Surfing through the recession

THE world might be experiencing an economic meltdown and Ireland may be in an even worse state of flux thanks to imprudent speculation by bankers, builders and governments. Yet despite all this, the more conventional type of gambling remains as popular and fruitful as ever.

Fruitful for the bookmakers of course but there is more to having a bet than making money, believe it or not. That sounds insane but if it was just about winning, most of us wouldn’t be doing it. There is a rush, a bungee-like enjoyment, an endorphin-overload brought on by the combination of risk, the fear of losing and the actual anticipation of pocketing a few euro, that is a significant part of the experience.

This explains why punters are looking for more types of bets, and responding to easier ways to make those wagers. It also explains why the big firms continue to make massive money and why the likes of William Hill have decided to make a big play for a slice of the estimated €1 billion Irish online betting and gaming market.