The problem of gambling addiction is also quite interesting.
But most do not understand what it is about.
We hear aphorisms such as "St. Ursula will burn you if you play" and also aphorisms such as "the popular bourgeoisie must indulge in the namas of Marxism-Leninism".
If one is really devoted to Saint Ursula or Marxism-Leninism, the problem is solved, but what about those who are not devoted to Saint Ursula or for whatever reason prefer Pasok to the pure Marxist-Leninist mentality?
Are they doomed to fire outside?
Maybe, that would also be an opinion.
But if we do not accept the view, it means that we must look at the issue with more down to earth criteria.
In our country, the fight against gambling addiction has gone through many phases.
In the past, you were not allowed to go to the casino, PROPO was considered innocent and exceptionally the racetrack was allowed.
Then not only the casino was allowed but also several casinos were built in the country (Rio-Syros-Hayat-Loutraki ...).
The first phase was in the mid-90s with Tecteridis-Nicoletato and someone hanging from a tree after a defeat at semen-de-fer.
Deputy Prime Minister Vasso made the statements of self-prohibition, which, however, were a bit funny. On the one hand the statement was valid for only one casino and on the other hand you revoked it whenever you wanted.
In 2002 the EEC gave us a grant of 500,000 euros to study the issue. On this occasion, a panel was held on a television station in which I participated. After the show, I asked the producer for the video to go and show it to the authority that was supposedly formed by the Simitis government to fight compulsive gambling. My purpose was basically to invite them to do another panel.
When I went there they took the video and said to me "oh dear friend, welcome". But after I told them what it was about, the guys said to me "a 'for those 500,000 euros you say - well they became Pasok now - do not go crazy". Then I tell them "well, you will definitely publish a monthly newsletter as the work progresses" and they tell me "ho-ho-ho, we know what you know, go home". Indeed, this case became new and OPAP etc advertised on the diapason (the extra five bulletins will make us Switzerland, etc.).
In 2006-7, however, trials took place in the European Court on cross-border betting - betting sites. One of the judges said in his speech that "if a country wants to impose restrictions, it must do something about gambling addiction, otherwise what is the argument"?
The competent minister at that time was George Orfanos who immediately ordered that they take it somewhat seriously - otherwise the decisions would be to the detriment of the opaque monopoly.
So since then various organizations have started to develop, 090 phones for "immediate salvation" but also websites etc with tips - you see them now more or less on any betting page you enter. Casino betting of course continues, we also build new casinos & supercasinos but it is also assumed that the state protects us.
In recent years gambling addiction has also been used to justify extra gambling taxes.
If you pay them normally, the new "theory" says, then they will suffer from gambling addiction, while when you ... steal them, they will not suffer!
If one deals with the issue in an impartial manner one must separate the casino from the sports betting.
In the casino you lose with mathematical accuracy, since you can not beat the random numbers.
Sports betting is a game of chance but also a game of intelligence - like chess.
It does not mean that sports betting is worth something but there is this difference.
So why does the casino exist?
It exists because there is frightening ignorance. Almost no one has an idea and that is why what happens is done.
Is it justified for someone who knows that he loses with mathematical precision to play casino?
No matter how crazy he is and no matter how many psychological traumas he has - from a grenade e.g. who ate in the Korean War - is it justified?
It is not justified.
One study of the phenomenon that I have done - by chance rather - was the following:
In 1991, when Lotto started, one of the Filathlos newspaper came and found me, who had written a book about Lotto and asked me to help him make a companion cd.
My salary was settled but while we were discussing it I recognized that it was an old classmate of mine who we are very good friends at school. We probably recognized each other.
The agreement was changed and we arranged not to get a fee but percentages from the book + cd that would be sold.
Then for about three years we went out together and sold the book to various people, as well as to OPAP agencies and bookstores. He had a minivan and then we went to the beach for beers.
So in relation to our subject what did I notice?
None of the book's customers - Lotto players were Physics or Chemistry graduate.
We had architects-doctors-lawyers but no Physics or Chemistry.
Only one was a statistician but he was the one who bought from us in order to write his own books in the future, so he does not get caught.
So what I say proves.
But most do not understand what it is about.
We hear aphorisms such as "St. Ursula will burn you if you play" and also aphorisms such as "the popular bourgeoisie must indulge in the namas of Marxism-Leninism".
If one is really devoted to Saint Ursula or Marxism-Leninism, the problem is solved, but what about those who are not devoted to Saint Ursula or for whatever reason prefer Pasok to the pure Marxist-Leninist mentality?
Are they doomed to fire outside?
Maybe, that would also be an opinion.
But if we do not accept the view, it means that we must look at the issue with more down to earth criteria.
In our country, the fight against gambling addiction has gone through many phases.
In the past, you were not allowed to go to the casino, PROPO was considered innocent and exceptionally the racetrack was allowed.
Then not only the casino was allowed but also several casinos were built in the country (Rio-Syros-Hayat-Loutraki ...).
The first phase was in the mid-90s with Tecteridis-Nicoletato and someone hanging from a tree after a defeat at semen-de-fer.
Deputy Prime Minister Vasso made the statements of self-prohibition, which, however, were a bit funny. On the one hand the statement was valid for only one casino and on the other hand you revoked it whenever you wanted.
In 2002 the EEC gave us a grant of 500,000 euros to study the issue. On this occasion, a panel was held on a television station in which I participated. After the show, I asked the producer for the video to go and show it to the authority that was supposedly formed by the Simitis government to fight compulsive gambling. My purpose was basically to invite them to do another panel.
When I went there they took the video and said to me "oh dear friend, welcome". But after I told them what it was about, the guys said to me "a 'for those 500,000 euros you say - well they became Pasok now - do not go crazy". Then I tell them "well, you will definitely publish a monthly newsletter as the work progresses" and they tell me "ho-ho-ho, we know what you know, go home". Indeed, this case became new and OPAP etc advertised on the diapason (the extra five bulletins will make us Switzerland, etc.).
In 2006-7, however, trials took place in the European Court on cross-border betting - betting sites. One of the judges said in his speech that "if a country wants to impose restrictions, it must do something about gambling addiction, otherwise what is the argument"?
The competent minister at that time was George Orfanos who immediately ordered that they take it somewhat seriously - otherwise the decisions would be to the detriment of the opaque monopoly.
So since then various organizations have started to develop, 090 phones for "immediate salvation" but also websites etc with tips - you see them now more or less on any betting page you enter. Casino betting of course continues, we also build new casinos & supercasinos but it is also assumed that the state protects us.
In recent years gambling addiction has also been used to justify extra gambling taxes.
If you pay them normally, the new "theory" says, then they will suffer from gambling addiction, while when you ... steal them, they will not suffer!
If one deals with the issue in an impartial manner one must separate the casino from the sports betting.
In the casino you lose with mathematical accuracy, since you can not beat the random numbers.
Sports betting is a game of chance but also a game of intelligence - like chess.
It does not mean that sports betting is worth something but there is this difference.
So why does the casino exist?
It exists because there is frightening ignorance. Almost no one has an idea and that is why what happens is done.
Is it justified for someone who knows that he loses with mathematical precision to play casino?
No matter how crazy he is and no matter how many psychological traumas he has - from a grenade e.g. who ate in the Korean War - is it justified?
It is not justified.
One study of the phenomenon that I have done - by chance rather - was the following:
In 1991, when Lotto started, one of the Filathlos newspaper came and found me, who had written a book about Lotto and asked me to help him make a companion cd.
My salary was settled but while we were discussing it I recognized that it was an old classmate of mine who we are very good friends at school. We probably recognized each other.
The agreement was changed and we arranged not to get a fee but percentages from the book + cd that would be sold.
Then for about three years we went out together and sold the book to various people, as well as to OPAP agencies and bookstores. He had a minivan and then we went to the beach for beers.
So in relation to our subject what did I notice?
None of the book's customers - Lotto players were Physics or Chemistry graduate.
We had architects-doctors-lawyers but no Physics or Chemistry.
Only one was a statistician but he was the one who bought from us in order to write his own books in the future, so he does not get caught.
So what I say proves.
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