mdgv2
OT Cowboy
Posts: 487
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Post by mdgv2 on Sept 14, 2023 3:59:10 GMT -5
Well, not everyone in a Bookies is placing Big Bets. Having just checked, Ladbrokes have a 1p minimum stake.
So, those old boys in there on the reg aren’t necessarily betting and losing huge amounts of money. For the sake of a pocket of shrapnel, you can probably spend a fair while getting a free heat and some company.
It’s my dream when I win the Lottery to open up my own arcade. But I won’t have fruities in it. Those are cursed objects, despite my penchant for them in my youth.
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Post by adurot on Sept 14, 2023 4:00:40 GMT -5
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Post by pacific on Sept 14, 2023 4:14:44 GMT -5
I knew vehicles had become larger, but you don't often see it shown as vividly in those photos - wow! There is definitely a US/Europe divide there I think, as something like a Hilux (which is one of the biggest non-commercial transport vehicles you will see on UK roads), was basically the equivalent of a Nissan Micra compared to the other stuff you saw on the roads when I visited Florida.
Still a big problem in the UK though, there was recently a report that something like 80 vehicles currently available are too large to fit inside a standard parking space.
On subject of gambling, I used to work in an arcade/slot machine place when I was a student. You would get people coming in with their weekly wages in their pocket, then lose it all and leaving in tears. Coincidentally I was working there when the Twin Towers terrorist attacks occurred. As the second plane flew in, the manager made me go around and turn off the TVs as it was distracting punters and stopping them putting money in the machines. One of the reasons I stopped working there, it was such an ugly thing to see, and although many people can gamble responsibly you see the same fervent addiction that you see in drug users, and complete loss of control. Although another reason I left was someone that was on meth or similar trying to batter there way into the little armoured cubicle I was in in the centre of the place, to get at the giant charity coca-cola bottle that was full of small change, while I desperately pressed the panic button..
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herzlos
Ye Olde King of OT
Posts: 700
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Post by herzlos on Sept 14, 2023 5:51:53 GMT -5
Cars have grown in size as safety and features have increased, but nothing to the same scale as US trucks. As I understand it, it's because making them bigger keeps them as 'light trucks' and thus avoids regulations that would apply to 'cars', even if none of the truck features are used. The bed on that truck must be at least 3ft off the ground, which makes it a pain to actually use for anything.
I always thought it'd be good if car parks were split between big car spaces and little car spaces, but almost immediately abandon that idea due to people abusing it.
I'm not sure how / if we should address it, or if we're better just waiting until self driving cars make human car parks redundant. If your car drops you at a loading bay and then goes to park then it's less of an issue since it can park within inches of other cars and negotiate with them to get back out. Kind of like a valet does.
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herzlos
Ye Olde King of OT
Posts: 700
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Post by herzlos on Sept 14, 2023 5:56:54 GMT -5
Well, not everyone in a Bookies is placing Big Bets. Having just checked, Ladbrokes have a 1p minimum stake. So, those old boys in there on the reg aren’t necessarily betting and losing huge amounts of money. For the sake of a pocket of shrapnel, you can probably spend a fair while getting a free heat and some company. It’s my dream when I win the Lottery to open up my own arcade. But I won’t have fruities in it. Those are cursed objects, despite my penchant for them in my youth. I can sort of buy that argument, but (in my limited experience) I've never seen anyone talking in them or any kind of atmosphere, and even if you're placing 1p bets, if you're there all afternoon it's probably going to cost you more than nursing a coffee in a coffee shop.
The same sort of applies to casinos - we used to use them a lot after nights out to wait for taxis or early busses home etc, cheaper drinks and nice food. You could more or less hang out at the bar area without gambling, but even then with 50p roulette tables you could make a £10 last a relatively long time. Something I'd recommend to anyone as a better option than standing outside in a city centre at 4am.
I'm also curious as to the ratio of sensible penny gamblers and problem gamblers. I suspect it's not pretty.
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mdgv2
OT Cowboy
Posts: 487
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Post by mdgv2 on Sept 14, 2023 6:13:28 GMT -5
It’s definitely going to vary.
I mean, consider alcohol. If you drink every day, only one or two pints or glasses of wine? You can still have an alcohol dependency. Conversely, getting wrecked on 10 pints on a Friday night doesn’t mean you have a dependency. Neither is exactly healthy though.
It’s also possible that those regularly in the bookies are predominantly gambling existing winnings, in addition to a budget they follow strictly. A single low value accumulator bet can still bring a huge return, if it pays off.
Advertising does need to be banned though. We don’t allow ciggies to be advertised, and there are strict laws on advertising booze. The main ban must be social media though, because as mentioned earlier, that’s how scummy “you’re never actually going to win, because it’s not actually possible” online casinos find their victims. Those based in countries with either no relevant laws, or rampant with corruption where it’s never enforced.
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Post by pacific on Sept 14, 2023 9:22:25 GMT -5
I think a lot of it comes down to whether you have an addictive personality, and then get addicted to that thing, whatever it may be. I read of a study whereby there are certain 'addiction' areas of the brain which light up and release dopamine; in the study they compared the exhilaration a gambler experiences making a bet as affecting the same areas of the brain as a heroin addict who is about to take a hit. Some years ago I was actually part of a study on video game addiction (I had a pretty bad period of my life in the early 2000s with online gaming, where I lost a job, a partner and even had an 'intervention' from my family). I also struggled with drugs when younger (thankfully not opiates), again fell into a bit of a hole, and was fortunate enough that I had some people around me who helped me back up. These days I'm careful not to go near either thing - some people can dabble, I can't, and I have to accept that.
There will be people who can just enjoy £20 on the horses now and then and the occasional slot machine, there are others that must absolutely never go near them, otherwise they fall into an abyss. So for the sake of the people that do have either a lack of willpower or addictive personalities (whatever you want to call it) I think exposure and advertising needs to be as tightly regulated as possible. I've heard of so many people losing everything, I certainly don't think there is either enough regulation or support in place at the moment.
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Post by Least censored on the planet! on Sept 14, 2023 10:03:14 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure ads for gambling are already regulated in France. Maybe the best solution would be to been all but an official gambling system that lets you gamble as much money as you want, but by design prevents any big loss? Make it sure that after all bets, you lose max 10€ per day? Wing prevent people spending all their time doing it though, which is already bad if it means they lose track of their jobs and families...
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mdgv2
OT Cowboy
Posts: 487
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Post by mdgv2 on Sept 14, 2023 11:14:28 GMT -5
In fact?
Advertising on Social Media in general.
It’s a Wild West. Kind of one thing, sort of the other. Whichever the owner reckons it needs to be on a case-by-case basis to avoid rules and oversight.
Take Cryptocurrency. In the UK, it’s currently unregulated. So if you get ripped off, or are persuaded to invest by shysters, there are very, very few protections for you. And so you cannot promote it to anyone that’s not already an experienced investor.
Yet…social media? It’s all there. Constantly. Get Rich Kwik. Not At All Dodgy Baz’s Honest Investment Ponzi Scheme. Contracts For Difference. Other extremely high risk investments which can’t legally be promoted.
And desperate people fall for it, and lose. Big time. I’m talking people remortgaging their houses losing big time. Because social media can’t and won’t be regulated.
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Post by dabbler on Sept 14, 2023 11:18:14 GMT -5
Advertising for betting on sports at least is definitely very restricted in the EU. If there's a particularly good meme from a sports betting company my friends need to send me a screenshot for me to enjoy it
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Post by easye on Sept 14, 2023 11:20:36 GMT -5
Electronic gambling machines are also proliferating in my area of the US. Every bar/restaurant also has a "casino" room.
It is hard to avoid them if you are going to try and eat out.
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mdgv2
OT Cowboy
Posts: 487
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Post by mdgv2 on Sept 14, 2023 14:31:16 GMT -5
Fixed Odds Betting Machines are in for criticism in the UK too.
Of course, the bookies tend to donate to politicians, so any progress is….slow.
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