betting shops

cookie54

we have found out that our son has been placing bets. He is only 17. It appears a few of his friends do to.
Who is in charge of regulating this as we want to report it so it is more difficult for them to return.
It is in the town centre so we were thing of calling the community polce but were wondering if the company head office would take it seroiusly or the manager. Will they get fined or something.

BitterAndTwisted

Why do you think it's someone else's responsibility to try and curtail or change your son's behaviour?

NAR

OP I would report it to the betting shop manager and give them a photo if you want your son banned from the shop. It is illegal for under 18's to gamble in a betting shop and the manager will not put his licence at risk because of some 17 year olds.

couponqueen123

op i worked for a big betting shop chain and i can tell you now that if he is 17 and you make the shop awear they will stop him entering the place,

if you know the name of the place contact there head office and explain ,they wont be too happy and will also contact to shop and tell them get there shop in order and id all who look under 25

i think the best course of action is to go see the shop manager to make her awear that shes serving underage punters ,

once he turns 18 thou im afraid theres nothing you can do if you do not like him betting (ii mean the shop wont ban if you ask infact they wont tell you if he,s been in there not supost to or what hes been betting once they 18 so while hes 17 do what you can best of luck

who knows if you pushed enough you might get money back but i doubt that

also trading standards might be intrestd

cookie54

we do parent him but we cant always be there. He is very easily led and will follow his so called friends.

He had a statement for varies learning difficulties when at school so doesn't always make the best choices. .

i will leave a message for the manager but it appears from what my son has told me the beting shop is doing ok out of it as it is happening during free periods at college and betting shop is quite.

barbiedoll

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Why do you think it's someone else's responsibility to try and curtail or change your son's behaviour?

Oh for goodness sake, it's everyone's responsibility to protect young people from gambling, that's why betting shops have an age limit.

OP, go and see the shop managers yourself and as NAR suggested, take a photo of him so that they can identify him.
Where does he get the money to gamble, does he work? You could try limiting the amount of money that he takes to college each day, leaving him enough for fares, lunch etc but nothing else. You have my sympathies, he's practically an adult, there's only so much you can do to protect him. If the betting shop is taking advantage of students, it wouldn't hurt to let the community police know too, maybe they could keep an eye on the shop during lunchtimes.

llindsey

If you make head office aware, there is the possibility of the shop team being sacked (anyone who served him or was witness)

I would go in and have a quiet word with the manager and explain.

Take a photo with you and he will never get served again whilst underage.

Its hard sometimes working in these places to keep track of everyones age, so it would be a shame for these people to lose their jobs, but if you go in, it will scare them enough to sort themselves out.

nickj_2

just point out that there's only one winner and it isn't any of the punters ,

mountainofdebt

I would also make the council aware that the shop is taking bets from underage punters......at worst they will do nothing but at best they will target the shop for a mystery shop

browneyedbazzi

You should report it to the gambling commission and your local council (licensing authority) as they both share responsibility for enforcement in relation to children on gambling premises.

http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/licensing_compliance__enfo/intelligence/intelligence_line.aspx

I'd also take a photo of your son in and tell them he is underage and to stop serving him.

By doing both you protect your son but also hopefully other children as well.