Online Gambling Addiction - Make it illegal to accept credit cards for online gambling transactions.

In the summer of 2008 I lost more than 50,000 EUR in a period of just two months playing online roulette and slots via my notebook and mobile phone. 

At one point I was actually 16,000 EUR in profit but the casino concerned kept enticing me back with promotions to keep me playing. Of course as a gambling addict I couldn’t resist and it wasn’t long before I was into the red.

Now into the zone of chasing losses the casino had me completely hooked and they would refund me quite large percentages of my losses as free credit to keep me going and to ensure that over time they took all of my money. 

I was gambling max bets on a single number which for this particular casino was £100 per number. Neither my bank nor the online casino saw anything strange in my making multiple £1000 + deposits from my credit cards with sometimes minutes in between.

When I flagged up to the casino that I had a problem they offered a responsible gambling limit of £25,000 monthly! and even more promotions to keep me gambling. 

I played at all times of day and night until the money ran out and I had spent more than £50,000 on credit cards. 

With the UK online gambling now a £2 billion business gambling addiction has become a serious problem.

It is time to regulate the online gambling industry to protect against gambling addiction and make it illegal to accept credit cards / overdrafts for online gambling transactions. 

As an argument for balance between safeguarding vulnerable people like myself and freedom of choice it makes sense.

Tweets by @GamblingHurts

My name is Anthony Franklin and this why I support the @stopthefobts campaign.

I started gambling on 'slots' when I was 11 years of age, I was completely hooked by 13 years. So I was still a child. I progressed with my gambling addiction through my teens and into my adulthood playing the slots in the pubs, arcades, railway stations and working mans’ clubs.

Through this time I undoubtedly lost a lot of money but there were limits restricted by the stakes, and the knowledge that jackpots came around infrequently. I was not able to stay off the machines per se but I was able to come off playing one machine and move to another with breaks in-between.

When the FOBTs started to appear in the betting shops I was very quickly completely hooked on them. I would only ever play the roulette and I would always play the same numbers – 3, 15, 26, 28, 29, and 32.
With roulette it was possible to hit one of your numbers in concurrent plays (obviously not a probability) and win a substantial amount of money in a short space of time. For the addict mind this was absolutely disastrous as it reinforced irrational thinking that you could beat the system and win money. This, the high stakes, and the speed of play is why FOBTs are so dangerous.

In addition the industry has in my view circumvented the ‘spirit’ of the Gambling Act 2005 by opening multiple betting shops in close proximity to get around the 4 FOBTs per shop rule. It would be wrong not to also mention internet gambling and online casinos where it is also possible to lose vast sums of money around the clock. And indeed I did.

Playing FOBTs, EGMs and online casinos I have lost £100,000s. This was money I could not afford to lose and included in small part my earnings but also huge amounts of debt that I could never pay back.

For most addicts there are no ‘sane’ limits to the amount of cash that you can feed into FOBTs, I have lost on many occasions a months earnings (several thousand pounds) in one session. I knew that I had a problem but couldn’t admit it to others, so the pain and devastation of losing this amount of money and the feelings of stupidity and subsequent depression I cannot describe.

I want to talk about my loved ones a little too, what did my children do to deserve going without food or clothes as a result of living with my ‘crack cocaine’ gambling addiction. My wife had no idea of my gambling addiction when she met me and even when she knew about my problem, it took her a very long time to grasp the scale of the issue and not before she had also accrued huge debts to try and bail me out. She didn’t really understand the issues either and I was very good at hiding the problem and its scale as well as feeling ashamed.

These machines have input from psychologists in the design process, they are designed to hook people into play, and they are extremely dangerous for some people. It is right and proper for the government to legislate appropriate restrictions for dangerous products, as we regulate drugs, guns etc.

For reference there is a good piece of research by Dr Luke Clarke (Cambridge University) – ‘Near Misses’ that provides some insight into what goes on in the addict brain.

I have had many periods of heavy losses but the last time I had a huge period of losing was in the summer of 2008 when I lost approx. £100,000 playing on FOBTs, EGMs, and online casinos over a two month period.
I lost my home and as a result I now live separately from my wife and son for practical reasons although we are still a family. Nearly five years on I am still penniless, in debt, and for eighteen months unemployed. This is what gambling addiction does to people, it causes pain, misery and it splits families up.

If you are reading this I do hope it convinces you to support the Stop the FOBTs campaign.

You can follow me on twitter @ www.twitter.com/gamblinghurts
You can follow me on facebook @ www.facebook.com/gamblinghurts

I campaign for the following:
1. Lower FOBT maximum stake from £100 to £2.
2. Increase minimum age for Category D machines to 18.
3. Remove FOBTs from betting shops.
4. Tax online casinos at point of access.
5. Ban the use of credit cards for gambling transactions.

Food or Betting Terminals (FOBTs)

Removing high stakes casino style betting terminals from the high street is something I'm really passionate about and is something I can speak about from personal experience having lost £100,000s in these betting terminals both in the UK and across Europe. 

The reality for hundreds of thousands of kids in the UK, and millions around the world is that they are going without food and other living essentials because they live with a parent who is addicted to high stake casino style electronic gambling terminals.

In the UK these machines are known as Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs). They were introduced into British betting shops in 2001 after the then Chancellor Gordon Brown abolished duty on individual bets in favour of a tax on bookmakers gross profits. 

 







2012 FOBT statistics

• UK install base 34,000 FOBT (2012)
• Generate £3.68 billion profits. (Source Daily Mail)
• Estimated £46 billion staked. (Source William Hill/Ladbrokes)

Data from the 2010 gambling prevalance survey shows that only 4% of adults who gamble play these FOBT machines. (1.46 million)

Recent research shows that 23% of FOBT players are addicted. That is more than 300,000 people addicted to these betting terminals alone.

The UK Gambling industry as a whole are contributing a miserly £5 million to combating gambling addiction whilst they cash in to the tune of £850 million a year from FOBT misery and depriving kids and families from having food on the table.

These machines are dangerous, yet the vast majority of the UK population, more than 96% don't play them and most don't even know what they are or care about their existence.

Our government continues to allow a product that is harmful for nearly a quarter of its users to be available and marketed.

Its time to take action and to join the campaign to STOP THE FOBTs. 

High stakes casino style betting terminals have different names in different regions. 
- UK (FOBTs), Australia (pokies), - Mainland Europe & Canada (VLT, Novamatic), - USA (slots)

You can follow/connect me on facebook, twitter, Linkedin. Thanks for your interest.

www.facebook.com/gamblinghurts
www.twitter.com/gamblinghurts
www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyfranklin2

Don Foster MP announces government review of FOBTs

The Coalition’s all powerful quad – Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg, George Osborne and Danny Alexander – has agreed to reject a call from the Commons culture committee for there to be fewer restrictions on B2 gaming machines. (FOBTs)

Instead Don Foster MP has announced that there will be a review of the FOBTs by the Responsible in Gambling Trust (RGT) that will look into stakes, numbers of machines and prize levels.

There is still a concern though in gambling reform circles that unless the gambling industry trustees are made to step down from the Responsible in Gambling Trust (RGT) the review of FOBTs will not be impartial and unbiased. 


Full details can be read in the Daily Mail Tough new curbs high stake gambling machines bid protect problem punters.html

As you might expect William Hill has reacted to the government announcement with its usual story line: Government is gambling with peoples jobs.  

A few low paid minimum wage jobs and one off tax payments* to the treasury does not offset the damage caused by FOBTs to individuals, families, and communities up and down the country as well as to the economy. See also my previous post: Time for Anger: Gov't backs FOBT Human Misery over sustainable economic growth.     
*Gambling profits are typically transferred out of the local economy and offshore and therefore taxation is one off.

The indifference of the betting shop companies to the human cost of addiction caused by FOBTs is frankly vile. William Hill in response to Don Foster's announcement state: -

'Media stories that focus on isolated cases of problem gambling are sad, but again, not a basis for sound gambling policy.' 

The Grasp Group, a charity set-up to raise awareness of problem gambling & reform the industry has many members who have lost thousands of pounds, sometimes tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds to FOBT addiction. These are not isolated cases of problem gambling but a serious problem that will grow to epidemic proportions if not dealt with now. 

The betting shop corporates do not take any responsibility for the serious harm caused by installing electronic roulette every few yards down the high street along with numerous other casino games on their FOBT terminals. They are completely indifferent to lives ruined, or lives lost as a result of gambling addiction. 

Gambling addiction has become known as the 'secret addiction' as the problem gambler often hides their problem from friends and family for many years. Often the existence or extent of the problem only becomes known about when the gambler hits rock bottom.

William Hill's response demonstrates clearly that they are only interested in seeking to protect their financial position with tired arguments that increasingly the public and the press have grown wise to.

The government must act now to correct the errors of the Gambling Act 2005 that allowed roulette, and other casino games to take over our high streets every few yards. 

 

Gambling addiction, crime and debt #problemgambling

This is an email I sent today, and I wanted to share on here omitting the recipient of course ;)

Sorry for the delay in reply, I have a lot going on right now and I wanted to be able to write to you with a clear head.

Firstly its really encouraging that there are people around who care for their neighbours, and that even though you are not a gambler yourself you can see the damage it is doing, not just to the addicts but to the whole community.

I will speak a little from my experience; everywhere I have lived I have maxed out every time on debt to fund my gambling addiction. In my twenties I was committing crime to the tune of £10,000s a month, not something I am in the slightest bit proud of. (I won't go into details other than to say it was of non violent nature.)

The problem for me has always been electronic gambling, so slots, FBOTs, mobile phone, TV and Internet gambling. I knew I had a problem in my early twenties (20 years ago now) but there was scant help around at the time and the drive to gamble was far stronger than the support I could find. but believe you me I was crying out for help.

Gambling has been my entire life, I moved around all over the place ditching friends when things became too hot. I borrowed money off anybody who'd lend to me to fuel my addiction, and so in the end I was constantly running and starting again. As a consequence I feel pretty lonely in my life today.

As gambling was my total life from about the age of 11, I didn't participate in normal activities with other children nor did I acquire hobbies. So now that I no longer gamble it is still a massive struggle to fill time, plus years of smashing the repeat bet button has its toll on my ability to keep still or focus at times.

I started a new life out of the UK (in my thirties) and repeated all the same mistakes with internet gambling and VLTs (same thing as FOBTs) and in the process lost my flat, and all my possessions. So what, its only material shit I know. So i live on the goodwill of my wife's parents for now but I am not living together with my wife and son. She is at her mums and I am at her dads.

Where we are currently there is no safety net, so no housing benefit or income support so if you have nothing you have nothing. I am unemployable it seems in Central Europe, I suspect in part because of my gambling addiction being now well known about in HR circles. Well I have sent over 1,000 CV applications and had 2 interviews and no job offers. And I don't believe that I'm completely incapable.

I say this not because I feel sorry for myself but because there is absolutely no need for anybody to go through what I have been through. I want people to know the consequences and I want the government and regulators to sit up and listen to stories like mine.

1. FOBTs or their equivalent are highly addictive, and they should be in highly controlled and regulated environments. In my view in casinos only and with 24 hour minimum wait on membership requirement.
2. Internet gambling needs to be taxed at point of access not supply and the EU should come together in my opinion to make this happen. 
3. Credit cards should be prohibited for internet gambling transactions.
4. Minimum age for gambling should be at least 18 and possibly 21.

This would go a very long way to making gambling safer for the vulnerable, and far more than self exclusion which just puts all the responsibility on the person with the gambling addiction/sickness and none on the betting establishment.

When gambling becomes an addiction the end game is that it will likely be funded by crime or running up debts, totally undesirable consequences on the general public that would be substantially reduced by changing the law as per the points above.

I am no longer ashamed to speak out about my addiction, nor to discuss where it led me, only by speaking out can we hope to continue to raise the profile of gambling addiction and be successful in achieving gambling reform.

My battle still continues, I can't find work, I don't have a permanent place to live with my family, my personal relationships and particularly with my wife are extremely strained, I'm in a very big financial mess, I am constantly changing and trying to change/adapt my approach to find the way forward. I will prevail, I know it but gambling recovery is fucking hard and lonely whatever anybody says.

The gambling industry are mercenary opportunists who couldn't care less about my plight or the plight of other addicted persons who make up the bulk of their profits.

Thank you for caring, and for listening, please keep up the fight for gambling reform.

I apologize when I am not always responsive but sometimes I am alone in my thoughts and company.

Best Regards,

Tony aka GamblingHurts (a lot)

Time for Anger: Gov't backs FOBT Human Misery over sustainable economic growth.

This month (July 2012) the UK Commons culture committee has recommended the removal of the limit on the number of Fixed Odds Betting Machines (FOBT) per betting shop/mini casino.

In doing so the government has made a huge mistake to continue down the path of taxing human misery. 

These machines have been described by leading gambling addiction expert Professor Mark Griffiths as the 'crack cocaine of gambling' and continue to create/encourage gambling addicts to lose huge sums of money.

In fact the industry makes £3.3 million a day or £1.2 Billion a year in profits. This is money taken out of the local economy and transferred to a few companies backed by wealthy individuals residing in offshore tax havens.

The Government has its sums all wrong on the net gains of gambling to the treasury and the economy. Yes short term the gambling industry creates a few low paid minimum wage jobs and pays tax to the government coffers; but at what cost to the future of our high streets, and the economy and society in general.

We are already seeing huge changes to our high streets with the proliferation of betting shops, pawnbrokers, and money lenders changing the balance to the point where ordinary people no longer want to frequent them.

With the decline in foot fall many small businesses are going under, and in their place we get more betting shops/mini casinos, pawnbrokers, and money lenders thus leading to further rapid decline in the diversity of the high street.

A recent Local Government Survey shows the strength of feeling against more gambling in our high streets and concerns that it is damaging our local economy. It is time to get really angry and demand our government listen to the people on this issue.

If the £1.2 billion a year wasted in FOBTs alone was instead spent in local shops and businesses this would have a very dramatic and positive impact on our high streets, the local economy and recovery. Taxes would still be paid and because more of the money would be spent locally, it would be respent locally thereby contributing far more than gambling revenues.

ITS TIME FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO REBUILD OUR ECONOMY ON SUSTAINABLE FOUNDATIONS AND NOT ILL THOUGHT OUT SHORT TERM STRATEGIES THAT RISK FUTURE GENERATIONS TO A LIFETIME OF GAMBLING ADDICTION AND MISERY.

Local Government Association survey – Betting Shops/Mini Casinos are hitting economic growth

NO to Corals mini casino in Western Road, Bexhill

Application for Coral's betting shop refused.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE AND LOCAL COUNCILS!!

Decision - REFUSED on 19/07/2012

Decision Reasons:

Western Road is at the heart of the defined main shopping area of Bexhill being the primary focus for retail development as set out in Policy BX5 of the Rother District Local Plan and within the town centre area currently the subject of the Council's Bexhill Town Centre Strategy relating to regeneration. In this context the loss of the shop unit to an A2 Use in a central position on Western Road is considered significant as the A1 uses hereabouts form a key role in meeting the day-to-day needs of the town. As such the loss of a retail unit in this central position would be contrary to Policy EM13 of the Rother District Local Plan and the provisions of paragraphs 23 and 70 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Link toApplication for Coral's betting shop refused.


A fight is currently on in Bexhill, a small seaside town in the County of East Sussex to keep Corals from successfully opening a sixth bookmaker within Greater Bexhill.

Rother District Council has received various objections from local residents and business owners within the town who are opposed to the opening of yet another bookmaker in the town.

A number of residents have lodged objections on the basis of the long opening times and the problems caused by customers congregating outside betting shops smoking and littering the street with cigarette ends and drinks containers. Many of the objections are on the basis that Bexhill already has sufficient bookmakers to cater for the gambling demand, and there is no need for any further outlets.

A particular concern has been expressed that the proposed location of Corals in 45 Western Road, Bexhill is next door to Sweet Etcetera; a confectionary and gift shop often frequented by children. The Gambling Act 2005 itself makes reference to protecting children and vulnerable adults, situating a Coral bookmakers next door to the sweet shop does not seem to be upholding the spirit of the law.

The application and comments can be viewed here:

GamblingHurts has submitted the following objection to this proposal.

'I wish to object to the Planning Application put forward by Corals for change of use at 45 Western Road from retail use to a Betting Office.

The prevalence of gambling in our society has reached dangerous proportions and it is already harming the fabric of our communities.

The gambling industry talks about creating jobs, the reality is that it offers a few low paid or minimum wage jobs but talks nothing about the increasing numbers of problem gamblers marginalized from society who lose their jobs or careers.

The gambling industry is making huge profits from the FOBTs in the bookies; machines that have been described as being to the gambling addict what crack is to the drug addict. The gambling act limited the numbers of FOBTs allowed per shop but the gambling industry seeks to circumvent the law by flooding our high streets with multiple bookies. Bexhill on Sea already has 5 and does not need any more.

The wave of gambling that sweeps through our cities, towns and villages is actually killing local businesses. At a time when we need to grow our economy gambling sucks huge money out of the masses and into the pockets of a few people running or backing the gambling industry. This is money that could otherwise be spent in our local shops and creating a more prosperous local community.

It is time to stop kidding ourselves that we benefit from the gambling industry through jobs and taxes. The argument is not balanced and is largely dominated by promotion from the gambling industry speaking with one unified voice and with huge marketing spends.

Gambling costs jobs, it stifles our economy, and it blights our high streets with bookies and amusement arcades that bring out some of the worst problems in our society. E.g. gambling addiction, related crime and violence, breakdown of families, poor health, suicides etc.

As a recovering gambler myself, someone who has lost more than £1 million through gambling, has lost two homes, has put a huge strain on my family, including my children, has lost a career several times, and is currently unemployed as a result of gambling, has previously contemplated suicide, has committed crimes to fund gambling I ask you to say NO to this change of use application.'

Tony Franklin.
http://responsiblegambling1.blogspot.sk/
www.facebook.com/gamblinghurts
https://twitter.com/#!/GamblingHurts