60. Responsible Gambling

If you are only going to read one tweet in the series please read this one to the end as I think it is ultimately the most important. The industry has a huge problem with regard to Responsible Gambling (RG). The bookmakers motives are always at complete odds to Responsible Gambling.

Let’s be very clear. The bookmakers attitudes towards Responsible Gambling is one of the most disingenuous campaigns ever seen in any industry. They have literally been dragged screaming and shouting to begin to do what is morally the right thing.

We are not talking about the usual bookmaker vs punter challenges that have existed since time began. We are talking about some incredibly predatory practices that the bookmakers have undertaken, which have actively encouraged less responsible gambling.

Whether that be restricting sports betting accounts, whilst encouraging people to play in casinos with free spins, free bets to losing customers to keep them engaged, asking for verification once a punter wants to withdraw, betting on credit etc etc. There have been so many.

I understand it from the bookmakers perspective. They are trying to maximise profits and they have shareholders to answer to. Things have improved but whilst online casinos, free bets etc continue to exist there will always be room for improvement.

Why do I believe so strongly in the importance of Responsible Gambling? I have experienced first hand how easy it is to lose everything you have from gambling. Whilst I have done very well from gambling subsequently, it has not always been that way.

At university I was betting an increasing amount on golf and with some success. So much so that I decided I wanted to pursue it full time as a career. I was living away from home and it was my main income. I had a built up a five figure bankroll. I was also incredibly naive.

I remember there was a golf tournament (In Scandinavia) and I have no idea why but I became incredibly tilted after it. It was nothing out of the ordinary. I remember placing some bets shortly afterwards, on stuff that I had no idea about, like horse racing.

Three days later I had chased and lost every penny I had to my name. I had placed no bets on golf. I had debt on credit cards. I cannot even begin to explain the haze that comes over you during those three days. You know its wrong but you cant stop. Its otherworldly.

I had to go back to living at home with my tail between my legs. It cost me relationships and friendships. It took me a long time to pay off those debts. There are real life costs to chasing losses/losing money whilst betting. It changes lives.

It is ridiculously easy to do. Particularly when just numbers on a screen. I have heard many of the big name professional gamblers over the years, like Harry Findlay, talk about being broke at various stages . Like it is a rite of passage. The problem is that almost glamourises it.
There is nothing glamourous about it. The reality is that very few people can make gambling pay. One of the reasons for the tweets is that I hope people realise how tough this game is, what you are up against and that you are in all likelihood going to lose money.

I want to give people the best chance of success if they do choose to go down this path. I get so frustrated at how little supposed big names in the industry, do to help the smaller less informed punter. Back this selection. Or this one. And lose. Honestly GTFOH.

I was lucky in that it didn’t break me. I was lucky to have the support network around me that I had. Not everyone has that. I went to work at Betfair for 8+ years and have subsequently found a way to make it work. A lot of very hard lessons along the way.

I see so many people say but we live in a free society and people should be able to do what they please. Take ownership for your own actions. Absolutely. You have to understand though, that unless you have experienced it, sometimes people need saving from themselves.

Just because it hasn’t happened to you don’t disparage or ignore the true impact it can have. It can happen to anyone, anytime. If anyone ever needs to discuss issues about this subject and their betting please just contact me. I will help in anyway I can. In complete confidence.