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1982: Why do we Gamble? | Fields of Play: Playing the Odds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3C4YPkOJAg
1982: Why do we Gamble? | Fields of Play: Playing the Odds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3C4YPkOJAg
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Sep 19, 2026
This programme contains attitudes of it's time.
About 93 million Americans gamble around 500 million dollars each year, only 20 per cent of it legally. In England, nine out of ten people will gamble at some time in their lives, mostly legally, in betting shops, at bingo and on the pools. Why do so many people gamble?
The first half of this programme focuses on the packed casino floors of Atlantic City, transformed from decaying seaside resort to boom town since casinos were licensed there in 1978; where houses now make way for hotels and where ironically the game of Monopoly was first modelled in the 1930s.
In the second half, the film moves to Liverpool, following punters around the city, on the racecourse, in betting shops, and workers at the football pools, during the weekend of last year’s Grand National, the world’s most famous and heavily wagered steeplechase.
Fields of Play: Playing the Odds, originally broadcast on BBC Two, 30 March, 1982.
This programme contains attitudes of it's time.
About 93 million Americans gamble around 500 million dollars each year, only 20 per cent of it legally. In England, nine out of ten people will gamble at some time in their lives, mostly legally, in betting shops, at bingo and on the pools. Why do so many people gamble?
The first half of this programme focuses on the packed casino floors of Atlantic City, transformed from decaying seaside resort to boom town since casinos were licensed there in 1978; where houses now make way for hotels and where ironically the game of Monopoly was first modelled in the 1930s.
In the second half, the film moves to Liverpool, following punters around the city, on the racecourse, in betting shops, and workers at the football pools, during the weekend of last year’s Grand National, the world’s most famous and heavily wagered steeplechase.
Fields of Play: Playing the Odds, originally broadcast on BBC Two, 30 March, 1982.
Who would have thought since 1982 so much to do with gambling would be completely changed - including society view of gambling and gamblers.
The thing about gambling i can not understand is,"if you put a guy in a bookie shop wearing tee shirt and jeans gambling,he is classed as a good for nothing layabout ,but if you put the same guy in a suit,shirt and tie ,give him a brief case and send him gambling to the stock exchange,suddenly he classed a high society stocks and bonds trader.
True brassneck, although your stereotype is a little worn; both tie and brief case have largely disappeared.
Spot on twice,Stu. The atmosphere surrounding “gambling” in this country has changed remarkably — for instance since Tessa Jowell’s ludicrous plan for ‘super casinos’ on the run -up to the 2005 Gambling Act.
It's not 'gambling' per se. It's anything rooted in British culture. 'they' have no issue with lottery, bingo, omaze et al. There are still plenty people on here that would try to deny it. But they are deluding themselves, and trying to make rational arguments why horse racing is under threat and it shouldn't be. THAT'S THE POINT!
problem is { if there is one ] the guy in the pinstripe suit ,carrying a brief case,might even own a leg in the horse is punting £10,the plebin the jeans and sweatshirt is punting the family housekeeping, AKA lottery tkts,cratch cards etc ,its not blokes in suits and ties carrying brief cases buying scratch cards,it people in PJ,s spending the kids dinner £ on them
Has the atmosphere surrounding gambling in this country really changed?,maybe the type of politicians who control the country have a different outlook on gambling but the people's has not when you look at how many play the lottery, scratch cards etc.
It was the bookies who introduced fobts and turned shops into casinos that gave the anti gambling zealots the amunition to influence the type of puritanical politicians which seem now to be prevalent in our politics.
It was the bookies who introduced fobts and turned shops into casinos that gave the anti gambling zealots the amunition to influence the type of puritanical politicians which seem now to be prevalent in our politics.
Of course it has. When I grew up, the grand national was a national/family/workplace event. Most people had their one bet a year, picking out the name the liked, colours etc. If you conceded in the office you were betting on it now it would be akin to admitting you drink and drive.
Obviously it's a double whammy for proponents of high status opinion. It's gambling AND using animals in sport.
There is no shame evoked in admitting to playing the national lottery. The high status opinion is that it supports good causes.
Obviously it's a double whammy for proponents of high status opinion. It's gambling AND using animals in sport.
There is no shame evoked in admitting to playing the national lottery. The high status opinion is that it supports good causes.
i draw a distinction between sports betting (skill involved if you're prepared to research) and casino betting (games of luck)
I find casinos boring apart from the food (usually employ a good chef)
The national lottery is a tax on the poor and is false advertising, It could be you rather than there is a 44 million to one chance it could be you
I find casinos boring apart from the food (usually employ a good chef)
The national lottery is a tax on the poor and is false advertising, It could be you rather than there is a 44 million to one chance it could be you
Hardly anyone looks into what the 'good causes' are that they are contributing to. Pretty much like 'international aid'. Some (many) of them are horrific and vulnerable to significant fraud and corruption.
Trying to get people to bet on horse racing in a physical building is doomed to fail. I have nothing against anyone who works in them, but obviously internet and mobile devices have made them obsolete for betting on horse racing. This has been known for over a decade, so racing must face blame for still relying on revenue generated from physical shops.
Trying to get people to bet on horse racing in a physical building is doomed to fail. I have nothing against anyone who works in them, but obviously internet and mobile devices have made them obsolete for betting on horse racing. This has been known for over a decade, so racing must face blame for still relying on revenue generated from physical shops.
The RP article highlighting how the bricks and mortar are meeting places for those that are prepared to lose while they 'chill'.
They would be Gawd's waiting rooms if it wasn't for the machines, or a dry place for drop outs.
Bookies only bleating because they know the increase on machine duty will kill their guaranteed profits.
They basically gave up on hosses and doggies many years ago switching to emphasis on machines..
They would be Gawd's waiting rooms if it wasn't for the machines, or a dry place for drop outs.
Bookies only bleating because they know the increase on machine duty will kill their guaranteed profits.
They basically gave up on hosses and doggies many years ago switching to emphasis on machines..
BBC doc from 1982
UK betting focussed.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSQmwx655OA&t=379s
If anyone interested
UK betting focussed.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSQmwx655OA&t=379s
If anyone interested
that brought back some grim memories. hard to believe how big the pools were. i remember the panic to get the coupon in to the agent on thursday night and checking it on grandstand
the 3 founders printed 400 coupons at first and sold 10. they then tried it in hull and printed 10k and sold 1. 2 of them decided it wasnt going to work and john moores bought them out for 200 quid
they must have felt like the geezer who turned down the beatles
Cider Joined: 29 Aug 02
Replies: 7068920 Sep 26 12:54
Trying to get people to bet on horse racing in a physical building is doomed to fail. I have nothing against anyone who works in them, but obviously internet and mobile devices have made them obsolete for betting on horse racing. This has been known for over a decade, so racing must face blame for still relying on revenue generated from physical shops
rubbish. it has been made to fail and any potential for innovation or reinvigoration (as planned by ****) is over. probably
the point is that it should not be the business of the state to close them, which is effectively what is happening, despite the bollox about a 'growth agenda'. what a sick joke that has become
and even basic economics seem beyond this entire squad of bugtank backbench mps and theeves the chancer chancellor who got every decision wrong. gawd nose what healey is likely to do. he could well emulate his namesake and default on the yuks insane loan repayments
the 3 founders printed 400 coupons at first and sold 10. they then tried it in hull and printed 10k and sold 1. 2 of them decided it wasnt going to work and john moores bought them out for 200 quid
they must have felt like the geezer who turned down the beatles
Cider Joined: 29 Aug 02
Replies: 7068920 Sep 26 12:54
Trying to get people to bet on horse racing in a physical building is doomed to fail. I have nothing against anyone who works in them, but obviously internet and mobile devices have made them obsolete for betting on horse racing. This has been known for over a decade, so racing must face blame for still relying on revenue generated from physical shops
rubbish. it has been made to fail and any potential for innovation or reinvigoration (as planned by ****) is over. probably
the point is that it should not be the business of the state to close them, which is effectively what is happening, despite the bollox about a 'growth agenda'. what a sick joke that has become
and even basic economics seem beyond this entire squad of bugtank backbench mps and theeves the chancer chancellor who got every decision wrong. gawd nose what healey is likely to do. he could well emulate his namesake and default on the yuks insane loan repayments
gambling
drinking
drugs
smoking
once introduced at a young age its for life in 99% of people.
how menny have all 4?
drinking
drugs
smoking
once introduced at a young age its for life in 99% of people.
how menny have all 4?
rothko mentioned the national lottery. The new operators seem to be promoting it a bit more heavily, with emails encouraging people to buy tickets, or if they have already bought tickets, to buy more tickets. I don't know if people are doing their conkers but it is something to watch.
One thing people miss is that win or lose, and it is mainly lose, punters are playing for their leisure, a couple of hours off the grindstone down the betting shop or down the bingo for mum. No-one complains that people come out of the cinema poorer than when they went in.
But that is something that has changed too for the FOBT players who can do their wages before storming out of the shop. There have been some measures like stake-limiting to at least slow things down, but it does show the firms do not have punters' best interests at heart.
One thing people miss is that win or lose, and it is mainly lose, punters are playing for their leisure, a couple of hours off the grindstone down the betting shop or down the bingo for mum. No-one complains that people come out of the cinema poorer than when they went in.
But that is something that has changed too for the FOBT players who can do their wages before storming out of the shop. There have been some measures like stake-limiting to at least slow things down, but it does show the firms do not have punters' best interests at heart.
social media no help..look on facebook..every other status competitions.cars, motorbikes, cash prizes blah blah..all making thousands..fckn ridic..and all get addicted.
Gen Z and the millenials are quitting alchol or cutting right back. They are more interested in their appearance, getting 'Turkey teeth' attending the gym and quitting meat eating.
They're not smoking but the vaping this has no longtitudinal studies to say it's 'safe' either.
They don't follow their parents into betting shops either, given their parents aren't going into them either.
Dunno about drugs. always been a 'thing' of all classes. The ones who you see spiced out of their minds in the High street are lost to the system in any case and highly unlikely to contribute anythig meaningful to the economy.
They're not smoking but the vaping this has no longtitudinal studies to say it's 'safe' either.
They don't follow their parents into betting shops either, given their parents aren't going into them either.
Dunno about drugs. always been a 'thing' of all classes. The ones who you see spiced out of their minds in the High street are lost to the system in any case and highly unlikely to contribute anythig meaningful to the economy.
rubbish. it has been made to fail and any potential for innovation or reinvigoration (as planned by ****) is over. probably
the point is that it should not be the business of the state to close them, which is effectively what is happening, despite the bollox about a 'growth agenda'. what a sick joke that has become
and even basic economics seem beyond this entire squad of bugtank backbench mps and theeves the chancer chancellor who got every decision wrong. gawd nose what healey is likely to do. he could well emulate his namesake and default on the yuks insane loan repayments
you've missed the point entirely. the politically driven quest to get rid of betting shops from the 'high street' is pure laziness and virtue signalling from those engaging in it. unsurprisingly, I don't support it. but bookmakers use horse racing to acquire customers to play on their no lose games. horse racing doesn't need physical betting shops any more, but it does need the funding from them which only comes as the bookmakers use racing to get more people to play their games and casino stuff. outside of race meetings, very few, if any betting shops would be commercially viable if they could only take bets on horse racing (or in fact any sport).
the point is that it should not be the business of the state to close them, which is effectively what is happening, despite the bollox about a 'growth agenda'. what a sick joke that has become
and even basic economics seem beyond this entire squad of bugtank backbench mps and theeves the chancer chancellor who got every decision wrong. gawd nose what healey is likely to do. he could well emulate his namesake and default on the yuks insane loan repayments
you've missed the point entirely. the politically driven quest to get rid of betting shops from the 'high street' is pure laziness and virtue signalling from those engaging in it. unsurprisingly, I don't support it. but bookmakers use horse racing to acquire customers to play on their no lose games. horse racing doesn't need physical betting shops any more, but it does need the funding from them which only comes as the bookmakers use racing to get more people to play their games and casino stuff. outside of race meetings, very few, if any betting shops would be commercially viable if they could only take bets on horse racing (or in fact any sport).
i used to have 4 addictions
gambling
drinking
smoking
sh@gging
managed to conquer one of them
gambling
drinking
smoking
sh@gging
managed to conquer one of them
bookmakers dont use horse racing as a lure. it has been in shop for a long time and machines are comparatively new. and they have been emasculated anyway
betting shops would be viable without the spiteful taxes they have to pay. theres a possibility they could morph into sports betting emporia, but wont be because of the misguided hate for them from ignorant tw@ts who never bet and only see gambling as a problem
you dont see any point other than your own
betting shops would be viable without the spiteful taxes they have to pay. theres a possibility they could morph into sports betting emporia, but wont be because of the misguided hate for them from ignorant tw@ts who never bet and only see gambling as a problem
you dont see any point other than your own
when you're wrong, I point it out. it is a frequent occurrence.
any industry that has activity that can easily be replicated online is now fundamentally different. that includes 'bookmakers'
it doesn't require too much figuring out, imho. bet365 identified that much faster than anyone else. with the obvious outcome that their owners are now rich beyond belief.
any industry that has activity that can easily be replicated online is now fundamentally different. that includes 'bookmakers'
it doesn't require too much figuring out, imho. bet365 identified that much faster than anyone else. with the obvious outcome that their owners are now rich beyond belief.
i used to have 4 addictions
gambling
drinking
smoking
sh@gging
managed to conquer one of them
Not gambling so much these days then?
gambling
drinking
smoking
sh@gging
managed to conquer one of them
Not gambling so much these days then?
for example, there are people that hang on to the dream of the newspaper business surviving. it's called managed decline, soon to be deceased. you must remember those days when people actually went out to a shop to purchase a television or washing machine 
Gen Z, millenials and a growing number of Gen X dont read newspapers either.
Very few of them believe the BS controlled by a few Zionists.
Very few of them believe the BS controlled by a few Zionists.
Busyfool 20 Sep 26 14:15
i used to have 4 addictions
gambling
drinking
smoking
felatioing
managed to conquer one of them
hi5 for honesty.
i used to have 4 addictions
gambling
drinking
smoking
felatioing
managed to conquer one of them
hi5 for honesty.
im never wromg. you compound your original error by misidentification of a phantom one
because 653 make bundles doesnt mean they are obsolete. online isnt everything. its esily controlled and stifles any intellecual engagement it is suspicious of, so that rules you in
it isnt 'managed decline'. its acclerated decline, the propulsion provided by the state
still gambolling stupot
leafy lifting straight from socialist worker. wac
leafyloser
dolt
bore
storker
snitch
liar
depressive
conspiracy nut
putin fanboy
benefits scrounger
communist
racist
identikit d1ckhead
because 653 make bundles doesnt mean they are obsolete. online isnt everything. its esily controlled and stifles any intellecual engagement it is suspicious of, so that rules you in
it isnt 'managed decline'. its acclerated decline, the propulsion provided by the state
still gambolling stupot
leafy lifting straight from socialist worker. wac
leafyloser
dolt
bore
storker
snitch
liar
depressive
conspiracy nut
putin fanboy
benefits scrounger
communist
racist
identikit d1ckhead
your dismal inglish rarver spoiled your joke huge
its fellating. but one should not be too surprised, as it is not something youve had any experience of
its fellating. but one should not be too surprised, as it is not something youve had any experience of
I'd hazard a guess the village drunk is ranting some communist propoganda
He''l be totally sozzled on cheap Tesco plonk by 4ish and slumped into his Solzhenitsyn pillow.
WAC
He''l be totally sozzled on cheap Tesco plonk by 4ish and slumped into his Solzhenitsyn pillow.
WAC
bet365 aren't obsolete
My managed decline reference was in relation to newspapers.
Online isn't everything. It is however, fundamentally game changing for any industry where the activities can easily be replicated or enhanced by being done online instead of paying for staff, a building and all of the associated costs, complying with legislation, additional taxes and several other factors.
My managed decline reference was in relation to newspapers.
Online isn't everything. It is however, fundamentally game changing for any industry where the activities can easily be replicated or enhanced by being done online instead of paying for staff, a building and all of the associated costs, complying with legislation, additional taxes and several other factors.
leafy with his usual impotent ad hominem nonsense. he never disputes or defends, just shrivels and hides
and its 'propaganda' numbnut. go and take umbridge elsewhere hares breath
leafyloser
dolt
bore
storker
snitch
liar
depressive
conspiracy nut
putin fanboy
benefits scrounger
communist
racist
illiterate
identikit d1ckhead
and its 'propaganda' numbnut. go and take umbridge elsewhere hares breath
leafyloser
dolt
bore
storker
snitch
liar
depressive
conspiracy nut
putin fanboy
benefits scrounger
communist
racist
illiterate
identikit d1ckhead
Online isn't everything.
You're uttering that as a Gen X entity.
It's everything to those generations following on.
They are being brain-washed, conditioned. They don't want to do manual work.they all want to be 'youtubers' or work from home on laptops.
In the meantime, the country is being invaded day by day by gawd knows what.
Radcliffe is correct. The country is screwed, and it may be by design in my opinion.
You're uttering that as a Gen X entity.
It's everything to those generations following on.
They are being brain-washed, conditioned. They don't want to do manual work.they all want to be 'youtubers' or work from home on laptops.
In the meantime, the country is being invaded day by day by gawd knows what.
Radcliffe is correct. The country is screwed, and it may be by design in my opinion.
Labour are flying kites around threatening to hand out even more rights to work from home. It shouldn't really matter where your politics are to know that that is a completely terrible idea, and things should urgently be moved in the other direction.
The direction of travel doesn't suggest there's any reverse on the cards.
Move workers out of offices, then replace them with AI bots doing their work.
No need for 'people'. What will happen to them all?
Move workers out of offices, then replace them with AI bots doing their work.
No need for 'people'. What will happen to them all?
Industrial man replaced with post-industrial man, replaced by a f0ookin bot.
Nope. but I have children and grand-children and woneder what their lives will embrace.
Why are all these invaders coming? What will they contribute? There is no place for them other than to hasten the decline of the UK.
We are frogs in a boiling pot. It has just begun to warm up, and will warm rapidly.
Why are all these invaders coming? What will they contribute? There is no place for them other than to hasten the decline of the UK.
We are frogs in a boiling pot. It has just begun to warm up, and will warm rapidly.
its not just the young i no plenty of lads, so x that by the whole of the uk who hid from their family they went in to betting shops, checked no one was looking, about when they went in came out,so online/hone betting was a godsend to them, theres always been a stigma attached to betting shops,thats why millions were spent on trying to make them more acceptable to people, above all else with people putting family time at the top of their must do lists,these days,who wants to spend 3,4,5 hr pervday in a betting shop ,like lots of us used to , for a horse rascing/sports betting putting,theres no earthly reason why anyone would need to enter one, and FRED DONE today confirming RONNIE SAILS info of £10 average a punter,forgetting to add that could be greatly increased if FRED didnt refuse winning punters,didnt restrict all punters,ban punters, etc basically do anything he can to horses racing punters off having a bet
who wants to spend 3,4,5 hr pervday in a betting shop ,like lots of us used to , for a horse rascing/sports betting putting,theres no earthly reason why anyone would need to enter one,
Have a peek into them. You'll find a few degenerates spinning the wheels. Staff behind the desk might as well not be there, and they won't be in short order.
Have a peek into them. You'll find a few degenerates spinning the wheels. Staff behind the desk might as well not be there, and they won't be in short order.
In seriousness though, yes sitting or standing in a bookies these days seems a very silly pursuit. I went in one a little while ago while waiting for an appointment. It was mostly empty, but surprisingly someone still stood right next to me as soon as I tried to read some of the form on the wall - oh the good old days!
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