Did anyone catch this, I just watched ep 1&2 on iplayer, ep3 is on tonight at 9:00. It tells the story of a guy struggling with a gambling addiction. Its really quite good and steve coogan is not too bad at the serious acting stuff. What I found interesting is just how well it depicts the gambling bug and the idea of 'chasing it', the dead certs that you put too much money on and the sometimes dissapointment of a win when you realise you couldve got better odds! Worth a watch but does make you a bit paranoid that you are/are becoming an addict!

The funniest line in it was when his bird said "You've spent the disneyland money and we'll probably lose the house" to which he replied "but it was a dead cert".

Then you think, christ, there are people who actually bet these amounts.

yeah, theres no doubt it's bleak. It has a few funny moments but like the royle family and closing time (Craig Cash), its painting a very depressing picture of modern britain

There was thread in GN on this, It's quite interesting due to the subject matter but It only scratches the surface of addiction, for example he hasn't even been on the roulette machines which must account for the worst gambling problems these days.

Yeah, I mean I assumed its set about 10-15 years ago, just by the gars they're going about in and the phones they use. Theres no mention of online gambling or roulette machines but that said I think it still portrays the situation well.

Doesn't really matter, addiction is addiction.

Compulsive gamblers can be addicted to betting in bookies, online, casinos, scratchcards, poker, dogs, pretty much anything you can put money on. Roulette machines are a part of it nowadays, but not the worst part, just a part.

I think the programme's been excellent, and Coogan is playing the part brilliantly.

Don't think it's set in the past, agree Coogan has been good, think it's the first straight role I've seen him in. I reckon there's a few on here whose horror stories are worse that the characters, I certainly know a few people not on this whose are worse.

Just watched the first episode, really good programme. Felt sorry for the bloke, felt myself willing on Pursian Punch. He really has the attitude i need to win my money back, which most of us see in the bookies.

Its funny I felt the same, and that is what I was refering to with the "makes you paranoid..." because when i was watching it I wanted him to win because I know that feeling of guilt when you've had a big loss (albeit not to the same degree as coogan's character) but I considered the non-gambler would probably have wanted him to lose to teach him a lesson

The Persian Punch race was 1st May 2002, so it's this century.


Apart from spread betting (15.2% of users are problem gamblers), roulette machines are the worst part of gambling addiction (11.2% of users are problem gamblers). These percentages are vastly higher than any other medium of gambling, and considering that roulette machines are played by many more people than spread betting, in numerical terms the machines are the most common and harmful cause of problem gambling.
My percentages came from the Problem Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007, which I read a few weeeks ago.

Anyway, back on topic, only just picked up on this as I've been away for a few days, watched the first part of iplayer tonight and will watch the rest tomorrow night, I thought it was very well portrayed, although the lead was a bit 'jokey', although you saw disappointment you didn't really get the overwhelming emotion of blind terror.
The thing that got me most was the constant, incessant lying, about absolutely everything.

Survey or not, roulette machines are not the worst cause of compulsive gambling. A major part of it yes, but not THE major part, as your statistics bear out.

Trust me, I know what I'm talking about.

As do I.

The figures can be manipulated to show whatever you want, number of people affected, number of suicides, what constitutes compulsive gambling, amount of money involved, number of criminal acts, amount of reposessions, counselling referrals, and the list endlessly goes on.

In my opinion, using the method that I believe is the fairest measurement, the FOBTs are the biggest constituent part.

Going to see if this is still available on i player

if not hopefully Virgin TV will have it on TV choice on demand sounds like a good watch

High St Bookmakers wouldn't admit it publicly but they are fully aware that the Gaming Machines are the biggest contributor to Gambling Addiction.

Stands to reason as the machines are their biggest source of revenue.

Watched all 3 parts over the weekend there, pretty grim watching in parts, especially where he's raided the wee boys bank to get a bet on, lump in throat time there!!

Online gambling was mentioned in part 3, Coogans character mentions a lad at his GA meetings is addicted. In reality I think that and roulette machines DO have a greater bearing on problem gamblers, but overall I thought it covered the subject really well.