What's the most unpopular benign opinion you hold?

[BulldozerD]

The chance of gambling being taxable in the near future is really small as the govt/hmrc have such bigger fish to fry.

However, if it did come about, I imagine the casinos/bookmakers etc would have regulations imposed on them to keep records of payouts/cashes etc so that there is some sort of third party record of a gamblers financial transactions.

There is a lot going on at HMRC to try and deal with the "black economy" (or tax evasion as they call it) as they obviously don't like cash transactions with no corresponding records. They have cracked down on businesses such as scrap dealers, so no reason they wouldn't monitor casinos etc if it was in their financial interest.

[rinswun]

I don't have a problem with athletes who dope

defo wanna hear more on this!

In my opinion, in a day and age when salary is intrinsically linked to performance, it makes sense for sportsman to push every edge they can get in order to maximise their results. If they are willing to take the consequences that come with getting caught then fair play to them. It's a short career for most and in order to set themselves up for a life post sport, I don't have an issue with those who want to push the boundaries (cheat).

It's admirable for those who don't and still reach the world class level but the guys who are dope by are still doing the same training and still pushing  their bodies to the max. It's basically the ultimate calculated gamble (and we all love gambling!) - risk career, reputation and health but reap the rewards if undetected. There are plenty undetected too.

Young, vulernable kids will be forced into doping by managers, trainers and agents in order for their financial gain.

Who knows what long term risks they will be taking with their health.

Yep. Youngsters' health being put at risk for others personal gain and public entertainment. Basically a sporting reality to contest with physical health replacing mental health.

Youth doping is happening already in a number of sports. I know anecdotally of a few youth rugby players on doping programs in order to get themselves a physique to compete for a first team spot from age 18. 'Natural' youngsters being left behind and not getting contracts. Cycling, basketball, tennis also have youth doping issues.

Is cheating in all forms, in all sports OK for financial gain? Or just drug cheating?

Actively encouraged for me. Aside from golf, obv.

Poker?

Not a sport. Also, haven't some people been prosecuted for cheating in poker - Ali Tekintamgac?

[StuartHopkin]

a live window cleaner in sheffield

'Just logging on to grind out my online window round!'

Was trying to make a joke of which site he would use but got stuck when i found out another name for window cleaner is 'Transparency Enhancement Facilitator'

[The Camel]

Once people reach a certain age they shouldn't be allowed to vote any more. I don't know what this age should be but somewhere around retirement age when policy doesn't affect you as much seems about right.

Amen.

[RED-DOG]

I don't have a problem with athletes who dope

defo wanna hear more on this!

In my opinion, in a day and age when salary is intrinsically linked to performance, it makes sense for sportsman to push every edge they can get in order to maximise their results. If they are willing to take the consequences that come with getting caught then fair play to them. It's a short career for most and in order to set themselves up for a life post sport, I don't have an issue with those who want to push the boundaries (cheat).

It's admirable for those who don't and still reach the world class level but the guys who are dope by are still doing the same training and still pushing  their bodies to the max. It's basically the ultimate calculated gamble (and we all love gambling!) - risk career, reputation and health but reap the rewards if undetected. There are plenty undetected too.

So doesn't robbery fall into the same category? i.e. risk but reap the rewards if undetected?

Robbery is illegal. You can dope legally - per criminal law. If it was a criminal act then, sure, I'd have a problem with it.

So you would have no problem with robbery if it wasn't illegal?

[kukushkin88]

I don't have a problem with athletes who dope

defo wanna hear more on this!

In my opinion, in a day and age when salary is intrinsically linked to performance, it makes sense for sportsman to push every edge they can get in order to maximise their results. If they are willing to take the consequences that come with getting caught then fair play to them. It's a short career for most and in order to set themselves up for a life post sport, I don't have an issue with those who want to push the boundaries (cheat).

It's admirable for those who don't and still reach the world class level but the guys who are dope by are still doing the same training and still pushing  their bodies to the max. It's basically the ultimate calculated gamble (and we all love gambling!) - risk career, reputation and health but reap the rewards if undetected. There are plenty undetected too.

So doesn't robbery fall into the same category? i.e. risk but reap the rewards if undetected?

Robbery is illegal. You can dope legally - per criminal law. If it was a criminal act then, sure, I'd have a problem with it.

So you would have no problem with robbery if it wasn't illegal?

I think it's fair to say it's just not a great shout. Cheating is fine as long as money is the primary driver and you should use the laws of a country to set your moral compass. Seems like a lot of fail in this one.

[SuuPRlim]

Yep, sorry rinswun, I gave it my best shot to be convinced but i'm afraid i'm not on board for the doping being fine.

[4KSuited]

Lol at the idea that the casino cardroom manager empties the rake box each morning and goes "That's one for the casino, and one for Mr Taxman. That's another for the casino, and another for Mr Taxman." And repeat...

that is what happens in reality.  Live poker pros don't pay tax though!  If the tax was 10% the gamees that are capped at £5 would be capped at £3.  Thats the reality.  the casino would make the same.  Therefore the players are being taxed £2 a pot.    The government gets the money this way because it is easier and more reliable and incurs less hassle collecting it.  Professional gamblers do pay tax they just don't pay income tax. 

Rake will classified as a Service Fee by the Casinos for taxation purposes. The 50% rate only applies to revenues over ~£6m from "Casino Games". Different tax rates apply to the machines, depending also on the maximum stake (higher the stake, higher the tax rate). So, along with Food & Drink, rake will be taxed at the standard 20% Corporate Tax rate - but only on profits.

The Rank Group publish their revenues by sector, but they don't (of course) publish net profit by sector. For the 6 months ending Dec 2016, here's the revenues for GB Casinos only:

Casino Games.  £126.2m
Gaming Machines.  44.5
Card Room Games.  7.9
Food, Drink/Other.  15.1

Total 193.7m

Card Room Games will include Comp Reg Fees, so you then need to make a judgement about what the running costs are. Dealers, Floor Managers, Card Room Manager, valet service - and an allocation of fixed overheads probably based on floor space. I struggle to see how any card room makes a significant profit. I'd hazard a guess that the £7.9m revenues don't even cover the book costs. But what some casinos recognise, is that a lot of players spend time before & after comps, and even during breaks, donking off their cash at the wheel and blackjack tables.

Perhaps the most surprising thing in Rank Group's accounts is that their expected net tax rate for the current year is 22-23%.

In reality I think professional (profitable) gamblers & poker players pay most of their tax via VAT. It's stretching it, IMO, to say that Rake is a tax.

[DropTheHammer]

Diving in football should not be punished.

Historically, our players haven't been trying to con refs too badly in the premier league, compared with many other countries' leagues. This leaves us at a massive disadvantage when it comes to European football and international tournaments. So the FA cracking down on this will be to the detriment of us, as fans.

[Graham C]

Diving in football should not be punished.

Historically, our players haven't been trying to con refs too badly in the premier league, compared with many other countries' leagues. This leaves us at a massive disadvantage when it comes to European football and international tournaments. So the FA cracking down on this will be to the detriment of us, as fans.

What about what it teaches kids?    Terrible to see (although it can be quite funny at times).

[4KSuited]

Diving in football should not be punished.

Historically, our players haven't been trying to con refs too badly in the premier league, compared with many other countries' leagues. This leaves us at a massive disadvantage when it comes to European football and international tournaments. So the FA cracking down on this will be to the detriment of us, as fans.

If our players aren't as good at it, and don't do it as frequently, then surely we're disadvantaged by not punishing it?

I kinda thought you may have forgotten to put one of these at the end of your post 😉

[The Camel]

Diving in football should not be punished.

Historically, our players haven't been trying to con refs too badly in the premier league, compared with many other countries' leagues. This leaves us at a massive disadvantage when it comes to European football and international tournaments. So the FA cracking down on this will be to the detriment of us, as fans.

If our players aren't as good at it, and don't do it as frequently, then surely we're disadvantaged by not punishing it?

I kinda thought you may have forgotten to put one of these at the end of your post 😉

Au contraire.

Diving should be punished by a straight red card.

Professional foul should be an automatic goal.

[The Camel]

Maybe cars should be banned from roads instead of cycles

https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-staggering-76292?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1501254014

[rinswun]

Yep, sorry rinswun, I gave it my best shot to be convinced but i'm afraid i'm not on board for the doping being fine.

Hey, it's unpopular opinion, purpose of the thread right?!

[vegaslover]

imo cannot see taxation for gamblers coming into force in a formal way anytime soon. This has been debated to death many times on here. Can remember plenty of people saying it was happening 10 years ago and still hasn't happened.

Gamblers pay plenty in 'tax' in various forms. Govt take their significant cut from bookies etc ( when betting tax as abolished for a flat rate on profits of bookies etc govt income from this quadrupled). Players pay through worse odds offered, worse terms, less bonuses etc, just look at how shit rakeback is now