Is there anyone who can be happy that this evil and corrupt government has granted a licence to build a so-called ‘supercasino’ in the heart of Manchester? It’s a monument to greed and easy money that will cover five thousand square metres of godlessness. Did our politicians, who seem at pains to curtail just about any other activity upon which we may spend our time and money, really need to place this temple to temptation in one of our fairest Northern cities, and if so, why?
I’d like to know, because I’d put a tenner on it being in Blackpool.
Song playing as this was published: Oscar Peterson - “Dreamsville”
Yes Sky news was heavily invested on it being in Blackpool too.
Indeed. They were interviewing a Methodist minister in Salford who looked like he’d just lost a minimum of ten grand….
Here’s another lovely little story about principles and gambling in Europe. The Swiss were opposed to casinos for a long time (They were also opposed to women voting until 1972, membership in the UN and many other things, but that’s another story.). Until they realised how much money Swiss citizens schlepped across the border and gambled it away in the “big canton” (i.e. Germany). You see, we Germans forgot about our principles and ethical guidelines long ago. Now the lovely city of Basel has a new casino, a strange-looking cube close to the airport in an area with few pedestrians.
Ah, if only you had read the runes - it could not be the Dome politically, it could not be Blackpool because all the other casinos and pleasure places didn’t want it, and Manchester, outside London, has the largest number of people in it’s catchment area. eg Manchester airport carries more people on holiday than Gatwick.
JCS: It’s interesting; Although I apparently need help to prevent me from smoking on private property (the bars of the legislators exempted, obviously), gambling isn’t actually a social problem - it’s something to be actively encouraged for the sake of ‘local regeneration’.
TM: I know, I know - Now I can see how I *should* have have gambled. With hindsight. Thank goodness I know of a “sure thing” in the 10:30 at Haydock tomorrow, where I’ll make back my losses. Probably. And if not, there’s always the slot machines….
Gambling is the devils work!…..in Germany betting shops are springing up all over the place, and DSF is in love with poker. What’s going on?
Haddock: Gambling is not “the devil’s work” - it’s the devil’s easy money, on the side, no questions asked.
I was watching DSF the other day (natural enough - I was in an Italian “restaurant” in London, what else would be on their TV?), Werder were beating Hannover 3-0 (but not at all convincingly) and saw all the “coming up next: World Series Poker” adverts. I also have to admit that I was given a very, very beautiful set of poker chips at Christmas and spent New Year’s Eve playing Texas Hold ‘Em.
For cash.
Well, using the chips instead of cash.
One could buy chips for money and give the chips any nominal value.
I’d just watched Casino Royale and there was something very, very pleasing about whacking down a huge stack of chips on the table and saying “I’ll see your hundred thousand and raise you a million!”
Far more satisfying than actually saying “I’ll see your tenth of a penny and raise you a penny.” Yes, yes, I know it’s potentially the start of the slippery slope to ruin, but “I HAVE A SYSTEM!” And I won 17.2p over the course of eight hours.
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Being serious: every time I go running, I pass a farmhouse which a relative / forebear lost in a game of chance (quite a few years ago, but it’s family lore now). Gambling, excessively and uncontrolled, is, ‘evil’ is the wrong word, so let’s just say ‘not a good thing’. I’m, ahem, betting that it’s this knowledge (and a little education in statistics) that makes me one of the dullest poker players in the entire world…..
A friend wondered tonight whether the regeneration of the local economy would start once the local populace started mugging winning punters leaving the permises.
I couldn’t comment.
Muggings in Manchester, Mr. Poons? I couldn’t imagine it.
DSF showing poker? That would explain all those people wanting books on it from me since about 10 days ago then. Doesn’t explain why the same people didn’t used to request books on 1970s soft porn, that making up most of DSF’s schedule. Perhaps they use amazon?
Daggi: Well, I can’t confirm it (although they were advertising it as coming ‘gleich’) as I had to leave the pizza place to go to a snazzy party for pro-global-capitalism demonstrators. God, it was awful; If we’re going to exploit the poor, I don’t expect to end up paying £7 for a shot of gin. Tonic was, thankfully, free. So I had lots of it.
Just out of interest, have you got “The Shake And Vac Woman Does Dallas”? I’ll swap it for a copy of “A Winner’s Guide to Baccarat”