With sportsmen three times more likely to gamble than the general population, why do so many risk so much on the ‘betting buzz’?
Source: Gambling in sport: John Hartson on how betting nearly cost his life – BBC Sport
We can hear some of you shouting; why should we feel sorry for professional footballers. However, we would like you to read this article and listen to the videos, not just in the context of problem gambling, but in the context of those who gamble on sport and show ability. If these professional footballers had been in the latter category they would have soon struggled to get £5 bets on. Is this ‘fair and open’? Of course not: Do the UK Gambling Commission care; sadly no.
We don’t expect bookmakers to lose millions or hundreds of thousands to one punter, but we do expect them to lay a decent bet, i.e. with a maximum risk of at least £500.00 to all. Now that is ‘fair and open’.