always did --lol

Aliboy, its a game of luck not skill so impossible to be good at it

yeh-ALWAYS BAD LUCK in my fu---ng-case--lol

well your probably right tobermory, but will keep on playing till i get bored or find a better way to win a bit of dosh.

I have a system regarding roulette.
You break even every time.
Just don't play roulette.

aliboy3
17 Apr 12 23:19
Joined:
31 Mar 11
| Topic/replies: 112 | Blogger: aliboy3's blog
well your probably right tobermory, but will keep on playing till i get bored or find a better way to win a bit of dosh. or do my nuts and start my own thread in 6 months time.

Sorry to sound harsh Aliboy3 but I bet if you asked Million1 he would have said pretty much the same thing at the start of his journey, the only thing guaranteed is that you will lose if you play them, it is mathamatical fact. Keep to your sports betting and pack the roulette in, you may win the odd few quid here and now but I will give you any odds and any stake that it will crash sooner rather then later.

Well done to the others on here who have learnt from their experiences, but as many have pointed out the majority dont learn and it will be an escalating social issue as the machines are only in their infancy and we have a whole generation queueing to stick their hard earned in.

You don't realise how much you "feed" into these machienes - I often go into my local bookies to put a coupon on or L15 and often just feed whatever change i have left into these on the way out!

Threads like this are great because it really helps to highlight the obvious facts abouot these. Ten years ago these were all non existant. I know people who's lives have been recked by these machienes I think we should try and make a big push to really drum up anti FOBT.

besty--rhharringtpn---great replies
thanks to everybody who has taken time to reply-i know i hav been a mug but i really thought i would be crucified posting this--but it just proves to me how serios a problem these machines are--and it has really helped me chatting about it--cheers

I think you have hit the nail on the head million1, if you had lost your money on a 1/2 jolly at Wolves then this thread would have turned out a bit different, but I think the vast majority of people realise the danger with these terminals.

When I 1st got into gambling as an adult it was a bi-monthly lads day out to the casino as the nearest casino was over an hour away. Then came along the internet and then 2 or 3 of these 'casinos' on every high street.

Cant get away from them now and they even are hooking those who may have never stepped into a casino!!

All the best for the future Million1 and hopefully your story may prevent others from following you.

cheers mate

No you don't sound harsh Besty, you sound like the voice of reason. Your right I do win a few quid here and there but that has added up nicely over the last few months. I've tried the same approach in the last 5 months and it works. Anyway, i'm only speaking from 1 person's experience. I think this thread is excellent and I hope it helps others!

cant believe this--went into a betting shop this morning and saw a bloke playing 2 somtimes 3 machines in a row at same time [roulette] betting abt 100 a spin -had his card behind counter shouted to cashier regularly--"put 300 on no 1 machine put 500 on no3 etc--every time he won he collected receipt had a fistfull of them-- i said to a regular fu---ng hell he likes a bet---he replied it aint his money its all on credit cards-------i left the shop and thought about it--would he be trying to get cash out of his own credit card--doing a scam with staff or if it was dodgy credit cards surely it wouldnt be that simple---anyone heard of anything similar ?

after all that i have said on here--had a row with missus this morning--had 500 in pocket--stormed into korals done the lot in cold blood in 40 mins---feel lower than a snakes belly--

feckin hell million that has to stop m8

Did you ever go to GA?

yeh 2 weeks ago-----and due again this sunday m8---what a hypocrypt

Million1 will you email me mate. YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS.  I will pm you my details if you like.

Your not a hypocrite, do you play any sports, read, have you kids. You need to spread your time fella. You have to stop going into to have a look also. It is doing you no favours at all.

goalhanger--will do mate but wont be for an hour or so m8

just go there Sunday , tell them what you did, should be understanding

Agree totally Toby, the one thing to stop you playing these should be your family, i am not going to guilt trip you, i am not married but i am involved. I can promise you when i marry herself i will not bet anymore. I will walk away just like that.

Just think of the people you care for and that should be enough to stop full stop, think of how much it hurts them. I really do feel for you mate and i really hope you get through this.

goalhanger is spot on.

You need to stay out - you don't need to go in and see others playing - win or lose.

cheers mate--

err its called a "addiction" for a reason,if it was that easy then you would'nt have lads like million.They need help not ridicule imo.

MadVlad Joined: 23 Feb 12
Replies: 1178 20 Apr 12 20:59 
err its called a "addiction" for a reason,if it was that easy then you would'nt have lads like million.They need help not ridicule imo.


There has not been one word of ridicule here i can assure you. Million will agree with everything that has been said. We all want the best for him.

i am  the plonker--but everybody has been spot on--i was just trying to share my experience-help others---and i swear it has helped me cos im chatting to gamblers etc--what i call normal people havnt a clue---im big enough old enough and ugly enough to take it--but honestly i aint been ridiculed

my apologies,I hope you beat your addiction million.

madVlad---no apology needed mate

million, ive a pal were i live ,had a big addiction to the roulette machines,  was borrowing money from the banks for property developments, that he did for a living at the time, about four years ago started useing this money for the roulette ,he would lose 3 4 5 k in a day the stories came from all people i new , most i ever saw him lose was 3k , £90 a spin, he lost the lot is properties plus got repossesed from is own house last month , really sad situation defo not for me , only one winner with these machines

my late dad was a gambler-as a kid i was gambling never went to school-locked up--fighting---til i was 30-- got on straight and narrow worked me way up--always gambled but in semi control--made a lot of money luvvly house luvvly wife great kids-sold up-- got a rite few bob--always kept super fit--great lifestyle--then 3 years ago had a breakdown lost 58 k cash lost house lost the lot--those machines are a killer-- but just like an alcaholic  that mental gambling spree was always just a bad luck bet away mate

go for professional help asap, dont sit around feeling like this. Gambling is a desperate illness, i always thought I had discipline and was above it but no, thanks to the internet and in your face advertising it has got the better of me at times.. you take it personally but its happening thousands daily. People losing all their wages etc, its shocking when you think about it.

look at the football betting interface here and you have  'play roulette' and 'play blackjack' drawing existing and potential punters in. They are the witch giving snow white the poisonous apple

i have mate-when off me head --got sectioned---but all phsychiatrysts-never had a clue--still getting better i think

Hypnotism is very good too..

never thought of that---perhaps i could go for the how to be a successful gambler session-ha ha

There's no magic answer to addiction, but at least you have got the first stage ok, you have admitted you have a problem and are seeking help, the second stage would be to realise that you can never use the machines again.

Take it day by day and you'll get there. Find a new hobby as well, something you will feel a beginner's enthusiasm for. Spend some cash on something else, and realise what you can do with the money. I have just spent £750 on a new racing bike and am out on it three times a week. I've lost a stone, and my fitness and overall health has improved no end in the last 2-3 weeks, also I am finding that I am thinking of cycling instead of betting.

Anyone who thinks those machines can be beaten or who feels like their gambling is getting out of control should read this fred.

you are so rite--all my life i kept really fit boxed-rugby-football --even up til last year gym and i do my [marching as i call it for 4-5 miles] but since this **** i havnt been bothered-drinking more- and even a few funny smokes-----so unlike me-- but gonna try and get back in routine next week----CHEERS

Million good luck with freeing yourself from those machines...stick to GA I'd say, give it your best shot there. All the best, I admire your honesty on here.

APPRECIATE THAT-thanks m8

Gutted that our MP's are to busy supping subsidised drink in their parliament bar when they should be reading this thread and outlawing these machines.
Worse than crack cocaine imo.

i must admit i have been gambling for 40 years--thought i had seen everything--until these i honestly hand on heart have never seen anything so dangerous or evil--or so hypnotic

Article in the guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/apr/20/gambling-hell-betting-addiction-debt

"Betting shops are classed as financial and professional services alongside estate agents and banks, meaning they can open up in any building that previously housed such organisations without planning permission."

This is the really sick bit. So all those banks closing down after the banking crisis can become bookmakers with any local council powerless to stop it.

Oh, and from the same paragraph:

"Last month the government rejected Portas's proposal, saying councils already had adequate powers."

Do they 'eck. The government (this and previous) really need to be looked at.

I have a friend who is addicted to them. He was saying only last week how he's sick of having no money every month because he's putting his money in these machines. He lives with his girlfriend and baby and he even sometimes plays roulette with the months rent. He's an intelligent person and he knows he's being an idiot but he just can't help himself. When I see him I always tell him not to play them bt he can't help himself.

I put my first ever pound in one today. I won £18.80

Watching my mate put his weeks wages in despite me telling him and him not been able to walk away is a fairly sad sight

a couple of shops in west end open till midnight because of these bloody machines.million in answer to previous post you cant use credit cards in shops only at casinos i think.

if you add up  all the numbers together on a roulette wheel from 1 to 36 the answer 1s 666

For me their is no doubt these fobts are ****.  I used to play fobts and go to the casinos a lot a while back and trust me fobts are ****.  I have seen people say the 'mathematics' will beat you which is true but if fobts were straight as land based casinos (roulette,blackjack) games are after all the costs involved the bookies won't make enough money.  I have lost way more money on fobts than casinos and seen things on fobts consistently like losing 15 straight hands on blackjack (once 4 straight blackjacks for dealer) or covering 24 numbers on roulette and losing 10 consecutive spins.  For me if you must play roulette/blackjack play at your local casino at least the game is straight as the house odds makes the casino win long term.

****=r1gged

idiots,the numbers are sent centrally every 20 seconds,totally random,thefobt dosent select the number,theres a in built edge/profit ,they dont need to fix it,shouldnt say it if cant prove it imo

I know numbers are sent every 20 seconds.  I know as a fact it sends 'groups of numbers' which the fobt then chooses one depending on payout rate.  Basically it chooses which number suits the machine wanting to pay or take money.

One more statement in 2003 each machine made £580 profit per week on average (£2320).  Fast forward to 2011 (last financial statement) it is now £960 profit per machine per week.  Either gamblers have got worse at roulette/blackjack/slots or payout rates are altered.  I know which one I will go with.

there is more people playing them now than in 2003,

Optic you are mistaken. The increase in profits comes from more people playing. Your logic is wrong anyway as on one hand you talk about how addictive they are and on the other claim that increased profits are due to the same addicts losing more due to changes in margins. If this were true then you must be claiming that addicts in 2003 played for a fixed time and not until their money ran out which is clearly not going to be the case.

The machines are random. In some ways that makes it worse as the current situation is created by a straight product.

Ask anyone who has access to figures and they will confirm that the roulette margin in any reasonable sized sample barely deviates from 2.7%.

Of course they are random. The big difference between them and casino roulette is that you can get through 8-10 spins on the machine in the time it takes to do one in the casino.

I've said it elsewhere but it bears repeating here, it isnt just the margin that kills the gambler, its also the lack of control and/or stopping points. Even if the ave. payout was 100% they would still absolutely clear up, just because if you have a P&L graph showing the natural ups and downs of a gambler, he will always hit his personal zero (ie everything he came in with) before he hits the point at which he will stop.

Not knowing when to stop is what kills the gambler. Let's be honest, most of us wouldnt stop until we reached the limit on the machine. And what are you going to hit first if you walk in with £500? £0 or £50,000. It stands to reason you will hit zero because its 100 times closer, so even on a zero edge system, the chance of you busting the machine before it busts you is 100/1.

Lets say for arguments sake they are random why on fobts do you consistently see 'freak results missing numbers spin after spin or computer dealer hitting 20/21 90% of the time.  I used to play fobts and land based casinos same stakes same 'strategies' etc why was I losing fortunes on fobts but only losing small over time in casinos.  I am not talking few visits this is over 7 years and the difference in luck was astounding.  I know fobts play quicker than casino but still the thousands of spins/hands on both the win percentage is hugely different.  I saw the light and don't play fobts waste of time/money but still have the odd visit to casino as far as I'm concerned win/lose on the day I am playing a straight game.

They aren't bent, the only people that seem to believe they are tend to be degenerate gamblers who need something to blame.

"freak" results are a lot more common than you would think.

Unfortunately the human brain isn't very good at judging likelihood and probability.


The "lose fortune on FOBT and only slowly at casino" is purely down to the speed at which you can play on FOBTs. This increased speed means that you can spin so much you essentially remove your chance of ever winning over a similar time period.

ghostbuster1-- thanks for that--but i am even more confused--obviously cant be credit card then--must be a jelous punter---thanks

ttt for Flatliner

dont know why people are crying for these machines to be banned, nobody forced the fools who play them to do so, what shall we ban next? fatty foods? alcohol? madness

Where can I buy one...?

MadDogs

For one thing,FOBT's are now the bookies main source of income.
This means that they now no longer have to take decent bets from people,offer decent odds when they do and restrict accounts at their own will. Shabby business at best.

If you took the time to read this thread you would read about some of the misery they cause aswell.

played one the other day whilst g/f did a bit of shopping put £20 in and got up to £216.
decided to play the odd 16 and walk away, ended up losing the lot.
good job i walked out only £20 down but i was gutted.
have played these games for or five times and have walked away winning a little but i normally steer
clear having watched people put  thousands in, in less than an hour.
admire your honesty about going on one the other day million.
the only way you will beat your addiction is to not go in these shops at all and to get professional
help. gl million.

How dis that happen? I put a cut and paste from chit chat and it has been deleted?

As with all gambling you'll get highs and lows, peaks and troughs. As billybob shows, gamblers never know when to quit, even when they have won ten times their original steaks. As such, they will always (ALWAYS) get to £0 before they break the bank or stop. Its just simple maths. If you start at £20 you will always get to £0 before you get to £x. And mathematically, it doesnt matter whether ou start with £20 or £2000, £0 always comes before £x.

The real problem with these **** things is that it happens so ****ing quick.

why has that been deleted

amazing

you must have them greedy robbib bookies worried

MadDogs---i love my alcahol as well

anyone got a gun-havnt had a bet for a week  had 100 today wnt into korals to have 100 acca real madrid chelsea -inter juventus  couldnt resist roulette  done my bo==ocks-and football comes up---how sick and ashamed am i--i honestly give up

sad times million...sad times

dixie     20 Mar 12 15:31 
I'm ahead on them.  I've put in zero & taken out £26.

I had £24 yesterday courtesy of Baldy, & £20 from Lads 2 weeks ago.

Put in zero, taken out £70.

quit while u r ahead mate---honestly bloke next to me went in with 20 today  and walked out with 2300  i was well made up for him  but sick for myself

Thats ridiculous, you keep coming on here and it comes across that your happy telling us about your woes. Cop on to yourself.

Million

These machines give and take it makes them highly addictive because they give you 'play', over any period of time they will always take more than they give, no strategy will help. It is math...nothing is a more simple choice you can choose to be a victim of them or not. You cannot choose to win, that is not an option. The machines can also afford to pay out because the amount of 'play' draws people back into them. Ultimately the math kicks in.... you lose


Next time you go into Coral remember you are paying for the staff the shop and the head office the dividends on the shares, and ironically for more machines, just open your eyes. Bookies would stick one on every street corner if they could.

i have made a pact with myself today--i will continue betting--but i will NEVER-set foot into a betting shop again in my life--if i do i wouldnt hav the bo--ocks or nerve to post on here again

million1 - IMO from what I've read on here your mind needs a complete rest from any form of gambling. Making a pact with yourself to never go in a betting shop is a cop out. What's to stop you betting online casinos etc.
It's like an alcoholic saying I'll just drink beer and leave the spirits alone. Do something else to occupy your mind - eventually you will get the constant need to bet out of your system. Spend your money on clothes or buy presents for your family - you know it makes sense.

get yourself a girlfreind and forget about roulette .. in fact go to chatroulette.com kill 2 birds with the one stone

ernie&bert--you have disrespected the wrong man--i hope our paths never cross

lol

Simple rule - never touch something you cant win off in the long run. I am guessing these machines return 70-75%.

I stick to thing i do win in the long run playing.

used to play these alot, not set foot in a bookies for almost 4 years now because of them, as i know will end up feeding all my notes into them and losing and feeling like **** afterwards.

They should be banned imo. But as they are opening over 200 new betting shops each week in the uk alone, they wont be. while most companies are dying on their ass the betting shops are appearing everywhere and employing hundreds of new ppl each week, so the government wont give a fcuk as its more employment and tax for them.

read somewhere that these machines give the main high street bookies 87-89% of their annual income.

scary stuff if true

ernie&bert--sorry mate sore subject

used to play these alot, not set foot in a bookies for almost 4 years now because of them, as i know will end up feeding all my notes into them and losing and feeling like **** afterwards.

They should be banned imo. But as they are opening over 200 new betting shops each week in the uk alone, they wont be. while most companies are dying on their ass the betting shops are appearing everywhere and employing hundreds of new ppl each week, so the government wont give a fcuk as its more employment and tax for them.

read somewhere that these machines give the main high street bookies 87-89% of their annual income.

scary stuff if true

Fortunately not true.

Number of betting shops is not increasing and there are definitely not 200 opening each week. If that were the case numbers would more than double this year.

Machines provide about 50% of their income.

so billy hills made well over 75 million pounds last year alone just from those glorified fruit machines

now that is some scary stuff

I was in a ladbrokes watching a horse race ( backed betfair mobileand yes odds were better!!)  and 4 machines were being played £100 spin a go onroulette these guys and chinese guy walked out lit cigarette and then put it out on his hand ......
Obviously lost a few grand and addicted he then went back in for more
ADVISE STAY ON BETFAIR BEST ODDS AND YOU CAN LAY YOUR BET..

so billy hills made well over 75 million pounds last year alone just from those glorified fruit machines

now that is some scary stuff

They will have made approx £300m before tax, costs etc.

Good evening Bon Viveur...Have missed your musings, why would they ban you....Especially when two half-wits called I think,strawberryface and Corbiere are carrying on the good work...

At least you had the decency to back up your arguments with hard facts unlike the other pair who seem to think that by spinning away from the subject it was mission accomplished !!

Welcome back big boy..I was thinking of migrating to twitter....

ZCSCS-banned banks---those figures are truly SCARY STUFF

Badblokes made £1 Million a day from them last year....that is a fact