The Rise of Gambling and the Decline of Violence in Sports Viewing Centres

[DragonF]

I had a flashback of when my friend was stabbed in a viewing centre by a rival fan and then I wondered if people still fight in viewing centres. I couldn’t get any recent cases of violence in viewing centres and in my thinking, one of the reasons is the rise of gambling activities. The last time I witnessed fighting in a sports viewing centre was April 24th 2012 in a Champions League match between Barcelona and Chelsea. That game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Since the rise of gambling activities, it has become difficult for people to fight in sports viewing centres. The fight is not between rival fans but a cold war between gamblers and the Bookies. Every gambler wants to win and their major concern is the outcome of the game so it is between them and their tickets. Yesterday, a Chelsea fan double-chanced Brentford City and he won. Fans who are gamblers are more concerned with making money and not ready to fight for the team they support and this drop in patriotism has prevented rival fans from fighting during matches.

Is this the same in your country? Can this be one of the silent goods of gambling activity?

[Zed0X]

Voted No. Unless these fans watch games and bets online, I just couldn't find a positive correlation between gambling and violence. If anything, There's a higher likelihood that the rise of gambling activities would also increase the cases of violence. Fans are already emotional when their favorite team is losing, they could be even more emotional at the thought of losing their bet.

The decrease in violence could be due to improved security and other reasons.

[target]

Online gambling most probably made those violent gamblers stay at home just wagering using their phones.  For once the online casinos had helped something to reduce crimes.

But if they return to those veiwing decks, no doubt they just stab someone cheering the teams they don't like.

[Kemarit]

I had a flashback of when my friend was stabbed in a viewing centre by a rival fan and then I wondered if people still fight in viewing centres. I couldn’t get any recent cases of violence in viewing centres and in my thinking, one of the reasons is the rise of gambling activities. The last time I witnessed fighting in a sports viewing centre was April 24th 2012 in a Champions League match between Barcelona and Chelsea. That game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Since the rise of gambling activities, it has become difficult for people to fight in sports viewing centres. The fight is not between rival fans but a cold war between gamblers and the Bookies. Every gambler wants to win and their major concern is the outcome of the game so it is between them and their tickets. Yesterday, a Chelsea fan double-chanced Brentford City and he won. Fans who are gamblers are more concerned with making money and not ready to fight for the team they support and this drop in patriotism has prevented rival fans from fighting during matches.

Is this the same in your country? Can this be one of the silent goods of gambling activity?

I think from time to time we are going to see this kind of violence, and this is not a simply fan but "fanatics" itself. And upon searching,

On Monday night, all attention turned away from the Champions League's return as news broke that a Newcastle fan had been stabbed in Milan.

Eddie McKay, 58, was walking back to his hotel with his son and a friend shortly after midnight on Tuesday when around eight attackers pounced from behind in the Navigli district. He was stabbed twice in the arm and once in the lower back.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12538087/Newcastle-fan-stabbing-latest-dreadful-history-violence-English-Italian-fans-Liverpool-Leeds-fans-victims-well.html

I'm not sure if there will be war between fans and bookies. I mean if the gambler won then there's nothing the bookies can do but to pay isn't it? Although a fly by night bookies might not get the full winnings as they are going to cap it from what I experience before. But in any case this bookies are going to take the bet and they are being run individuals that have deep pockets so for sure they be welcoming of all the bets and chances are bettors are going to lose in the end.

[DragonF]

Voted No. Unless these fans watch games and bets online, I just couldn't find a positive correlation between gambling and violence. If anything, There's a higher likelihood that the rise of gambling activities would also increase the cases of violence. Fans are already emotional when their favorite team is losing, they could be even more emotional at the thought of losing their bet.

The decrease in violence could be due to improved security and other reasons.

The environment I grew up in is such that when there are big games people must fight. Every argument must result in exchanging blows but today people don`t fight. I don’t think it is due to increased security because security has always been there yet people fought. I took a survey and asked some sports fans and most of them said “I don’t need to fight for teams that don’t know I exist”. Others said, “I just want my ticket to play and that’s my only business”. None of the people I asked made mention of the nature of security and since I am a native of that community I know that the Security personnel can only intervene when the deal has been done.

[bitbit97]

Voted no. I see no connection in placing a bet, and someone doing harm to other person. If a person has lost a bet and is so much disappointed because of that, then he should turn his actions to bookmaker or the team/person he placed bet on, or on team/persons opponent. But doing harm to a random person, because your bet lost. That is ridiculous and unreal. Those fans who fight against other fans, before/during/after the event are just crazy people, they have little in common with gambling.

[Stompix]

I took a survey and asked some sports fans and most of them said “I don’t need to fight for teams that don’t know I exist”. Others said, “I just want my ticket to play and that’s my only business”.

Next time you do a survey don't forget to ask those:
-Would you rob a bank? Would you rape somebody? Would you stab someone? /s
Seriously what kind of answers did you expect, that somebody would confess to you he would beat the crap out of everybody in the room?

Tony Johnson died after suffering a head injury in the disturbance by a bar on Blackpool promenade after a Blackpool vs Burnley match in March last year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-68234444

Shocking moment Red Star hooligans storm Man City bar and beat supporters with sticks ahead of Champions League clash

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/25042588/red-star-hooligans-attack-man-city-champions-league-football/

Bouncer jailed over Dunstable Town fan punch death

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-64969332

Sheffield United hooligan Liam Jones jailed for fatal pub attack
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-67660099

More?

[Zed0X]

Voted No. Unless these fans watch games and bets online, I just couldn't find a positive correlation between gambling and violence. If anything, There's a higher likelihood that the rise of gambling activities would also increase the cases of violence. Fans are already emotional when their favorite team is losing, they could be even more emotional at the thought of losing their bet.

The decrease in violence could be due to improved security and other reasons.

The environment I grew up in is such that when there are big games people must fight. Every argument must result in exchanging blows but today people don`t fight. I don’t think it is due to increased security because security has always been there yet people fought. I took a survey and asked some sports fans and most of them said “I don’t need to fight for teams that don’t know I exist”. Others said, “I just want my ticket to play and that’s my only business”. None of the people I asked made mention of the nature of security and since I am a native of that community I know that the Security personnel can only intervene when the deal has been done.

I guess those who said they just want their ticket are are more of a gambler than a true fan. It's the passionate for their teams that usually end up fighting the fans of another team.

The people who said they're not going to fight for teams that do not know them probably have a change in mindset. It's possible that they used to fight but since they understand that it usually doesn't end well, they decided to stop. That still has nothing to do with gambling.

[Emmanuel1]

Voted No. Unless these fans watch games and bets online, I just couldn't find a positive correlation between gambling and violence. If anything, There's a higher likelihood that the rise of gambling activities would also increase the cases of violence. Fans are already emotional when their favorite team is losing, they could be even more emotional at the thought of losing their bet

I don't really agree with your opinion,because I have seen fans around my environment in the viewing center which makes statement like I don't care what they  are playing, all I know is that let my copy play.
For example: that's why most gamblers can bet against their club just because,they want their bet to play. Based on my opinion gambling has reduced fight among fan based on their clubs in the viewing center.

[Crwth]

Since it is easier now than ever, the interaction between rival factions have lessened for sure and those gambling violence less. It’s better this way IMO so that people wouldn’t be violent IRL. But this now increase the case of online bullying and trolling.

[0t3p0t]

Since it is easier now than ever, the interaction between rival factions have lessened for sure and those gambling violence less. It’s better this way IMO so that people wouldn’t be violent IRL. But this now increase the case of online bullying and trolling.

Exactly! Online gambling really is one factor affecting the decline of violence in sports viewing centers no doubt about that but it opens up new form of hostilities and abuses online though just an isolated case here in my place because most gamblers here still prefer the traditional offline way of gambling which is literally has high cases of violence compared to online gambling. But If we are talking about nationwide online gambling yeah there are few cases of it when I was in an online casino few years back.

[Tribalchief]

I think there isn't a relationship between gambling and violence. I agree that people tend to find offense from others' statements while watching football in public spaces, but that has been reduced over the years. This reduction is due to how technology has evolved, providing free access for everyone to watch every sport from the comfort of their homes. It has also decreased crowds in public gatherings like the viewing center you mentioned.

However, let's not forget that cases of violence are still recorded to this day. About two weeks ago, two Brighton fans were stabbed in Italy while Brighton traveled for their Europa League encounter. So, I believe that violence still exists but has been limited to a certain level.

[Rubel007]

With the massive rise of the gambling industry, such images in galleries are massively declining. This is definitely a positive aspect. It is a matter of concern if someone loses their life somewhere because of the game. However, the image that was seen earlier that could not bear the loss of the favourite team, there were various chaotic atmosphere created by the fans. But now there has been a lot of improvement from that situation. Often when I see visitors to the gallery, some are engrossed in the game and some are excited. As they worry about the outcome and the winning and losing of their bets, there is less conflict. However, in some places, some unpleasant incidents still happen occasionally, but it is definitely less.

[DragonF]

With the massive rise of the gambling industry, such images in galleries are massively declining. This is definitely a positive aspect. It is a matter of concern if someone loses their life somewhere because of the game. However, the image that was seen earlier that could not bear the loss of the favourite team, there were various chaotic atmosphere created by the fans. But now there has been a lot of improvement from that situation. Often when I see visitors to the gallery, some are engrossed in the game and some are excited. As they worry about the outcome and the winning and losing of their bets, there is less conflict. However, in some places, some unpleasant incidents still happen occasionally, but it is definitely less.

Most people still don`t accept that gambling has distracted so many minds making them focus more on winning than trying to engage in violence. No doubt, violence still occurs occasionally as you have noted but then there is a significant decline as to the nature of violence in the past. Before the advent of gambling, there was always confrontation between opposing teams which always resulted in fighting but today even some fans stake against their favourite team all because they want to make money.

[Stompix]

Most people still don`t accept that gambling has distracted so many minds making them focus more on winning than trying to engage in violence. No doubt, violence still occurs occasionally as you have noted but then there is a significant decline as to the nature of violence in the past.

If you want people to accept your opinion, then come with numbers, not what you think it happens!
Show us how the numbers of brawls have decreased show us how the numbers of murders have decreased show us how the numbers of police arrests have decreased to and then you can say gimbling has node a wonderful job

Before the advent of gambling, there was always confrontation between opposing teams which always resulted in fighting but today even some fans stake against their favourite team all because they want to make money.

First, gambling is older than most of the current sports, just horse racing gambling was popular and regulated three centuries ago!

Second, can you tell me how would some guys that have previously fought just for the sake of fighting for supporting their team, now they will magically stay calm when on top of their team losing they will be losing money? Cause there is no logic clicking here!