Is Paul Merson Right?

[AfricanBluebird]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

Good post. Don't the FA/Clubs etc. actually have a duty of care? Banning seems very draconian.

To me too.

[lardy]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

I've still got my blank one, it's my favourite city shirt that I own.

Edit: supposed to quote the previous page conversation...

[J R Hartley]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

Of course he is right. The hypocrisy is astounding. The Premier League has a broadcasting deal with Bet 365 but whoa betide one of the players place a bet with them.

The football industry is happy to market the life out of gambling and betting companies to make a pretty penny, but then doesnt look after its own when they are in need of help not punishment.

[gabbsthenewt]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

It is an addiction, they do need help, but a feared enough deterrent also needs to exist. If it's gotten to the point whereby they are unable to stop themselves despite the risk of putting their livelihood at risk, then 10 months out of the game doesn't sound like an unfitting amount of time for the recovery one would need to undertake.

[J R Hartley]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

It is really bad and the adverts make it look very attractive and fun for teenagers and young adults, I'm all for advertising bans and much more restrictions.

As an ex Gambling addict I cant say the adverts ever really affected me, FOBTs were more of a problem for me, but I do worry about how they normalise gambling and make it look so fun, especially for teenagers and young adults.

The one that has really dissapointed me is Peter Crouch and his missus - who already have a net worth of some 30m - with their latest Paddy Power adverts making it all look so jovial and fun. I always thought Crouchy was one of the good guys, not anymore.

[insider]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

A lad I knew and went to school with ended his life after his life unravelled due to gambling.
He lost everything ended up in prison after he held up the bookies with a shot gun and eventually got caught.
He was a good footballer and a quiet man.
I couldn't believe what had happened to him when I found out.
I have suffered from addiction but I realised it was going the wrong way so took a step back.
I guess I was 1 of the lucky ones.

[Dembe]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

I am glad that people have posted about their own experiences, to bring a balanced view to the thread.

The ignorance of some.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

Welcome back.

(PS The Gunman might need some stats support!)

Eric's flounce lasted 847,140 seconds. Beat that!

[Dembe]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

Aston Villa have a new shirt sponsor their biggest ever. £20 million a year with a Greek sports betting firm Betano.

It will never stop.

[PhyllisStant]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

Like I said, they don't have to gamble on football.

You have no idea, and you are ignorant.

Not being funny but that was my thought too. I completely understand that it's a gambling addiction but is it specifically to football? I've seen interviews with players talking about betting on dogs, Basketball, anything.

Genuinely curious if the compulsion would be around a particular sport.

[Dembe]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

Not being funny but that was my thought too. I completely understand that it's a gambling addiction but is it specifically to football? I've seen interviews with players talking about betting on dogs, Basketball, anything.

Genuinely curious if the compulsion would be around a particular sport.

You'd have to assume any of the players gambling on football would also be gambling on other sports. I don't think banning them helps, and it also doesn't address the issue.

My personal opinion is it's just a compulsion to gamble and isn't specific just to one sport. Also, how does a Newcastle player betting on, say, league two and German football even become an issue? Betting on the any competition they are directly involved in could be a conflict agreed..

[PhyllisStant]

Re: Is Paul Merson Right?

You have no idea, and you are ignorant.

You'd have to assume any of the players gambling on football would also be gambling on other sports. I don't think banning them helps, and it also doesn't address the issue.

My personal opinion is it's just a compulsion to gamble and isn't specific just to one sport. Also, how does a Newcastle player betting on, say, league two and German football even become an issue? Betting on the any competition they are directly involved in could be a conflict agreed..

I think the rules have got stricter and stricter. Not so long ago players were free to bet on other games.

I used to work next door to a bookies in Cardiff about 15 years ago and would put a few quid on the dogs at lunchtime once or twice a week. I regularly saw loads of city players in there betting hundreds and thousands. I don't know if things have changed but it seemed be be almost an embedded cultural behaviour in footballers. The amount of spare time they get can't help either I guess