tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post2526151483716248628..comments2023-10-17T15:56:22.827+01:00Comments on Velvet Glove, Iron Fist: In case it's not mentioned in Dispatches...Christopher Snowdonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15963753745009712865noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-11714382044468100902012-08-08T16:45:22.431+01:002012-08-08T16:45:22.431+01:00Years and years ago, my father and I were involved...Years and years ago, my father and I were involved in the bookmaking business, he as the front man, I mostly as his clerk. Back then, making a book on most racecourses was not a passport to riches; it was a passport to just about making your expenses most days, and getting mildly well-off on really good days.<br /><br />Betting tax at 4% was a pain in the bum, especially so when explaining this to a boozed-up punter at pay-out time. Explaining what a 1/5 of the odds each way bet came to, then explaining the tax was painful at times; you could almost see some punters' desperation.<br /><br />What finally hurt the on-course betting business was the National Lottery. It completely removed all the mug-money (bookies are very, very forthright speakers). Some people will bet on a three-legged donkey winning the Grand National; I've even seen people try to bet on non-runners and horses that have fallen in the early parts of a long point-to-point race. Some people are utterly, amazingly, idiotically bad at betting.<br /><br />The art of bookmaking is to take more money than you pay out in any eventuality. To make a decent book, getting a good spread of money right across the field (a "field" is the term for all runners in a race) apart from the rank outsiders. Take away the mug money, and it all gets much, much harder; this is why bookmakers are in decline.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02618328278732100203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-83705578662862987082012-08-07T00:48:54.765+01:002012-08-07T00:48:54.765+01:00Any part of the program or feedback on twitter men...Any part of the program or feedback on twitter mention that the National Lottery is "fixed odds betting" ?Samhttp://twitter.com/supersam25noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-25553123197276637442012-08-07T00:21:28.218+01:002012-08-07T00:21:28.218+01:00Looked like a complete hatchet job to me. It's...Looked like a complete hatchet job to me. It's all part of the plan to ban anything that anyone enjoys.Tonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-40771441659961041362012-08-07T00:15:00.007+01:002012-08-07T00:15:00.007+01:00Thank you for the statistics, which, quite honestl...Thank you for the statistics, which, quite honestly, do not surprise me.<br /><br />After all the other moves in Lifestyle Control, betting shops just had to be the next step.<br /><br />I have only patronised them on two occasions, however, I would not say they should be banned or restricted.<br /><br />As with anything else, a small percentage of people use them to excess, although the vast majority do not.<br /><br />Sorry, bansturbators, but your choice of 'life partner' who shows signs of weakness (e.g. gambling, drink) should not deprive the majority of responsible punters the enjoyment of a flutter or two.<br /><br />ChurchmouseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com