Gambling Commission Announcement & Government consultation

News, chat and debate about the Betfair betting exchange.
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Crumpets
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Great post. 👍

I also don't understand how the government will benefit from this 💰
Will they just be content with 'fixing' the 'gambling issue'? Normally they want something a lil extra 💰💰
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napshnap
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Crumpets wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:37 am
Great post. 👍

I also don't understand how the government will benefit from this 💰
Will they just be content with 'fixing' the 'gambling issue'? Normally they want something a lil extra 💰💰
Maybe it's rerouting simpleton's betting money into right pockets.
Anyway - less "small fish" for us...
Last edited by napshnap on Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Archery1969
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If Labour win the next UK general election then you can bet that the legislation will be significantly beefed up as several MP's have already eluded to this.

Best make your $$$ while you can as I suspect things will get even more difficult in the future.
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Crumpets
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Something that concerns me is that these checks will likely be outsourced to companies who train their staff to think in black white.

Problem being you can't explain, negotiate, etc. If you fail to tick a certain box, computer says no. Your problem, not theirs.

You can't just treat these things with a blanket check/criteria. There needs to be some nuance, or some strong knowledge of the subject by those involved 'on the shop floor'.. and I doubt we'll get that. Just somebody paid minimum wage to make sure you fulfill certain criteria; if you don't they are duty bound to get involved.

It would be like applying a ''back high, lay low'' strategy to every bloody market! 😅
I don't think anyone knows how things will pan out, but the 'ecosystem' will certainly change somewhat. It's that uncertainty that spooks me atm. And it's getting a wee bit hot over here...🔥
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Crumpets
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I thought the demograph identified as 'most at risk' were young lads between the ages of 18-25. Don't we currently have proof of age checks, and monthly deposit limits already imposed! What is the justification for going further???!

Surely we should give it a few years and see if these changes have had any effect before going towards more intrusive actions such as credit checks etc..

Something just smells off...Usually when this is the case, the answer is 💰 I would expect BF to be fighting tooth and nail against such new measures being imposed. This will hurt them, Sportsbook included.

Right, I'm braving a few beers in the garden. There is now legitimately a reason for owning a swimming pool in the UK. Paddling pool will do I suppose.
RoyJay
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Crumpets wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 12:41 pm
I thought the demograph identified as 'most at risk' were young lads between the ages of 18-25. Don't we currently have proof of age checks, and monthly deposit limits already imposed! What is the justification for going further???!

Surely we should give it a few years and see if these changes have had any effect before going towards more intrusive actions such as credit checks etc..
Yes that is correct. The main action, which should have been taken ages ago, which should have never been possible in the first place, betting on credit cards, has only just fairly recently been stopped.

A huge amount of the damage, horror stories, gambling harm was caused by betting on credit cards. Stopping this has already had dramatic effects on reducing harm and problem gambling, though this fact is being completely ignored.

And as you say, those identified as most at risk, the 18-25 year old age group already have restrictions in place, and are also the group best equipped to find their way to the black/grey/crypto/unregulated markets.

They are far more tech savvy and will find a way to bet and a way around the restrictions far more easily than some bloke who has been betting all his life, and is now being told that he can’t as he doesn’t tick some made up affordability check boxes.
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napshnap
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RoyJay wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 12:57 pm
Crumpets wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 12:41 pm
I thought the demograph identified as 'most at risk' were young lads between the ages of 18-25. Don't we currently have proof of age checks, and monthly deposit limits already imposed! What is the justification for going further???!

Surely we should give it a few years and see if these changes have had any effect before going towards more intrusive actions such as credit checks etc..
Yes that is correct. The main action, which should have been taken ages ago, which should have never been possible in the first place, betting on credit cards, has only just fairly recently been stopped.

A huge amount of the damage, horror stories, gambling harm was caused by betting on credit cards. Stopping this has already had dramatic effects on reducing harm and problem gambling, though this fact is being completely ignored.

And as you say, those identified as most at risk, the 18-25 year old age group already have restrictions in place, and are also the group best equipped to find their way to the black/grey/crypto/unregulated markets.

They are far more tech savvy and will find a way to bet and a way around the restrictions far more easily than some bloke who has been betting all his life, and is now being told that he can’t as he doesn’t tick some made up affordability check boxes.
I heard that there is a huge game market ("digital kitties", weapon skins, cheats, guides) where elementary school kids trade this stuff with each other, andthey find their ways through restrictions easily. Elementary school kids! Can you dig it, you dinosaurs?
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The Silk Run
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Crumpets wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 12:41 pm
I thought the demograph identified as 'most at risk' were young lads between the ages of 18-25. Don't we currently have proof of age checks, and monthly deposit limits already imposed! What is the justification for going further???!

Surely we should give it a few years and see if these changes have had any effect before going towards more intrusive actions such as credit checks etc..

Something just smells off...Usually when this is the case, the answer is 💰 I would expect BF to be fighting tooth and nail against such new measures being imposed. This will hurt them, Sportsbook included.

Right, I'm braving a few beers in the garden. There is now legitimately a reason for owning a swimming pool in the UK. Paddling pool will do I suppose.
I would be interested to hear if you can qualify the statement that " 'most at risk' were young lads between the ages of 18-25. Because in my experience I disagree.
I have just passed that age group and have gambled throughout my childhood as part of my culture. I know many, many, boys, girls, and friends who use all the platforms available without any problem. And undergo the same scrutiny as any other age group, KYC, MLA, I&E :roll:
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Crumpets
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The Silk Run wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 1:16 pm
Crumpets wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 12:41 pm
I thought the demograph identified as 'most at risk' were young lads between the ages of 18-25. Don't we currently have proof of age checks, and monthly deposit limits already imposed! What is the justification for going further???!

Surely we should give it a few years and see if these changes have had any effect before going towards more intrusive actions such as credit checks etc..

Something just smells off...Usually when this is the case, the answer is 💰 I would expect BF to be fighting tooth and nail against such new measures being imposed. This will hurt them, Sportsbook included.

Right, I'm braving a few beers in the garden. There is now legitimately a reason for owning a swimming pool in the UK. Paddling pool will do I suppose.
I would be interested to hear if you can qualify the statement that " 'most at risk' were young lads between the ages of 18-25. Because in my experience I disagree.
I have just passed that age group and have gambled throughout my childhood as part of my culture. I know many, many, boys, girls, and friends who use all the platforms available without any problem. And undergo the same scrutiny as any other age group, KYC, MLA, I&E :roll:
I can't qualify it. It was just the impression I typically got from the newspaper scare stories, and word of mouth. You never hear about middle aged problems gamblers I feel; though you would be naive to think they don't exist!

Maybe it's a narrative thing? 🤔
Trader Pat
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Crumpets wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 2:00 pm
You never hear about middle aged problems gamblers I feel; though you would be naive to think they don't exist!
There have been plenty of stories about middle aged gamblers losing everything they have and their wives leaving them etc.... There was even a documentary about one of the most famous examples, Paul Merson.

Bottom line is there's nobody to blame here except for the bookies themselves. They've always known who the problem gamblers were but continued to milk them for all they were worth. The reaction and proposals are a joke though.. it's akin to limiting people to two drinks at the pub or five cigarettes a day.
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napshnap
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Trader Pat wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 2:16 pm
Crumpets wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 2:00 pm
You never hear about middle aged problems gamblers I feel; though you would be naive to think they don't exist!
...akin to limiting people to two drinks at the pub or five cigarettes a day.
Limiting is not a problem, not being able to walk a straight line to prove you in control is.
How can I prove to idiotc cs operator with funny accent that I'm not a problem gambler, I'm on a bottom of variation and totally in control and expect variation is going up casue I calculated it and blocking me now is like an incitement to suicide? Will they accept my calculatons? Will they hire additional competent stuff (statisticians, data scientists) to check it properly? Will they allow me to "walk a straight line"?
Archery1969
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Location: Newport

Just been listening to an MP who said "Wonder how much Russian money" is being pumped into betting exchanges. :o

This could all go south pretty quickly.
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napshnap
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Archery1969 wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 3:48 pm
Just been listening to an MP who said "Wonder how much Russian money" is being pumped into betting exchanges. :o

This could all go south pretty quickly.
Russia in a restricted countries list for a long time so not much I think.
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Hepburn
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Archery1969 wrote:
Mon Jul 18, 2022 3:48 pm
Just been listening to an MP who said "Wonder how much Russian money" is being pumped into betting exchanges. :o

This could all go south pretty quickly.
Ive heard that being said about crypto few months ago.
WisdomOfCrowds
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Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2021 2:55 pm

In reference to the earlier post: credit card betting was stopped in April 2020.

It worries me that some politicians appear to have an axe to grind and will stop at nothing to make an example of the gambling industry.

They quite often don't understand the subject but continue to spout about it nevertheless. They probably also see it as a vote winner.

As referenced in an earlier post, the bookmakers have been their own worst enemies, milking big losers with VIP treatment, etc.

The consequence is that we're the guys stuck in the middle of this battle with no one seemingly sticking up for our right to do what we want with our money.

If 5 people in 1,000 are potentially harmed by gambling, more needs to be done to identify the characteristics of these people, not beat up the other 995 who are able to look after their own finances.

What will the politicians want to get their hands on next?

Tesco checkout staff: "Sorry, sir, the central database shows this is your third bottle of wine this week. Can you prove you can afford it?"

Sainbury's staff: "I can't sell you cigarettes until you've blown into my lung-test machine.... sorry, sir, you've failed."

Asda checkout: "You look a touch overweight to me... please jump on the scales to see if I can allow you to buy that chocolate bar."

In the leadership debates, the Tories were saying the individual is the best person to decide how to spend their money, not the state. No doubt they will declare gambling an exception to this rule if it fits their narrative.

I honestly can't believe that affordability checks should even be a thing in a free country. The only person who has a right to ask me about my income is the tax man... and he has no right to tell me how to spend it.

Wait until the legislation messes up the racing industry leading to job losses and racecourse closures, drives betting underground, and reduces government income from bookmaker tax receipts. It will only be at this point that the politicians may start to realise the harm they have done!
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