It surely hasn't gone on in such an underhand way before, Dave.

Dave Edwards.......Split Second.........?

Before computers you'd get screen messages & phone calls etc, but they would always try to limit their liabilities concerning smart money.

Get rid of the FOBTS and maybe have a better chance again.

"Removing FOBTs would possibly make things even worse in terms of restrictions etc."


Cant agree with that. Remove the FOBTs and they either start taking bets are close down due to lack of trade. It's the FOBT's that are keeping the shops open as they now make that much off them they don't have to accept large bets on horse or sports markets.

The sands have shifted & they are never going back.

I witnessed the first day of it. I was working the day that slot machines were first allowed into betting shops. £10 jackpots. Guy walks in & asks for £10 note to be changed into coins & fed them into the machine & repeated this 5 more times. I couldn't believe I was watching someone put more into a machine than the jackpot.

The soul went that day.

Before computers you'd get screen messages & phone calls etc, but they would always try to limit their liabilities concerning smart money.


Dave, we're not talking about smart money here, just the extreme reluctance to lay advertised prices, along with "arber" paranoia.
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If that weren't the case then why don't they simply alter their practices now and make more money on horses?

Because B_B, as you well know, the FOBT profits are easy, totally risk free. (Apart from damage caused by newly skinned addicts.) Has any LBO manager ever had to call head office for permission to lay on behalf of a FOBT? Removing FOBTs would FORCE the big firms back to their prime business, the business for which they were originally licensed.

No wonder you don't get good service with that attitude, would delight in refusing your bet myself. (nothing wrong with rats either)

i just whistle to myself on the way out with a smile on my face safe in the knowledge that im not a w@nker who works in a bookies.

I like the staff who let you get round the traders by letting you get other punters in the shop to put your bets on for you.

Because B_B, as you well know, the FOBT profits are easy, totally risk free. (Apart from damage caused by newly skinned addicts.) Has any LBO manager ever had to call head office for permission to lay on behalf of a FOBT? Removing FOBTs would FORCE the big firms back to their prime business, the business for which they were originally licensed.

Alias you totally miss the point.

What I am saying is that if there is a potential additional income stream to be had from trading horses differently why on earth would they not do it now and have those profits to top up the FOBT profits?

To suggest that a plc makes a decision to ignore an available income stream because they already get enough from elsewhere is fanciful in the extreme.

Banned_Banks.

Fanciful? Why take ANY risk one one side of your business when the other side is risk free?  I ask you again: has any LBO manager EVER had to seek permission to lay on behalf of a FOBT? They often reach for the phone for seemingly silly amounts on horses or football (witness lots of reports on this forum), but you and I know that a punter could stuff ANY amount into a machine and all the staff can do (or will be allowed to do by their masters) is wait to open the machine and count the loot. Maybe even that won't be required if it's on a card.

The surfeit of in-your-face FOBT advertising speaks for itself.

There is also the question of stake money diverted from racing and sports and into the machines, to the detriment of the levy conspicuously. This is of course difficult to quantify, but it undoubtedly happens.

I understand what you are saying however if the risk is deemed reasonable they would do it now. I don't think that the removal of machines would make them increase their appetite for risk. They would turn to online and overseas investments to grow the business.

In terms of machine money going back over the counter I'm not so sure that most would not just disappear. I think plenty of machine players would have little interest in normal betting. I also think that bookmakers would try and get people on other non levy products as the profits are more. Wall to wall football and virtual racing I reckon!

If you understand what I'm saying, you'll understand that the risk is only the risk they were exposed to for umpteen years as BOOKMAKERS.

I agree however the introduction of the machines came at almost precisely the same time as the advent of BF and the explosion of online betting. High street bookmakers have never had to trade against BF and internet firms without the FOBT income to support them. I reckon it would be almost impossible for most shops bearing in mind their cost base.

What do we end up with then? Online betting only with brutal restrictions and account closures?

You serious map? Licensed Betting Office.

i just whistle to myself on the way out with a smile on my face safe in the knowledge that im not a w@nker who works in a bookies.

Also remember while you're smirking about the less well paid w@nkers, others will be smirking thinking you're a w@nker at you as you shuffle around in the wind and rain trying to get your little bets.

i wouldnt worry the only reason they put limit on these teams rather than changing them is there prem teams i work for these and no there just like any bookies gutless no i would not ring other shops to find if people are going round but obviously i would have to stick to the limits they put on screen.paulie if u came in with the attitude then you should expect to treated the way you do you may walk out knowing u not a **** who works in a betting shop you  just a seem a w@nker full stop and yes i get just as fecked off as you when my bets are refused just wait for the fast track managers to come through with even less knowledge than the ones now

^

hills are actually one of the better ones - they were still going 10/11 in shops recently when Everton were 1.59 v Newcastle on here

Most would have gone 1/2 in shops and not told you

Atleast they hold all their prem prices so if you want to do trebles, 4 folds etc you get the coupon prices

Great shout we all knew what they were like know we have proof
What I really hate is all the phoney bets ooooh we have taken a £500000 bet on big bucks etc grabbing free advertising they all do it but Billy's are the worst IMO
They were asked to provide proof of the big bucks bet and wouldnt

Think about where all of this is leading, ub.