Tracy Crouch resigns as Sports Minister

[nomadking]

Just because 97% of any money is returned to players doesn't mean that it is you that it will be returned to.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by nomadking

Just because 97% of any money is returned to players doesn't mean that it is you that it will be returned to.

If you say so.

[heero_yuy]

It's a simple rule: The house always wins.

How else do people think they stay in business?

[denphone]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

It's a simple rule: The house always wins.

How else do people think they stay in business?

Indeed have you ever seen a poor bookmaker.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It doesn't matter for how long this has been discussed. My point is, until the legislation passes through Parliament, businesses can't be expected to prepare for it. They might forgo investment until the direction is clear, but they are not going to respond with costly changes to their businesses until there is certainty.

Well I suspect they have the funds readily available to reorganise said machines. Indeed if they haven't any contingency plans then they would appear to be a poorly run industry.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

It's a simple rule: The house always wins.

How else do people think they stay in business?

I sometimes go to a casino with friends, but never bet. I say to them that it's obvious that over time the house will always come out on top, or the business would not exist.

---------- Post added at 21:55 ---------- Previous post was at 21:50 ----------

Originally Posted by pip08456

That's exactly what my brother thought and believed when he had a gaming machine (bandits) addiction.

I had to watch him put a full months pay into one of them because he just would not listen and was convinced he was winning until he had nothing left.

Over what period of time must his 97% be paid out? 1 week? 1 month? 1 Year?

Is the machine allowed to be changed for any reason before that percentage payout has been achieved and if it is repaired (if necessary) and placed in another location does it still have to remember what it has taken in before and give a big win in the new location?

Ever thought why machines (especially in pubs) are changed on a frequent basis?

The official explanation from the companies that run them is that it's because players get bored of the same machine after a time and takings drop, meaning less money for themselves & the venue that they are placed in (most places don't own the machines themselves, they allow companies to put them into places in return for a profit sharing arrangement).

You raise some very interesting points, I might put them to our machine supplier and see what they say.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Well I suspect they have the funds readily available to reorganise said machines. Indeed if they haven't any contingency plans then they would appear to be a poorly run industry.

New legislation requiring industry changes or other implementation periods that may be necessary always allows for time to adapt. Some legislation is so complex it has to be introduced in stages and over a number of years.

[tweetiepooh]

Remote access - some pubs had a switch/dial behind the bar to adjust payout (or the facility could be available)

The house always wins - on pure chance the odds are below the actual chance of winning and games with "skill" where you can win, if you do win you get asked to stop. On a machine with say 97% payout even if totally even at say £1 a bet. You put in £100 and play away - the machine likely doesn't actually payout cash it apply winnings to your credit. After 100 goes you now have 97 goes and so on. Since you can lose not every go will return your credit, you may have won 97 credits on the 100th go. That's still 97% payout. That means you 97 credits won't get you to the next 100th go with it's 97 payout, you need to add 3 more so it's cost you £103 to have 97 more goes and so on. The things are more complex than that and will take from you more for less. And are designed to keep making you add another £3. If they are taking £100 a go, do you have enough to hit the next payout(s) to cover losses?

These machines make lots if money - at one employer with a bar it was only the fruit machine that made money, that was used to keep bar prices down. Even the few that did play the machine lost enough to fund the bar.

As already said whatever the payout it's not always going to be you that gets the payout. And the duration of the best is so quick you can easily put your profits back in in short order.

[Carth]

Does anyone here still play the National Lottery since they changed the format (extra numbers) a few years ago, and turned it into a massive 1 in 45 million chance of hitting the 6 number jackpot?

Their blurb about the changes stated punters get more chances of winning due to increased prizes . . which if I remember was simply a 'free ticket' to play again

My memory isn't great, but I think that started out as once a week, which then increased to twice a week, followed closely by a plethora of instant win scratch cards and extra 'add on' games.

Originally Posted by Carth

Does anyone here still play the National Lottery

Btw, what is an FOBT

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Paul M

Btw, what is an FOBT

Fixed Odds Betting Terminal.

---------- Post added at 19:37 ---------- Previous post was at 19:36 ----------

Originally Posted by denphone

Fixed Odds Betting Terminal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed_...tting_terminal

[denphone]

Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson join FOBT rebellion.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...fobt-rebellion

Theresa May’s government faces becoming the first to suffer a defeat on its own budget bill in 40 years after Tory MPs including Jacob Rees-Mogg, Boris Johnson and David Davis joined a rebellion over fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

More than 70 MPs from both sides of the House of Commons have signed two amendments that, if passed, would effectively force the government to bring forward the timing of the planned cut in FOBT maximum stakes to April 2019.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by denphone

Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson join FOBT rebellion.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...fobt-rebellion

Let's face it, this has nothing to do with Mogg, Johnson and Davis having strong views on fixed odds betting....

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Mr K

Let's face it, this has nothing to do with Mogg, Johnson and Davis having strong views on fixed odds betting....

So why do you think they rebelled?

Oh, sorry, it was a joke.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

So why do you think they rebelled?

Have a guess OB? Possibly they don't agree with your view that bookmakers need more time/money, or they might just have an ulterior motive...