Brian Rice claims over 80 per cent of dressing room players are gambling on football

[ItsInTheNet]

Hamilton boss Brian Rice has made a shock claim about gambling addictions in the Scottish game - saying up to 85 percent of those within a changing room are betting on football.

The Accies manager was slapped with a 10 game ban with five matches suspended after admitting to having a gambling problem and writing to the SFA to express his regret and admit guilt.

Rice was inundated with support after his admission but has now claimed the whopping number of those inside the game are gambling on their sport.

Some, he says, even use pseudonyms to hide their true identity and avoid punishment from the higher-ups.

In an interview with Lanarkshire Live Sport, Rice said: "I know for certain there is between 80-85 percent of players in dressing rooms gambling on football. Under various names, other people's names, everything.

Any way to do it and I think there's a very high percentage of young kids who have started gambling or have been caught in the grips of gambling but are scared to come forward because of the consequences.

"These kids need help, they're crying out for help. They want to stop but are afraid to stop in case they get banned or their name is on the front of the papers. I put my career on the line here, everything on the line here to do this. I hope it gives them the strength and courage to come forward and ask for this help."

 

[Gary Mitchell]

That'll put the cat amongst the pigeons.

 

[Beefy111]

It certainly would not surprise me at all. Brian Rice is a decent guy who has brave in confronting his demons in public. Time for the Authorities to look at betting companies as sponsors as it reeks of hypocrisy in terms of dishing out fines to players/managers who gamble and/or have an addiction.

 

[theperoniloyal]

I’d imagine if I was a player I’d definitely be betting on maself ti get a goal.

 

[GeckoBear29]

I’m not saying which team so no comments asking me to please but I used to work with a lass who’s boyfriend plays in an Prem team who used to gamble on accounts set up in her name

 

[buddhapotn]

No surprise at all

 

[ICA_86]

I’m not saying which team so no comments asking me to please but I used to work with a lass who’s boyfriend plays in an Prem team who used to gamble on accounts set up in her name

It’s rife.

 

[rossgers]

I'd imagine the SFA know full well that Thumbheid has gambled on football and have turned a blind eye.

 

[ItsInTheNet]

That'll put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Indeed! Its an incredibly high percentage if accurate.

 

[Russ H]

I think everyone and his dug knows it goes on!

 

[S English]

It certainly would not surprise me at all. Brian Rice is a decent guy who has brave in confronting his demons in public. Time for the Authorities to look at betting companies as sponsors as it reeks of hypocrisy in terms of dishing out fines to players/managers who gamble and/or have an addiction.

Hypocrisy ? What a lot of nonsense, betting companies sponsor competitions so that means players have to bet ?
Players and Managers cannot bet on football, that's as simple as it gets yet they do, how does the sponsor make a difference ?
Any of them claiming this is in anyway related to their actions should take some responsibility for their own actions and not just look to make an excuse and be a victim

 

[KevoMac83]

Absolute carnage. Must be especially busy in the lower leagues I'd imagine

 

[Stu69]

If it’s 80% that’s most of his dressing room. Maybe hill,s delivers coupons.

 

[Randomscotsman]

You have to wonder why a certain player on a shoogly peg with a well publicised gambling addiction keeps getting booked, youd think he would be on his best behaviour

 

[Leif Erikson]

They want to stop but are afraid to stop in case they get banned or their name is on the front of the papers.

Am I missing something with this? If they stop how will they end up banned or in the paper?

 

[BSPECIAL]

You have to wonder why a certain player on a shoogly peg with a well publicised gambling addiction keeps getting booked, youd think he would be on his best behaviour

Untouchable team and club don't need to give a toss about any rules,whether real or made up rules.

 

[Community chest]

Not a surprise at all.

 

[Whitburnbear]

I think he should keep his mouth shut about others and concentrate on his own problem.

Reeks of "but they all do it as well"

 

[jorg_the_hammer]

What are the odds on that?

 

[jorg_the_hammer]

They want to stop but are afraid to stop in case they get banned or their name is on the front of the papers.

Am I missing something with this? If they stop how will they end up banned or in the paper?

Maybe the bookies will grass them up if they stop?

 

[steveoRfc]

There was program on bbc the other night can you beat the bookies the guy only made money on tennis court counting i think it was called he lost over 3k betting on football on three matches

 

[BR84]

They want to stop but are afraid to stop in case they get banned or their name is on the front of the papers.

Am I missing something with this? If they stop how will they end up banned or in the paper?

Think he's impying that they are actually 'addicts' but they cant admit it (councelling, gamblers anonymous etc) as then they would have to admit that they do it, although if the numbers as high as he seems to think what would happen if Everyone just admitted it, hardly going to ban the whole league and have to abandon all the games

 

[90minsofmadness]

They want to stop but are afraid to stop in case they get banned or their name is on the front of the papers.

Am I missing something with this? If they stop how will they end up banned or in the paper?

They want professional help. I.E. they are addicts and cannot control it but cannot ask for help because then the whole world will find out.

 

[LiviLoyal]

I think he should keep his mouth shut about others and concentrate on his own problem.

Reeks of "but they all do it as well"

What a thoroughly shite statement. He’s doing something about his own problem and is simply talking here about a wider problem in football changing rooms. There’s likely a decent percentage of those gambling who he alludes to, who could do with some serious help. If his comments are enough to give them the strength to do so, then good on them and him.

 

[bullen an la]

i think 85% of referees bet on football, especially rangers games.

 

[Thornliebank_Bear]

Seems high not sure how he would know about other clubs but least we know none of the refs or their bosses at the sfa are gambling on the cards.

 

[Thommo2006]

Highly charged young men with disposable cash and lots of downtime on their hands of course they are gambling.

I have no issue with it so long as they are not betting on games they can influence.

I mean what's the harm in a hamilton player betting on real madrid barca or liverpool?

 

[First Touch In Europe]

I’m not saying which team so no comments asking me to please but I used to work with a lass who’s boyfriend plays in an Prem team who used to gamble on accounts set up in her name

So easy to do and I don't blame players for doing this. The demands on them are too high. Nothing can, or should, be done about a player's wife having an online account.

 

[1993ranger]

Decent guy- speaks the truth

 

[Wazza]

I’m not saying which team so no comments asking me to please but I used to work with a lass who’s boyfriend plays in an Prem team who used to gamble on accounts set up in her name

Common place, Jamie Redknapp was a major kickback agent back in the day after he retired.

 

[Mondraker]

Unless you're betting against you're own team I dont have an issue with it.

 

[WildPegasusII]

Not surprised with this.

i used to see a Morton player in the bookies every weekend when it just opened, wouldn’t be surprised if they put an accumulater on

 

[GavCo]

Would imagine 100% of Scottish referees are betting on games as well give their decisions.

 

[Shawlands_Bluenose]

It’ll be rife especially at lower league and semi pro clubs.

Iv been in dressing rooms at junior teams where the Christmas night out fund has been put on us to win if we felt the bookies were offering generous enough odds on us

 

[Kyle89]

I'd agree with him.

 

[giogaddi]

The majority gamble ffs. How naive are some people?

 

[zig]

The problem as I see it is not that players will place bets with bookies on their own team's result or even the result of other games which they are not involved in.
The problem lies more with players placing wagers with other team members on events within the game, such as which member of their team will receive a yellow card.
However, while this is not betting on the actual result of the game, and the players may consider it acceptable to do so, it may result in behaviour that effects the result of the game.

 

[sirstevefleming]

Mental health provision in scottish football is non existent despite what the SFA tell you and clubs don’t invest in it.

 

[The McLeod]

I'd be surprised if as low as 80%.

 

[Stephen]

I bet it's higher than that!

 

[GSTQ]

Bet a lot of hedging win bonuses goes on too. Especially at the lower level where your income can really jump around.

ie. you bet on your team to lose or draw. If you win you get your win bonus minus stake. If you lose or draw you get your winnings (but obvs not your win bonus.) You do your sums right you’ll know exactly what you get at 5pm on Saturday.

 

[last minute signing]

I knew it’d be a high figure, however not quite to that extent. Fair play to him for speaking out, he’s doing it in a context as to help others, rather than justifying his own issues. Despite his problems he comes across very very well.

What is the way to stop this epidemic in society overall? Max bet limits as per FOBT’s? There’s a lot of non problem gamblers out there, however there a significant amount of people with major issues that need substantial help.

 

[Garrioch Bear]

When Ian Black was getting done.
McCoist passed a notebook round
the dressing room and it was filled with names. He never made them
public.

 

[ewansurf]

Probably about right, must be pretty hard to get caught

 

[TNF985]

The SFA/SPFL have a cheek to point fingers and dish out bans given the money they take from sponsorship for the 3 major competitions in Scotland

 

[Ally Shuffle]

Think a six month relax of the rules would help, players can use that time to get help if needed with no threat of a ban. Caught after that then heavier punishments?

 

[temperance]

I'd imagine the SFA know full well that Thumbheid has gambled on football and have turned a blind eye.

Aye but he’s got a mental illness

 

[ChristchurchBear]

Hypocrisy ? What a lot of nonsense, betting companies sponsor competitions so that means players have to bet ?
Players and Managers cannot bet on football, that's as simple as it gets yet they do, how does the sponsor make a difference ?
Any of them claiming this is in anyway related to their actions should take some responsibility for their own actions and not just look to make an excuse and be a victim

I totally disagree! U simply cannot watch a game of football without a betting advert and if u have a problem then having it advertised in your face does. Not help IMO

 

[Souness]

When Ian Black was getting done.
McCoist passed a notebook round
the dressing room and it was filled with names. He never made them
public.

McCoist never read it.

 

[dt17]

When I was playing junior a few guys in my team were ex pros and they said at the tail end of every season the players in each team would get together and basically fix the game. They'd all stick a fair wedge on it and that'd cover their summer holidays. That was a few different teams they confirmed it happened at.