What is considered too excessive betting/gambling?

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Caporegime
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Depends on how you define gambling but generally speaking, if the odds are in your favour I consider it an investment with a certain risk factor, rather than gambling. In a casino, the house is not considered a gambler, the player is because the odds are in the house's favour.

it doesn't become a different activity just because you're good at it

it isn't up to me to define gambling either - gambling is still gambling whether you're winning or not - it is already defined and regulated in UK law
 
Man of Honour
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If I were a "risk assessor" and saw someone had been gambling a fixed amount every month for the past 10 years I'd immediately think this guy is highly disciplined and has good self control. Gambling should always be considered entertainment, never a way of making money, and if you have a fixed budget for "entertainment" out of every wage then there's nothing wrong with that.

But yeah if someone's losing their "budget" month after month they should probably consider finding another form of entertainment. Unless they believe it's a form of making money.

Probably a fair assessment but I've never knowingly come across a gambler who fits that profile or at least in a pattern that could be determined from their bank statements, which typically wouldn't be looked at going back 10 years anyway. Even those that gamble a set amount each month probably have irregular deposits due to irregular winnings, and those doing matched betting would probably either run out of bonuses to take advantage of within 10 years or be running multiple accounts which in itself might raise a few eyebrows.
 
Associate
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I worked in a casino for 6 months, the guy who trained me as a roulette croupier told me never to gamble, you know why? Because they are mugs.. Casino loved me because I was great with people, I quit and went to nursing. I didn't like what it did to people, yet they tried to exploit this.. That was why I left, how can you feel good about putting someone on the street?
 
Soldato
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£50 seems a lot to me on that wage, although it's all relative. Edit: you gamble twice as much as the rent you pay (200/month?)... You gamble 10% of you wages?

I'd reduce it (if it's not matched betting), but if that's what makes you happy then hey.

Doubt mortgage companies will care!
 
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Caporegime
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Gambling is just an idiot tax.


Translation:

"I don't gamble ergo it's for idiots. I'm probably a non-smoking teetotal vegan who only buys fair trade, organic food and wear clothes made of hemp. I don't do anything fun with my money because it's all idiot tax. My personality has been likened to a beige Ford Mondeo diesel with cloth interior and keep-fit window winders."


Give or take.
 
Soldato
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Translation:

"I don't gamble ergo it's for idiots. I'm probably a non-smoking teetotal vegan who only buys fair trade, organic food and wear clothes made of hemp. I don't do anything fun with my money because it's all idiot tax. My personality has been likened to a beige Ford Mondeo diesel with cloth interior and keep-fit window winders."


Give or take.

You're saying that as if smoking is something to be proud of.

The only part you actually got right was the first part, but nice try.
 
Soldato
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Never saw the point of gambling. Always had mates bragging every couple of months cos they won. Strangely very quiet about it in the intervening time.
 
Soldato
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No one is forced to gamble lol, how can you call it a tax lmao.

You're only an idiot if you're a crap gambler making silly bets and then keep going back again and again.

Are all the people who loose idiots ? Do the profits made by the companies involved come solely from idiots ?
 
Caporegime
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Are all the people who loose idiots ? Do the profits made by the companies involved come solely from idiots ?

No, some people fully appreciate they'll lose and do it for entertainment.

No, the profits (mostly but not exclusively*) come from people who lose, that subset does of course include idiots. Winners get often get banned when detected - exceptions being when they win against other gamblers such as via betting exchanges or when playing poker.


* a winning betfair gambler or poker player still contributes towards profits via commission or rake
 
Caporegime
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I don't think gambling is a problem as long as you're not hemorrhaging money, when it reaches a point where you're losing all of your spare cash or even getting into debt then clearly you need help.

I think the best way to gamble safely is to reserve a small amount of spending money each week for gambling and not exceed it, a bit like how most people play the national lottery.
 
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