Invincible wrote:
On a side note, do people know about the new promotion William Hill have been doing lately. Place a tenner on a horse (in a specific race), and if it loses, you get a free 5pound to play on the gaming machine. That's the jist of it I think anyway.
Now contrary to some peoples opinions, some people who go in the bookies are intelligent people, and as soon as the promotion was on the screen, someone shouted out "OHH GREAT, THERE TRYING TO GET YOU ADDICTED TO MACHINES NOW".
There are however people who are not so intelligent and they are the ones that are targeted and they are the ones that place the bets (on races they wouldn't usually target) and at prices they usually wouldn't, but do just further incentives (free bets) etc.
It is of my opinion that William Hill would like as many people addicted to the machines as possible, contrary to what they may say in the media as responsible gambling. Now I''m not suggesting bookmakers should make a pledge to be the most ethical company in Britain, but you could argue that they do have a sense of responsibility.
Anyone got any opinions on this? Or am I just passing time in my break with a rant into something that isn't there.
Just finished a study on the corporate social responsbility (CSR) of William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral. All 3 have to include CSR in their business practices as per the Gambling Act (2005). The CSR certainally not embedded in any of the 3 organizations but this is not a surprise since they only started bothering because they were forced into it. Out of the 3, I would say that Coral are the worst, and only undertake CSR for the benefits of their business activities. They make donations to random charities that have no links to their business whatsoever. One of the funniest things I read about was that Coral donated money to a primary school to fund their breakfast club - wonder if they threw in a couple of free bets with that?