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The white paper – where next

As predicted in J4P’s previous blog nobody seems happy with the white paper: https://justiceforpunters.org/the-white-paper-debacle/. J4P’s blog was pretty accurate.  If only we were as good at betting, but to be fair J4P had far more inside information on the draft white paper than we do when backing horses, except those of us who own legs…

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Stake restrictions aren’t just for winners

Introduction J4P is convinced the Gambling Act (2005) white paper review won’t deal with affordability.  The ‘rumour mill’ seems to be that affordability will be handed back to the Gambling Commission, despite the Racing Post articles this week hinting otherwise. The Gambling Commission will probably use another consultation to take things forward.  This provides another…

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It couldn’t continue forever 

Following another Gambling Commission fine for Entain (Ladbrokes, Coral et al) this week, it really is time to remind people of the fantasy world some have been living in for over a decade. When the money is rolling-in and a group of humans are benefitting from it, it’s so easy to believe that everything will…

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Affordability – why we are where we are

On 30/06/2022 two of racing’s media behemoths took to Twitter with hugely opposing views on one hot topic: ‘Cards on the table’ from me: Around 7-8 years ago I refused to stand next to my passport photo-page and take a selfie to obtain £40.00 from a gambling company that no longer trades in the UK,…

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‘Safer Gambling Week’: Messaging is incomplete

This Monday started a mass of publicity about ‘safer gambling’. To use one of the favourite words of the Betting and Gaming Council and others, surely it can only be the “prohibitionists” who don’t love it. J4P needs to be careful, because a well informed individual who we respect trawled back through our Twitter timeline…

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The present gambling debate is like kids in a playground

Earlier in the week I was asked to provide an overview of what I didn’t like about an article that appeared in ‘The Times’ entitled ‘Gambling and gambling disorder are two completely different things’, so here goes. “Seven years on from the act becoming law, the strength of MPs’ and peers’ commitment to liberal tolerance…

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Consumers with few rights; it’s not right

Gambling consumers are not regarded or treated as such. Historical attitudes relating to gambling and ‘the gambler’ reveal many negative stories.  These narratives are perfect for the relatively new gambling corporations. Gambling corporations market their industry as entertainment.  They also strongly promote that they provide income, not just for governments, but for other industries, sports…

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Not turning up in sport is despicable

For all of you who’ve played competitive team sports there’s little worse than having a colleague who doesn’t turn up. We’ve all had teammates who’ve had convenient injuries, e.g. in my case, it was whenever my rugby league team was drawn away in the Yorkshire cup at a local Castleford side. It was inevitable; the…

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Review of gambling industry’s voluntary ‘whistle-to-whistle’ (W2W) advertising restrictions

Published by the ‘Betting and Gaming Council’ (BGC) Data collected and provided by the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (BARB) Data described and limited analysis undertaken by Enders Analysis Commentary provided by the BGC Link to full report: https://bettingandgamingcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Review-of-Gambling-Industry-W2W-Advertising-Restrictions_v8.pdf What follows is a review of this report by ‘Justice for Punters’ (J4P), including the methodology, data…

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Not been the best in class in the past

Last evening I listened to ‘The Moral Maze’ (podcast here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000kp96). My learning involved the impression that gambling disorder is all the person’s fault and that large corporations should be allowed to do as they wish, so long as libertarians don’t have their rights of freedom infringed.  Everyone is entitled to their views, but surely…

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Did somebody really sit and watch?

“Tragic gambler who was ‘groomed’ with a bonus: How online casino plied 25-year-old with a £400 booster just hours before he took his own life” https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8359275/Online-casino-plied-Chris-Bruney-25-400-boost-hours-took-life.html In late May this article was published.  To say it caused a bit of rumpus is an understatement. Firstly, it’s very important to praise and respect the bravery of…

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When you fall help should be there

As a number of people, both in and around the gambling industry and others know J4P is struggling with some of the work it is doing, e.g. helping with awful gambling disorder cases and having to keep them private, whilst gambling companies continue to behave badly. J4P hastens to add that this is the right…

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MoPlay/Betfred deal

J4P promised on Twitter about three weeks ago to find out more about this deal and its legality. On Twitter and on our forum we asked for people who were willing to share their experiences both positive and negative concerning the deal.  Unsurprisingly, the responses were primarily negative.  J4P thanks all who replied.  Those who…

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Passion isn’t prohibition

Alcohol being poured away during prohibition  https://www.millracenorthville.org/events-1/lecture-series-bathtub-gin-and-rum-running-in-detroit-and-michigan It’s fair to say that the last few weeks has seen a ramping up of the debate on all sides of the arguments concerning the gambling industry. Some of the debate has been worthwhile, but a fair amount has also been extremely unhelpful, not least some of the…

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The strange case of four corners and a guide dog

When betting online with traditional sportsbooks, those very rare, genuine old style punters who win and those who show a betting style that they may win know the consequences – stake restricted accounts; £50 bets become £5 or even 5p bets. For those determined enough this has led to a daily game of ‘hide and…

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Corporate philanthropy

Corporate philanthropy often called corporate social responsibility (CSR) is hitting the headlines in the gambling world. Why gambling companies are now rushing to partner with charities and not-for-profit organisations is not difficult to understand.  After many years of being able to keep the ‘darker side’ of how the modern corporate gambling industry trades the ‘genie…

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To win gambling in the UK you need to cheat

Cheat, noun: “A person who behaves dishonestly in order to gain an advantage.” The recent BBC programme ‘Can you beat the bookies’ (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07hjnl6) has thrown the spotlight on the modern gambling industry again. No doubt many discussions in pubs and clubs following the broadcast of this programme will have focussed on ‘courtsiding’.  Huge numbers of…

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Dealing with the myth of problem gambling

Quite rightly the UK has a legal gambling industry, but it presently has a challenge like no other it has ever faced.  This challenge is ‘hanging over its head’ like a big dark cloud.  Those in the gambling industry who don’t recognise the extent of this danger are doing immense damage to their own industry….

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Silence, denial and bullshit will no longer ‘cut-it’

Like many people I like to gamble for entertainment.  In my opinion gambling should be legal in a modern democracy, but legalisation comes with huge responsibilities for those providing gambling services. Nobody can deny that the UK gambling industry has been a fantastic success since its liberalisation in 2005 when it’s judged simply on expansion…

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