Panorama - 10:15 BBC1 this evening

Hereward

kittie wrote:

I cannot get my head around the fact that mse is quietly offering gambling facilities ie discounts to gambling sites etc

There was quite an outcry about the Carol V ads on the tv but imo having the gambling thread is just as bad. It must be so so easy for people to slip into addiction and debt.

But heh it`s ok. Just become bankrupt and start again in a few years

says she tongue in cheek

Similar questions can be raised about having Loans, Credit Cards and Mortgages boards when there are so many people posting of the DFW board. Moneysaving is not just limited to reducing debts; it’s about getting the best deals possible. What is needed are some kind of safeguards that prevent individuals falling into spirals of addiction (gambling, alcohol, debt, houses, etc). These safeguards need to be robust enough to stop addiction from taking over, but not prevent ordinary people from enjoying the activities.

tomstickland

kittie wrote:

I cannot get my head around the fact that mse is quietly offering gambling facilities ie discounts to gambling sites etc

There was quite an outcry about the Carol V ads on the tv but imo having the gambling thread is just as bad. It must be so so easy for people to slip into addiction and debt.

But heh it`s ok. Just become bankrupt and start again in a few years

says she tongue in cheek

MSE doesn't offer any discounts to gambling facilities.
It contains information on how to make risk-free money utilising gambling offers via a method called matched lay "betting". There is no gambling involved.

In the 12 months I've been an active member i've only read about the profit people have made and have seen no reference to gambling addictions. In fact, most people who make money from the loopholes hate gambling, myself included. I can't stand to lose any of my own money.

As with all addictions there has to be some other problem to bring it about. The existance of beer on the shelves of Tesco stores does not cause everyone to be an alcoholic and it's the same with gambling. The industry itself might be insiduous in its approach to seperating fools from money, but that's the same as a bar that offers a tab or 24 hour opening.

moneyman4u

I use the Gambling board and make large bets every day (risk free), I have made thousands from matched betting , but as time has progressed I can see where opinions like Kitties are relevant. MSE normalises it , its all most like Martin says its cool so it must be cool, and whilst 95% of people will follow the rules and never actually risk their own funds, some silly a$$'s will not, under normal circumstances I would say what others say ie "Should all the pubs shut just because some people are alcoholics?" , but I dont think its the same, the fact is its on MSE and MSE is packed full of vunerable people who could perhaps be more at risk than the general populus is relevant, and introducing vunerable people to an enviroment where they could be tempted is questionable.

There was a post on the gambling board not very long ago, I think the OP had joined at the start of the year and done some "risk" free casino offers, then posted once more 6 months later having done all her own money in online casinos, she stated that she had never even been on a gambling site before she joined MSE.

Just to say, I have no issues with matched betting, it is risk free and I make large amounts of money from it, but, is it appropriate on a site full of vunerable people who assume Martin is saying its a good thing to do?

Is it a bit like dropping a relative of at an AA meeting and then sitting at the back and enjoying a glass of wine? after all just because they are alcoholics doesnt mean you cant enjoy a drink?........I suppose its putting temptation in peoples way.

scootw1

I think they should do an expose on normal gambling now such as fruit machines and horses as they can be a big problem as well.

MSE_Martin

There is a balance to be had with the 'risk free gambling intro offers' board (the name gives away the stance). There is also a warning at the top of it.

You will notice it is

a. Never board of the week in the email
b. Rarely linked to from the weekly email (and when it is there is a massive warning and link to gamblers anonymous attached).
c. Credit cards, stoozing, gambling, freebie grabbing, savings tarting can all lose you money if you do it incorrectly. This site is about doing things the right way and risk free. I think the gambling intro offers board has a place, but needs some protection to make people understand it isn't a gambling board. I hope that's done well enough

Martin

GreyPilgrim

I can see the arguments for having it on the site, but I still feel very uncomfortable seeing it here. I know it goes against all logic, and that if you're going to do something then for gods sake take some advice on how to do it in a risk free way...but it still makes me feel uneasy seeing it.

I suppose it's just the stigma I have attached to the word 'gambling' in my own mind.

moneyman4u

GreyPilgrim wrote:

I can see the arguments for having it on the site, but I still feel very uncomfortable seeing it here. I know it goes against all logic, and that if you're going to do something then for gods sake take some advice on how to do it in a risk free way...but it still makes me feel uneasy seeing it.

I suppose it's just the stigma I have attached to the word 'gambling' in my own mind.

I agree, its not the "matched betting" thats the problem, the problem is that its sitting bang in the middle of a group of vunerable people shouting "hey lets join loads of Bookmakers and make some money!", oh yeah, but remember if you do get addicted to gaming because you joined MSE and MSE introduced you to gaming sites dont blame Martin because he says its only for people who follow the rules the right way.

ice-thin-on-standing.

Tr@cker

Anybody who says there's 'risk free' money does not know anything worth knowing about gambling. If that were possible EVERYbody would be doing it.
Common sense should tell you there's no easy money in the long term. Ive said this before the only POSSIBLE winners are those who take the freebies then disappear when they're spent.
The only 'matched betting' agancies as far as i know are licensed exchanges like betfair and just remember for every matched bet there's a winner AND a loser, with the exchange taking a commission regardless from evry bet.

Stompa

Perhaps I'm mistaken but I thought the programme said that 1 in 10 of the population was taking part in online gambling?

That surely can't be true. I've never ever heard family/friends/colleagues mention online gambling - though perhaps it's something people don't talk about because in general they will be losing.

lynzpower

There was a post on the gambling board not very long ago, I think the OP had joined at the start of the year and done some "risk" free casino offers, then posted once more 6 months later having done all her own money in online casinos, she stated that she had never even been on a gambling site before she joined MSE.

there are millions of things Id never done since joining MSE though- quidoc cash back, using online voucher codes, paying off debts & closing them down :rolleyes:

In the same way - people can become addicted to "bargains" we all know someone who buys bargains they cant afford- that doesnt mean we cant have shop but dont drop or grabbit sections. There has to be some personal reesponsibility. Martin and the MSe community cant be responsible for people getting into problem gambling by not reading or understanding matched betting properly- in the same way Martin & MSE community cant be responsible for a user getting a 125% IO mortgage that they cant afford either.