Paul Merson: Football, Gambling and Me

[Predictorchamp]

I watched that programme with interest and am disgusted at the celebrities who are in the gambling ads, they are all wealthy and don’t really need the money so that should just say no. Pure greed !
I myself don’t feel sorry for merson , who incidentally has 3 marriages and 8 kids but showed no emotion for family images on his brain activity monitoring. Perhaps his focus should be on his family current and past. If he’s bored then go and see his kids.
I felt really sorry for the loved ones of gamblers who had committed suicide the stories told were tragic beyond words perhaps the stars who take part in betting advertising should take note of that also the stats on under 16s gambling were horrific.

 

[trueblue84]

I watched that programme with interest and am disgusted at the celebrities who are in the gambling ads, they are all wealthy and don’t really need the money so that should just say no. Pure greed !
I myself don’t feel sorry for merson , who incidentally has 3 marriages and 8 kids but showed no emotion for family images on his brain activity monitoring. Perhaps his focus should be on his family current and past. If he’s bored then go and see his kids.
I felt really sorry for the loved ones of gamblers who had committed suicide the stories told were tragic beyond words perhaps the stars who take part in betting advertising should take note of that also the stats on under 16s gambling were horrific.

I don't think his lack of reaction to family is because he doesn't care. That is just how his brain is reacting (or not) to the stimulus. If it was simply a case of he should react, he wouldn't be an addict.

 

[barneygumble]

I watched that programme with interest and am disgusted at the celebrities who are in the gambling ads, they are all wealthy and don’t really need the money so that should just say no. Pure greed !
I myself don’t feel sorry for merson , who incidentally has 3 marriages and 8 kids but showed no emotion for family images on his brain activity monitoring. Perhaps his focus should be on his family current and past. If he’s bored then go and see his kids.
I felt really sorry for the loved ones of gamblers who had committed suicide the stories told were tragic beyond words perhaps the stars who take part in betting advertising should take note of that also the stats on under 16s gambling were horrific.

I feel sorry for Merson, in every possible way.

If someone has an addictive personality, whether thats alcohol, betting, eating, or even positives like fitness, it's something your mind that you simply cannot stop. The thing is, when Merson was coming through, no one cared about what these people were doing, just that they were earning stupid money, nowadays there are support channels in, and consideration for player welfare.

It doesn't mean he's not stupid, but when you've got money burning a hole in your pocket and you've seemingly got everything, what else gives you that thrill?

I do agree though, that I feel for people who were left behind by suicide of a Gambling addict, and it ties into my point that there should be a fixed price you can spend on a bet regardless of how wealthy, and that includes winnings, because once you've had that big win, you chase it again to get that euphoria and lose it all.

Also agree with your point that celebrities have so much money, they shouldn't be glamourising gambling.

 

[Toffeeslam]

What I found astonishing is that gambling companies know an individual has a problem but still target them via promo’s and bonuses to keep them gambling.

They also have harvest huge amounts of data on the person so they know what state they are in but continue to target them as they see them as a cash cow.

That means it is targeting with the knowledge that the person needs help or needs to stop. This immoral behaviour needs to be addressed immediately but no one will as there is money to be made.

Meanwhile the addict spirals to bankruptcy, depression and eventually suicide

 

[Predictorchamp]

I feel sorry for Merson, in every possible way.

If someone has an addictive personality, whether thats alcohol, betting, eating, or even positives like fitness, it's something your mind that you simply cannot stop. The thing is, when Merson was coming through, no one cared about what these people were doing, just that they were earning stupid money, nowadays there are support channels in, and consideration for player welfare.

It doesn't mean he's not stupid, but when you've got money burning a hole in your pocket and you've seemingly got everything, what else gives you that thrill?

I do agree though, that I feel for people who were left behind by suicide of a Gambling addict, and it ties into my point that there should be a fixed price you can spend on a bet regardless of how wealthy, and that includes winnings, because once you've had that big win, you chase it again to get that euphoria and lose it all.

Also agree with your point that celebrities have so much money, they shouldn't be glamourising gambling.

If you simply can’t stop it then your doomed but people with addictive personalities can and do stop it, merson himself is currently in remission which is good Also he had the wealth and access to support that should have guided him to entering a programme just like the other footballer he played golf with did.
8 children is a huge responsibility he just came across to me as self centred and egotistical but that’s just my own opinion. All in all a sad state of affairs though

 

[barneygumble]

If you simply can’t stop it then your doomed but people with addictive personalities can and do stop it, merson himself is currently in remission which is good Also he had the wealth and access to support that should have guided him to entering a programme just like the other footballer he played golf with did.
8 children is a huge responsibility he just came across to me as self centred and egotistical but that’s just my own opinion. All in all a sad state of affairs though

Oh, I understand exactly what you're saying mate, but unless you've been there, or know someone who's been that way, it's hard to explain.

I've got an addictive personality, so I get what you say when you say people can stop. But I can't fathom what it's like for people who've got something so mainstream like Alcohol, Gambling and to a lesser extent drugs, it must be impossible. I can say anyone who's had a gambling addiction, Alcohol who's knocked it on the head it's fair play, when you turn your TV on, walk down the street you see it advertised.

I'm not a fan of Merson myself as a person, but completely understand why's it's difficult. It's horrible. That's my reasoning for being staunchly against promotion of things as toxic as alcohol and gambling.

I just watched the Podcast with Jose Baxter from the "News of Ex Players" on the main forum, and it's there, dead quick highlights that it's a huge issue at the end.

Worlds a bad place, just frustrates me.

 

[Caolam]

Oh, I understand exactly what you're saying mate, but unless you've been there, or know someone who's been that way, it's hard to explain.

I've got an addictive personality, so I get what you say when you say people can stop. But I can't fathom what it's like for people who've got something so mainstream like Alcohol, Gambling and to a lesser extent drugs, it must be impossible. I can say anyone who's had a gambling addiction, Alcohol who's knocked it on the head it's fair play, when you turn your TV on, walk down the street you see it advertised.

I'm not a fan of Merson myself as a person, but completely understand why's it's difficult. It's horrible. That's my reasoning for being staunchly against promotion of things as toxic as alcohol and gambling.

I just watched the Podcast with Jose Baxter from the "News of Ex Players" on the main forum, and it's there, dead quick highlights that it's a huge issue at the end.

Worlds a bad place, just frustrates me.

It is capitalism in its purest form, identity what someone wants and then sell it to him at the highest price you can extract. If you can then convince the government to let you self regulate then you are on the proverbial pig’s back.

 

[larbert toffee]

He seemed to be the only one of the old school studio pundits to survive the cull at Sky, maybe they felt sorry for him? Ironically he's the worst pundit, he seems to dislike us for some reason, he was a good player though.

 

[Toast]

What I found astonishing is that gambling companies know an individual has a problem but still target them via promo’s and bonuses to keep them gambling.

They also have harvest huge amounts of data on the person so they know what state they are in but continue to target them as they see them as a cash cow.

That means it is targeting with the knowledge that the person needs help or needs to stop. This immoral behaviour needs to be addressed immediately but no one will as there is money to be made.

Meanwhile the addict spirals to bankruptcy, depression and eventually suicide

You are spot on about the targeting of the companies.
When I used to use Betfair, if I didn’t use them for a week or two, guaranteed I’d have a free £50 bet land in my emails sharpish.
I was turning over a lot of money and with small ( ish ) profits for big stakes.
I had to close my account with them as it was getting proper tense and i was ill at the time with a separate issue.
But they are ruthless. Now owned by Paddy Power i believe ?

 

[Toast]

I don't think his lack of reaction to family is because he doesn't care. That is just how his brain is reacting (or not) to the stimulus. If it was simply a case of he should react, he wouldn't be an addict.

I believe that the lack of reaction is due to how his brain is now conditioned.

You can’t put £10k on a bet when you haven’t really got it and think about your kids not having food on the table.

You put the bet on, thinking of what the winnings will go towards. Usually it will be ‘I will take the money out and just use the profit on another bet to make more’

 

[ForeverBlue92]

You are spot on about the targeting of the companies.
When I used to use Betfair, if I didn’t use them for a week or two, guaranteed I’d have a free £50 bet land in my emails sharpish.
I was turning over a lot of money and with small ( ish ) profits for big stakes.
I had to close my account with them as it was getting proper tense and i was ill at the time with a separate issue.
But they are ruthless. Now owned by Paddy Power i believe ?

Jammy sod I get a fiver but need to stake 5x £5 bets to use it lol

 

[Toast]

Jammy sod I get a fiver but need to stake 5x £5 bets to use it lol

Sky are the worst. Just took these screenshots now. Looks good dosent it.
Then when you click your profit and loss and look closely it’s not at all !

 

[woomy]

You are spot on about the targeting of the companies.
When I used to use Betfair, if I didn’t use them for a week or two, guaranteed I’d have a free £50 bet land in my emails sharpish.
I was turning over a lot of money and with small ( ish ) profits for big stakes.
I had to close my account with them as it was getting proper tense and i was ill at the time with a separate issue.
But they are ruthless. Now owned by Paddy Power i believe ?

Were you a matched bettor( bonus carpet bagging/arbitrage)?

 

[Bluerover]

Feel for anyone addicted to gambling but the bookies do all they can realistically - you can limit deposits online, self exclude from shops etc.

Anything further and you basically limit the 95% with no problems from having a bet.

We don't put limits on how much ale you can buy on the weekend or how many bars you can visit because sadly some people are alcoholics / cant handle their drink and after the last 18 months im vastly against restricting peoples freedoms/right to choose within reason after lockdowns and restrictions on everything enjoyable in life.

It's an awful addiction though the main thing is seeking help with it and acknowledging you have a problem.

It is why I don't like our sponsors being on kids' shirts - Chang did not appear on them.

 

[YoboCopter]

It is why I don't like our sponsors being on kids' shirts - Chang did not appear on them.

If u give a kid a chang they wudnt drink again