Gambling in the UK

[JayRockers!]

UKavians...

I'm going back to England a couple times this year (April and Sept) and what I'm wondering is how to Gamble in England (funny how the tourist guides don't mention it at all).

When I was in London last year I noticed...

1) A William Hill, Ladbrokes or other betting shop on every corner (it seemed). Since I was on my honeymoon, I never really got the chance to scope them out. What's the drill here. Do they just offer OTB for horses and sportsbooks? Or are there casino-style games (or slots) there? Do you have to be a resident of the UK to bet in them? I ask this because...

2) The hotel I stayed in had a casino next door. I did go in one day to check it out and found out you had to be a "member" to play and it usually took 24hrs to get approved. Since I'm going to be doing alot of travelling in April, and basically be based in London in Sept, I was wondering how to expedite a membership (cost?) and if it would be worth it. I've recently become good at smashing all my friends in Hold 'Em tourney's and wouldn't mind stealing some Pound-age from your lot. Is it easy for an American to get into these places, and do most of your casino places (like that big one near Picadilly, is it a Hard Rock) accept Americans as members for a relatively low rate? And do they have poker? If anyone can give me the lowdown and maybe a link or two to their favorite places, that would be appreciated. Also, if you are a member at one place, do they have other casinos in Liverpool or Manchester for instance, or would I have to register at each one, even though I have a membership?

3) Matchday betting. The one match I went to last year (FA Vase at White Hart Lane) didn't have an open book, so I wasn't able to lay the lumber on Didcot Town (who am I kidding, I would have taken Sudbury because I had heard of them at least). How does this work? My friend who was there last year did some EPL betting on the Palace-Liverpool match and made some bets on Gerrard first to score and Liverpool winning. He lost. But we're wondering if you can bet on other matches at the grounds. Like betting on a NUFC match from London. And how to cash those tickets if they are for a later game (hitting the WH on the way home with a ticket bought at the match). Or if I bet on the next England coach being AS9, how would I cash that in when he gets the job in July :), or betting on World Cup matches?

4) Any stories on a big score that our resident Englishmen care to share?

Thx,

Jay!

[Toon³]

UKavians...

I'm going back to England a couple times this year (April and Sept) and what I'm wondering is how to Gamble in England (funny how the tourist guides don't mention it at all).

When I was in London last year I noticed...

1) A William Hill, Ladbrokes or other betting shop on every corner (it seemed). Since I was on my honeymoon, I never really got the chance to scope them out. What's the drill here. Do they just offer OTB for horses and sportsbooks? Or are there casino-style games (or slots) there? Do you have to be a resident of the UK to bet in them? I ask this because...

2) The hotel I stayed in had a casino next door. I did go in one day to check it out and found out you had to be a "member" to play and it usually took 24hrs to get approved. Since I'm going to be doing alot of travelling in April, and basically be based in London in Sept, I was wondering how to expedite a membership (cost?) and if it would be worth it. I've recently become good at smashing all my friends in Hold 'Em tourney's and wouldn't mind stealing some Pound-age from your lot. Is it easy for an American to get into these places, and do most of your casino places (like that big one near Picadilly, is it a Hard Rock) accept Americans as members for a relatively low rate? And do they have poker? If anyone can give me the lowdown and maybe a link or two to their favorite places, that would be appreciated. Also, if you are a member at one place, do they have other casinos in Liverpool or Manchester for instance, or would I have to register at each one, even though I have a membership?

3) Matchday betting. The one match I went to last year (FA Vase at White Hart Lane) didn't have an open book, so I wasn't able to lay the lumber on Didcot Town (who am I kidding, I would have taken Sudbury because I had heard of them at least). How does this work? My friend who was there last year did some EPL betting on the Palace-Liverpool match and made some bets on Gerrard first to score and Liverpool winning. He lost. But we're wondering if you can bet on other matches at the grounds. Like betting on a NUFC match from London. And how to cash those tickets if they are for a later game (hitting the WH on the way home with a ticket bought at the match). Or if I bet on the next England coach being AS9, how would I cash that in when he gets the job in July :), or betting on World Cup matches?

4) Any stories on a big score that our resident Englishmen care to share?

Thx,

Jay!

1) Bookies offer bets for bascially anything you want, horses, football, elvis still being alive and I'm pretty sure that there is some rule that says you have to be a UK citizen but it's not like they EVER check.

2) Casino laws have changed now so that there is no more 24hr waiting period, you still have to "join" the casino so they can come after you if you loose alot of money and manage to escape.

3) You can bet on what match you like on a match day up to about 5 minutes before kick off, all the betting shops (they have about 20 in St James' alone) are linked to each other so they know exactly whats going on. I'm not sure how you would go about claiming a win if you weren't in the country...probably best to ask one of the big companies before you place the bet.

4) Ask BillyIreland

[sarabella]

You don't have to be a UK citizen to bet. I did so in London with an American passport.

[Toon³]

You don't have to be a UK citizen to bet. I did so in London with an American passport.

Did you have to show your passport? or did they not care?

[sarabella]

Did you have to show your passport? or did they not care?
Yup, sure did. At one of those betting shops that are on every corner. I put a tenner on Everton to beat Arsenal (for a laugh, not because I actually thought it would happen).

[Toon³]

Yup, sure did. At one of those betting shops that are on every corner. I put a tenner on Everton to beat Arsenal (for a laugh, not because I actually thought it would happen).

Thats why you didn't win, you need to have faith.

[sarabella]

Thats why you didn't win, you need to have faith.
Nah. At the time, we were playing like true shit. All the faith in the world wouldn't have saved us. Now, however, we don't suck so much and I'm more optimistic.

[Toon³]

Nah. At the time, we were playing like true shit. All the faith in the world wouldn't have saved us. Now, however, we don't suck so much and I'm more optimistic.

still won't finish above us.:p

[sarabella]

still won't finish above us.:p
That thought alone is worthy of suicide.

However, we're improving and you're getting worse. Methinks you're way too optimistic for your own good.

[Toon³]

That thought alone is worthy of suicide.

However, we're improving and you're getting worse. Methinks you're way too optimistic for your own good.

Better to be optimistic and resigned to defeat.

[JayRockers!]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Toon² again.

Thx,

Jay!