Excitement or Addiction

FOLLOWING my recent interview with bookmaker Julie Williams, betting has been at the forefront of my mind.

In particular, the well documented reports about the sums of money which used to exchange hand between her father and the infamous J P McManus.

That got me thinking though. Surely a ‘bookie’ is there to take bets and the ‘punter’ there to make bets. If the bookie is willing to put up the odds and the punter willing to gamble large sums of money, what is the problem?

I understand people’s points of view that gambling can be an addiction that ruins lives amongst other things. Anytime I diverge into a bookmakers however I see ‘gamble responsibly’ and ‘only gamble what you can afford’ notices throughout the shop.

It is ultimately up to that individual to decide how much money they are willing to gamble on a horse, dog or football match.

I faithfully put five pounds on a football coupon every week, sometimes along side a couple of horses. I am able to place the bet and take the winnings however big or small they may be. For me it is not an addiction, it it simply to make the results coming in a little more exciting on a Saturday afternoon!

“I want people to understand, gambling is not a bad thing if you do it within the framework of what it’s meant to be, which is fun and entertaining” – Michael Jordan, Basketball Legend.

There are many things people do for entertainment; take a walk, go to a theatre show / concert, football match.

It is unfortunate however that for many across Britain, gambling becomes a full time source of entertainment. Perhaps alone or bored in the house, people seek company and some excitement in their lives and going down to the bookies seems like a good idea.

However perhaps a stones throw from a pub, problems begin and addictions start.

This does not make people bad by any means, but these are the sort of things that are constantly reported.

Only last week a Scottish local authority announced plans to quash any new proposals for bookmaker shops in their town centre in a hope of eradicating gambling problems and filling the high street with nothing but various bookies.

I can count at least 15 or 16 bookies shops in my local area without having to think about it too much. Combined with ‘pound’ stores, the high streets are beginning to look like pretty run down places. However that’s another subject.

Let’s all gamble reponsibly, don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the excitement.

Don’t blame the bookies, if somebody came up to your desk and bet you £50 that a Shetland Pony will win the Grand National, would you turn them away?

No, I didn’t think so.

This article was written in 2013.