Gambling Blog

While they have already managed to cut off much of the supply line for the illegal gambling on Asian Football, Interpol are coming back for more with news that they are putting together a second swoop on racketeers in the area who are involved in illegal gambling as well as possible match fixing. 

While the first raid last June saw 423 arrests across China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam there are already plans well under way to mop up the remaining illegal gambling operations.  It was estimated that at approaching 300 illegal operations were closed down last year, operations which were rumoured to have handled bets to the tune of C$680 million! As well as closing down the operation the authorities were able to “reclaim” some C$680,000 in cash which has now been confiscated.

So is this just the tip of the iceberg or has the monster been slain?

The problem with gambling in areas such as the Far East is the fact that demand is so high that there will always be a market.  As soon as one illegal betting operation closes down another one opens because the demand is there.  The main reason for the recent raids was the fact that closely linked to illegal gambling has been the “art” of match fixing and corruption.  This is an area which even reached the UK some years ago with one particular football match being exposed as part of a corruption scandal after the lights were tampered with.

The fight against corruption in the gambling industry is an ongoing battle and one which neither side can really claim to have won. While the internet has brought much joy to many it has also given ruthless business people the chance to set-up illegal operations and market to a worldwide audience.  The authorities may have won the last few rounds, the fight still goes on.

Over the years the gambling industry has created a whole new dialect of its own, some exclusive to certain regions of the world and some more wider known.  Where some of these phrases come from is anyone’s guess, but see how many you recognise or relate to :-

“A fool and their money are soon parted”

Meaning: Unless you are sensible when gambling, it is very very easy to lose your money very quickly.

“In a bet there is a fool and a thief”

Meaning: For most bets there is one person who takes the outside chance, and the other has effectively stolen your money because it is so easy.

“The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and out it in your pocket”

Meaning: There is no easy way to make money at gambling, where there are risks associated with even the most obvious of bets.

“No wife can endure a gambling husband, unless he is a steady winner”

Meaning: Nobody likes a loser!

“A bookmaker’s pension”

Meaning: An outside bet that has very little chance of coming in – easy money for a bookmaker.

“Luck never gives, it only lends”

Meaning: Even if you are lucky, you will soon give it all back.

“At the gaming table there are no fathers and sons”

Meaning: When gambling you have no friends, it is everyone for themselves.

“There is no such thing as a dead cert”

Meaning: No winner is ever guaranteed, no matter what the odds are.

“No dog can go as fast as the money you bet on him”

Meaning: When you gamble on the dogs, your money can be gone in an instant.

“You never see a poor bookmaker”

Meaning: There is only one winner in the gambling game – the bookmaker!