Michael Chopra and gambling

Muttley

Muttley

Well-known member
Interesting article on the BBC about Michael Chopra and his problems with gambling.

He turns out in the FA Cup for West Allotment Celtic away to Penrith but the article shows how he got addicted to gambling, starting with slot machines and getting to the point where he was pursued by loan sharks. Recovered he now helps others. Famously Tony Adams set up "Sporting Chance" to help footballers with gambling problems. Yet we, and other teams, trot out onto the pitch as walking adverts for gambling companies and websites whilst in all likelihood one or tow of our players are starting down the slippery slope to addiction.

It's time we removed gambling advertising from the game.
 
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Muttley said:
Interesting article on the BBC about Michael Chopra and his problems with gambling.

He turns out in the FA Cup for West Allotment Celtic away to Penrith but the article shows how he got addicted to gambling, starting with slot machines and getting to the point where he was pursued by loan sharks. Recovered he now helps others. Famously Tony Adams set up "Sporting Chance" to help footballers with gambling problems. Yet we, and other teams, trot out onto the pitch as waling adverts for gambling companies and websites whilst in all likelihood one or tow of our players are starting down the slippery slope to addiction.

It's time we removed gambling advertising from the game.
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Couldnt agree more it disappointing to say the least, that we persist with gambling sponsors on our shirts
 
I've said on here before that I'm lucky to have zero interest in gambling. I recently went to York Races and didn't bother betting at all. However, for those with the addiction it can be utterly devastating.

Isn't it time sport authorities realised they have a duty and stop allowing the gambling industry free reign in relation to advertising? Is it any different to banning tobacco and alcohol advertising decades ago? I think not.
 
My post was to highlight how pathetic that tag line is, as you say it’s an addiction so it impossible to know when or if the fun has stopped. I still can’t believe they got away with using this.

It would be likes drinks companies say “ah go on it’s Xmas you can have one” or tobacco with “ one puff won’t kill you you”.

After college I worked a few weeks in a bookies in Stockton and the money you see people who clearly aren’t wealthy betting was really eye opening in talking hundreds in notes on a horse accumulater etc lose it then be back an hour later and do it again.
 
A very dangerous addiction - Not one easily seen by the naked eye, compared to say Alcohol and Drug addiction.

I have watched a few podcasts that Paul Merson has done and your wealth doesn't really matter because you gamble what is affordable or becomes non affordable. Footballers despite all the bad press have a lot of spare time, they are also human and can suffer with all the same issues and illnesses that everyone else can. I imagine at times it can be lonely being a footballer especially before they are married and have kids etc.

I think its shocking how many sponsors are gambling sites, every other advert before and during games is gambling and its so easy to access now. Even kids are gambling now.

I myself hit a few problems a couple of years ago, £5 a day stake seemed harmless then maybe £20 to win back what was lost quickly. Always ended on zero. Thankfully for me and although it didnt feel it at the time, my partner found out before it got really out of hand. Have not had a bet for around a year now and dont miss it and didnt realise just what it was doing to my mood and more importantly those around me. I became ugly and i didnt even see it as a problem at the time.
 
KDG said:
Have not had a bet for around a year now and dont miss it and didnt realise just what it was doing to my mood and more importantly those around me. I became ugly and i didnt even see it as a problem at the time.
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Keep going mate as it sounds like you're doing really well.
 
Or maybe people should have a good look at themselves, instead of gambling money they can't afford to lose.

Havnt they been educated through life ?
 
Didn't he move clubs to pay off a debt too with his signing on fee. Think it was Cardiff. 100% needs banning from being on shirts and TV adverts
 
Muttley said:
Interesting article on the BBC about Michael Chopra and his problems with gambling.

He turns out in the FA Cup for West Allotment Celtic away to Penrith but the article shows how he got addicted to gambling, starting with slot machines and getting to the point where he was pursued by loan sharks. Recovered he now helps others. Famously Tony Adams set up "Sporting Chance" to help footballers with gambling problems. Yet we, and other teams, trot out onto the pitch as walking adverts for gambling companies and websites whilst in all likelihood one or tow of our players are starting down the slippery slope to addiction.

It's time we removed gambling advertising from the game.
Click to expand...
Completely agree. We got rid of advertisements for cigarettes and alcohol on football shirts. (although I don't recall cigarettes ever been advertised on football shirts in this country anyways). Gambling companies should also be banned from advertising on shirts and on sponsorship boards at pitchside.

Personally I bet a quid on a weekend accumulator every week. I treat it like playing the lottery, still waiting for that 'big' win but I've won a couple of hundred here and there by cashing out.
 
Merson knew all about the harm gambling can do so why did he do this then
Randy said:
Completely agree. We got rid of advertisements for cigarettes and alcohol on football shirts. (although I don't recall cigarettes ever been advertised on football shirts in this country anyways).
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not shirts but the league itself was rothmans wasn’t it.
 
I'm not going to minimise any addiction as every addict will be living a desperate existence which is sad for them and probably even more importantly their families.

That said where do you draw the line? There is a percentage of people in society who will always have the potential to be addicted whether that is gambling, drink, drugs, online gaming, porn, food, etc etc, however, 90-95% of people can indulge in all of these activities without any harm to themselves or others. What needs to be done is ensuring that there are appropriate guidelines on advertising content, is enough money and an inclination to provide education on potential problems and enough money extracted from the companies involved to provide an infrastructure to support those that do fall into addiction.

I know this might not be the most popular approach but ultimately adverting does not create addicts and should not be banned outright.
 
Pear-Drops said:
Or maybe people should have a good look at themselves, instead of gambling money they can't afford to lose.

Havnt they been educated through life ?
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Haven’t not havnt you uneducated chump.

People get into all sorts of problems, for all sorts of reasons. Compassion and empathy is the humane and intelligent way to respond to the difficulties people have, I doubt you’ll understand that though.
 
Muttley said:
Interesting article on the BBC about Michael Chopra and his problems with gambling.

He turns out in the FA Cup for West Allotment Celtic away to Penrith but the article shows how he got addicted to gambling, starting with slot machines and getting to the point where he was pursued by loan sharks. Recovered he now helps others. Famously Tony Adams set up "Sporting Chance" to help footballers with gambling problems. Yet we, and other teams, trot out onto the pitch as walking adverts for gambling companies and websites whilst in all likelihood one or tow of our players are starting down the slippery slope to addiction.

It's time we removed gambling advertising from the game.
Click to expand...
Don’t buy the shirt until they take it off.

Gambling is a terrible disease that blight’s the life of those addicted to it and that of there immediate family. Every other advert is for gambling followed by the slogan ‘when the fun stops.’
 
Of course gambling companies should not be able to advertise. How many kids watch football and get sucked in. Its either marketed as a family game or not. They shouldn't be able to have it both ways.

Don't buy the shirts until the club stop morally dubious advertising on them. If you wear a Boro shirt you are also advertising.

The flip side is, as an adult we are free to choose to gamble our not. Let's just not encourage it.

Look at the "when the fun stops" logo. The biggest font is used on the word fun. Gambling companies have, rather cleverly, used the warning as a subliminal message to have "fun".

I gamble on football as regular members will know. Its no fun at all. Its boring, reduces a game to stats and takes a fair bit of work to make a profit. For me it is an intellectual exercise, mostly for its own sake.
 
Glover_elbow said:
Couldnt agree more it disappointing to say the least, that we persist with gambling sponsors on our shirts
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I read somewhere that 65% of the teams in the Premier and Championship this season are sponsored by gambling or loan firms…bearing that in mind that these are probably the 2 of the most watched leagues in the world 😮
 
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