Thetownend.com

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum but have a bit of a rant I need to get off my chest. Please humour me if you can.

The EU has recently ruled that it's ok for governments like Portugal, Germany and Greece to operate state-run gambling monopolies in those countries. Doesn't sound like a big deal. Except it has repercussions. Now that gamblers in those countries can't use the bookmakers of their choice, there is less competition between suppliers.

This means that anyone, no matter where they live, has to pay more if they want to bet on football.  And it's all because politicians want to get more revenue for themselves. >:(

There's a petition at www.right2bet.net trying to make betting cheaper for everyone. God knows I lose enough money as it is.

Rant over, please forgive me!

Good job we don't live in Greece, Germany or Portugal then.


How does that work then. I mean I can see odds might not be as generous as on a free market, but that only affects winnings. And makes no difference to us in the UK.

*I'm new to the forum* = I'm an industry sponsored spammer. You'll ever see me again.

*This means that anyone, no matter where they live, has to pay more if they want to bet on football* = Tenuous at best

Blaming those "pesky politicians". This is about gambling companies wanting to operate in Greece, Germany and Portugal. As a punter, it makes absolutely no difference to you.

Spam, spam and thrice spam.

On the subject of betting, I saw somewhere that the Government either is, or is considering selling The Tote.

I wonder if Bert would be interested in a slice of that pie.

I think some football bets could do with a bit more regulation. A lot of the more frivolous bets are subject to too much manipulation by the new media and internet rumour. Just makes a nonsense.

Why the fuck does anyone bet with bookies when you can pretty much always get far better odds at the betting exchanges? And what the fuck does it matter what happens in one country when an EU citizen can freely bet in any other EU country?

http://northstandchat.com/showthread.php?p=3184648
http://forums.thisisnottinghamforest.co.uk/thread.jspa?messageID=530116
http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/boards/read/s237.htm?372,10948892
(etc etc)
all look strangely familiar. I believe the term is "astroturfing"

Because you cant beat walking out of a bookies with a wad of cash youve just won.

And the odds aren't always that great when you take commission into account.

They only charge 5% tops and that's only when you win isn't it? Even taking that into account the odds are still massively superior on most bets.

I've got just as good odds sometimes before commission by shopping around. Also you can take advantage of promotions at bookies, you don't really get them on betfair.

Also there are more betting types or outcomes available at bookies.

I use Betfair 80% of the time, but there are plenty of reasons why I don't for that other 20% of the time.

oddschecker is a good one.

Quite correct. It happens in all industries.

Works well for those of us offshore.  We're hoovering up large gambling companies at the moment due to the tax breaks.   They're fantastic for the local economy and brilliant employers although they’re all unfortunately a bit like pikies and will up sticks and move to whatever jurisdiction is more attractive at a moments notice.

Namely, Gibraltar and Malta.

Though I think the reason is more for rhyming purposes than financial.