post code lottery

[Dee Sa]

do you know anyone who does this one ? I dont. Are we becoming a nation of gamblers ? Theres the post code one, the health lottery, the lottery, thunderball, hot picks, eurolottery not to mention bingo and if you could see all the old ladies on the slot machines during the bingo intervals you would wonder where they get all the money to play with !not to mention the younger women playing too ! I overheard a young lady arguing with the bingo manager and she was saying "you know I spend at least £70 on the slots every time I come here ".the mind boggles.

[FredPuli43]

It may be that the opportunities are greater but the number of people involved is not. The football pools used to be very big and it seemed that everyone had a go every week. Now the 'pools' attract little money and few people. The interest has gone elsewhere.
But gambling addiction may be on the increase. Since there are so many opportunities and so many gambling temptations, the habit coud easily develop into an addiction. The daftest thing is the computer generated horse or dog races in betting shops. Who is it who is so keen to gamble that they can't wait for real races, which occur every few minutes anyway, with real form?

[ummmm]

I know playing the lottery is gambling but I don't think it has the same adrenaline rush as betting on the horses/dogs/fruit machines...which makes it less addictive.

Besides the lottery, I'm anti gambling (although I rarely have a go on that either)

[starone]

We have always been a nation of gamblers Dee. Not the same type, but the dog racing, horse racing, football pools, all sorts. Some of it was illegal. I remember a neighbour years ago who was known as a bookie's runner. I don't know how it worked but you could place your bets with him without actually going to the bookie or the race course. This was illegal so everyone had to walk round it on tippytoes. Don't ask me why, I was only a child and didn't really understand it. It just seems more now because it is so easily available and no longer illegal for any of it.

[starone]

I should have said, the Postcode Lottery charge £2 a line as opposed to £1 a line, which might put some people off.
Also my father would spend everything in sight and borrow to do it in order to go to the dog racing. My mother had to keep a firm grip on the household money or we would have starved. Apart from that he was a lovely man. So kind. I have that gambling need in my blood so I make sure I do not do anything stupid. In fact I have reduced my spending on gambling to £1 a week on the Health Lottery. Pre credit crunch it was £6 a week!! And growing - a great temptation.

[Postdog]

I don't consider the Lottery as gambling - I know I have no chance really, but if I didn't play, I would be missing the hope I have in doing it. Other than that I don't bet or play fruits etc. The nearest I get is watching the late night roulette on telly and guessing for the fun of it.

[ummmm]

My Dad was a gambling addict, Star, as was my uncle. I've seen first hand the devastation it can cause.

[Postdog]

Ditto my mum and my dad - I guess that's why I don't.

[Dee Sa]

my ex was a gambler and it was a battle for us to keep our heads above water,one minute we lived the good life and the next like paupers.
Funny story re illegal street betting before the days of betting shops--- ex's elderly maiden aunt used to like a bet of a shilling each way she would bet every day, well she went to the street bookies house to place the bet on her way to work but unbeknown to her they were raided by the local constabulary and a policeman in uniform answered the day she was so flustered she handed him the written bet and the money and they nicked her too.

[FredPuli43]

Starbuckone, the bookies' runner was needed years ago. Back then, you could only place cash bets on the racecourse or at the dog track. There were no betting shops where ordinary people could bet. If you were wealthy enough, you would have a credit account with a bookmaker; no cash needed, very convenient, phone betting and all, but not available to most.
To get round all this, bookies would have runners. These men would visit pubs , shops, workplaces etc and take people's cash bets to the bookie. They were operating illegally but they were the means for most people to get bets on.