Gambling’s ‘crack cocaine’ is devastating lives and not doing much for the economy either – The Conversation UK

Since 2008, UK gamblers have squandered £11.4 billion playing games such as poker and roulette on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). These sophisticated gaming machines, often referred to as the crack cocaine of gambling, are to be found in high street bookies and casinos across Britain, allowing people to bet up to £100 every 20 seconds.…

Gambling Premier League star blows his £15million fortune and has to move to smaller house – Mirror.co.uk

A Premier League footballer blew £15million fortune on gambling after becoming addicted to card games and casinos. The international has played at the top for almost his entire career, earning millions through lucrative contracts, endorsements and sponsorship. But he became addicted to gambling, especially card and casino games, early in his career, and is now…

Philippines joins China to fight illegal gambling – The Australian Financial Review

by Neil Jerome Morales and Farah Master Kong China and the Philippines have joined forces to tackle illegal gambling, part of Beijing’s broader campaign to curb illicit capital outflows and a pledge by Manila to weed out unscrupulous operators from the country’s booming gaming industry. The coordinated crackdown comes amid warming ties between Chinese President…

England footballer bet on his own TRANSFER in stark example of gambling epidemic gripping the game – Mirror.co.uk

Football stars are blowing ­millions of pounds on gambling after being wooed by bookies promising a host of freebies and glamour invites, an insider has claimed. And the whistleblower alleged bosses allowed them to carry on betting even after they had lost fortunes and were showing signs of addicition. Account managers offer players from across…

Joey Barton’s gambling problem is ‘tip of iceberg’ and player addictions are out of control, says therapist – Mirror.co.uk

An expert who treated banned footballer Joey Barton for gambling ­problems claims the star is the tip of the iceberg. Therapist Steve Pope alleged betting is out of control within football and that players at clubs all over Britain are addicted. He said rich stars at the higher levels of the game routinely wager tens…