WE’RE into our second week in lockdown in the UK and already life is beginning to suck.
I can’t really think of any other word for it while accepting we need to take the experts’ advice to beat COVID-19.
Some people have been hit harder than others – folk have lost jobs and businesses and more importantly people dear to them.
NHS and emergency service workers are grafting harder than ever and putting their lives at risk every minute of the day.
When you consider all that it seems almost flippant to talk about betting but for millions of people life without a punt is less exciting and many of us like the buzz without risking stakes we can’t afford to lose.
This is of course a betting website so we’ve felt the affects as much as anyone – we’ve hand to stand down good contributors and strive to find ways of keeping traffic from almost bottoming out.
Plenty of people have stood by us and are still contributing so I thank all of you for your continued support.
I was thinking about how many bets I’d place since football stopped on March 13 and it’s a handful.
So as a punter here are five things I’ve missed most.
1. Betting on and watching football
For many people watching a game is more exciting with a bet on and I agree with that. Midweek nights between 8-10pm there’s nothing better than settling down to watch a game with a coupon, checking live score or even just watching goals shows that can be even more thrilling than tuning in to one live encounter.
Worse than that are Saturdays where I’ve missed football more than anything. My team Clydebank usually play at 2pm so when they finish at 3.45 I can catch up with the live scores and follow the second-half action for any cash-out and cover opportunities.
2. Tips & tipping
I’ve hardly put up a tip in the past two weeks and it’s meant I’ve got many more hours to fill in. On a normal day I spend hours writing or researching tips for the site or the Daily Record. I have a routine and very little spare time but that works for me. I’m still working at the Record on sports production but especially on my days off I’ve got hours to kill and there’s nothing to do except take the dog a walk, get stuck into the garden and get some shopping for the family and self-isolated elderly mum.
It’s satisfying putting up a winning tip and I love to see what others are thinking – the likes of Greg, Scott, Kevin, SlipsTips, HullShaker, maccathered, Sean, Alex … I could go on and on. Two people can look at a game and come up with different opinions and it’s important to get all sides when putting on a tip.
3. Bookies
Most people don’t visit bookies anymore but I’m in most days. This isn’t always to have a bet as value is difficult to find although betting terminals can be worth a look, especially if you’re doing advance bets. For example on a Wednesday their Saturday prices are competitive.
I can also read a Racing Post rather than buy it every day, watch Sky or BT depending on the shop, scour coupons and prices, have a coffee and chat with like-minded customers. Dogs are also welcome so I can walk there with a purpose rather than just going round in circles.
4. Pubs & Golf
Okay, this isn’t essentially about tipping but there are two things I really miss – Friday and Sunday nights in the golf club, enjoying a couple of pints and watching live sport. I work back shift at the Record and average one Friday off in three and about one Sunday off in four.
Fridays are my busiest day with the deadline for my two Record pages on a Saturday so it’s great to sit down and watch the live footie, usually a Scottish Championship second half followed by an English Championship game. The beer’s usually better than the action but it’s a night out I miss sorely.
Sundays off for me were a casual game of golf, dinner with the family then back to the golf club to watch the last hour or so of the US golf with my neighbour and a couple of pints. I love watching golf – preferably live at a big tournament – as much as football and miss playing the game. I’ve set up a pitching area in the back garden but already my son, by hitting the ball the wrong way, has caused £200 worth of damage to the neighbour’s Merc.
5. Winning
The thing I maybe miss most is winning. At the end of the day it’s the No.1 reason for having a bet. Betting should be fun and stakes affordable but when you win you feel happier and you feel you’ve beaten the bookie. As I said already most people bet online so all you see is your balance changing but actually collecting cash from the bookies is more satisfying.
I lead a fairly simple life but football, golf and beer have been replaced by a wife and two big kids and I’m not sure it’s a fair swap.
Let’s hear five things you are missing about betting or just life in general.
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