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Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · 5d

Fascinating story in the Economist which puts problem shopping “oniomania” at 5%

www.economist.com/business/202...

Are you addicted to shopping?

On social media, it can be hard to resist the urge to splurge

www.economist.com

Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · 5d

Not sure I said that Rob (as you know) Every survey helps understanding. The GC noticed an 11% drop in problem gambling among women for instance which is really encouraging. It’s a shame it hasn’t done any work on understanding how much play is with black market operators in the GSGB

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Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · 5d

At the end of the day one person harmed is one too many. But it’s interesting that an anti gambling movement that swears by the NHS doesn’t when its figures are lower than they want them to be. Is the NHS now wrong? The GC also found millions enjoy gambling and find it “fun”

Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 6d

NEW: Big day for fans of bickering about problem gambling.

The Gambling Commission's new survey finds that 2.7% of British adults have a gambling problem. For the first time, for reasons I won't bore you with, we can apply this to the population to get a figure of...

1.4 million people. (1/2)

population.to - population Resources and Information.

population.to is your first and best source for all of the information you’re looking for. From general topics to more of what you would expect to find here, population.to has it all. We hope you find...

population.to

Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · 18d

V strong argument Rob.

Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · 18d

I wonder how many times anti gambling campaigners like Gordon Brown, mega Labour donor Derek Webb and the SMF have met Treasury (incl the guy running the tax consultation who wanted to double duty last year … when at the SMF)

Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 18d

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Rachel Reeves due to appear at gambling lobbyist’s event amid tax review

Chancellor’s invitation criticised as ‘strange timing’ with Treasury looking at whether to raise duties on £12bn sector

www.theguardian.com

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Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · Aug 7

Thumping tax hikes on sports betting and online bingo? A gift to an already out of control black market which doesn’t invest a penny in safer gambling. But the IPPR knows that.

Institute for Public Policy Research @ippr.org · Aug 6

🎲 NEW REPORT | Fairer gambling taxes could raise £3.2bn to scrap the two-child limit & benefit cap, lifting 500,000 children out of poverty. The plan targets the most harmful, least-taxed parts of the industry. Find out more: www.ippr.org/articles/reforming-gambling-taxation

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Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · Jul 30

order-order.com/2025/05/30/w...

Wonks Want Desperate Reeves to Double Bingo Taxes

Multimillionaire Derek Webb has given Labour £1.3 million since the start of 2023 and he’s given £160,000 to the Social Market Foundation (SMF) - which

order-order.com

Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · Jul 28

Your regular reminder that anti gambling kingpin Derek Webb has donated £1.3m to Labour since 23. And the guy demanding the Treasury double gaming duty last autumn has moved to the Treasury this year - as head of excise.
Both points left out of this piece

Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · Jul 28

Your regular reminder that the gambling industry operates one of the most well-connected and influential lobby groups in British politics, particularly when it comes to Labour.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

UK gambling industry launches summer charm offensive to head off tax rise

Exclusive: Lobbyists meet with ministers, and host a darts night with Labour advisers and MPs’ staff

www.theguardian.com

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Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · Jun 1

Superb again from Bagehot in @economist.com “Middle England feels about ISAs the same way rural America feels about guns.”

www.economist.com/britain/2025...

Doctors, teachers and junior bankers of the world, unite!

The rise of middle-class consciousness

www.economist.com

Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · May 3

“People are fed up being told how to run their lives by people looking down their noses at them.” Searing op-ed by Labour MP Jo White t.co/DXwv0LTztU

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/05/03/starmer-stop-pussyfooting-labour-red-wall-chief/

t.co

Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · Feb 8

Our full quote was: “As the Observer’s own investigation demonstrates, Flutter UKI has acted appropriately and gained consent at all times.” Because that’s what they found.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · Feb 8

Revealed: gambling firms secretly sharing users’ data with Facebook without permission

Meta accounts of those affected flooded with ads for casinos and betting sites We didn’t click ‘consent’ on any gambling website. So how did Facebook know where we’d been? Gambling companies are covertly tracking visitors to their websites and sending…

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Steve Hawkes

NPR @npr.org · Jan 18

The fires have turned some electric car batteries and household items into "unexploded ordnances," says an EPA official tasked with the cleanup.

Hazmat crews tackle toxic waste left behind by LA's fires

The fires have turned some electric car batteries and household items into "unexploded ordnances," says an EPA official tasked with the cleanup

www.npr.org

34 220 910

Reposted by Steve Hawkes

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · Jan 18

🔺 Update: Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is unable to move forward with the ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas hands over a list of the hostages they plan to release

First hostages close to freedom as Israeli cabinet backs deal

www.thetimes.com

10 13 27

Reposted by Steve Hawkes

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · Jan 7

Can Kemi Badenoch unite the right in Britain?

https://www.ft.com/content/6015c9f7-a815-47b1-b89c-6be52035a65e

Can Kemi Badenoch unite the right in Britain?

After a brutal election defeat, the Conservatives are now fighting with Reform to defend their place as the UK’s main opposition party

www.ft.com

10 2 8

Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · Dec 13

Amazing and emotional day as Sir Chris Hoy joins Paddy Power’s Bigger 180 campaign with @prostatecanceruk.bsky.social to push for cancer screening and urge men to check out their risk .. let’s get 180,000 blokes to do just that this month

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Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · Nov 24

Great piece as usual by David Walsh. Incl great Ieuan Evans quote from 1999 www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-...

Steve Borthwick critics forget their history – young England are on the up

To those who believe in a change of head coach, it’s worth considering Clive Woodward, under whom early performances were encouraging but results average

www.thetimes.com

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Steve Hawkes @stevehawkes.bsky.social · Nov 18

Well, here goes nothing ;)

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Reposted by Steve Hawkes

Bluesky @bsky.app · Nov 18

me watching Bluesky's user count grow by another million in a day

hello and welcome to all 19M of you! 🥳

5K 11K 220K