Newsnight

Lewis " gambling gave me that high to make me forget about all my other mental health problems " Sounds like this guy has problems full stop.

Heard on the news yesterday that the UK has never had so many people dying from alcohol related deaths. Lock down was blamed initially when the numbers started to rise a couple of years back, but whatever the reason,I don't suppose they'll be a white paper on that any time soon. And yet when you think of the numbers of problem drinkers compared to problem gamblers, I would guess the latter massively outnumber the former, so given both the physical toll drinking has on the body and the effect it has on people's behaviour, you'd think the government would be keen to act on that too. They won't, of course, because it'd p*ss off far too many people, so they choose the easier target of problem gamblers instead. But given on the very same day a spokesman from the Bank of England said we must simply accept we're all that much poorer to get the inflation rate down, you'd think the government would have better things to be doing than faffing around with the gambling industry.

Meant to say problem drinkers massively outnumbering problem gamblers.

Drinkers are taxed heavily.

When is the white paper out on smart motorways and will those who passed them ever be asked why ?

? from last night said he,d lost £100,000 ,did that include the 68 grand he won for 50p in football acca,if so he,s actually lost around 30 grand in 10yrs, 3 grand a yr or about £50 a week,
not exactly the best example to use,makes everyone who has a night out once a week a problem night outer

Yes, drinkers are taxed heavily, so why not simply tax betting too, in that case ?

As a confirmed soak, I know I'm a helluva lot more in hock ( pun intended ) to my local corner store than I am with my betting. Having kept records since 7th January 2011, I can tell you I am currently in the red to the tune of £66.70 with my bets.

Drinking, as I currently do, around six bottles of London Pride each night, that's around £15, and that's seven days a week. Do the math, like they say. Where's the real problem here. It certainly isn't with gambling.

And, the irony - and tragedy - of all this, is that for the 13 years when I was dry, it was form study that sometimes was the only thing that kept me sane : trying to solve the puzzle each race throws up, demanding total concentration and flexibility of thought, something which is sorely lacking in most people's jobs. I didn't feel any need to spaff away s sh*t load of money, just a couple of quid, and would be overjoyed to have been proved right. THAT was the bigger thrill.

I can't help thinking they've picked the wrong target here, not that prohibition ever did anything in the US.

And if people do require the high from betting and having a winner - why ?

The whole topic of addiction, and the feeble grasp we have of its causes, seems woefully misunderstood.

I hasten to add I'm p*ssed as I write.