Life On The Line: How to Lose a Million and So Much More

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Gambling is now a massive industry, it’s overtaking everything and as a consequence football is no longer what it used to be – it’s ingrained in the gambling industry. Brian Rice’s decision to come clean and face his demons is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the massive gambling issues within Scottish football. They are betting on bookings, on throw-ins, on anything. If it had been available in my day, I would have been in jail, I have no doubt about that. Football, to me, has become an extension of the gambling industry. You only have to look at the sponsors on TV and in stadiums. If this is happening, it is hard to believe it is happening a lot, but experts, including, as he tells us today, former professional footballer and gambling addict Kevin Twaddle, fears the temptation is simply too much for too many. The relationship needs to be looked at again and I hope this is something both the UK and Scottish governments can work on together.”

I did a programme a lot of years ago for the PFA (Scotland), going round clubs and giving a bit of education but I don’t think there is anything like it now! On the 26/10/99 Celtic signed Ian Wright on a short term contract to the end of the season as cover for Henrik Larsson. When asked what quality the 36 year old former Arsenal player could bring to Celtic, Barnes replied, "Goals. That's what Ian Wright is about." Celtic failed to register him in time for this game, though he was introduced to the crowd at half time and received a standing ovation.You can go from top international players and managers in the country all the way down who are either betting or worse have a gambling addiction.

Burley replied with a good effort that was deflected for a corner and the equaliser might have come from the corner when Petrov reached the ball with his head only to be defied by a Goram stop, something Celtic have had to get used to over the years.Betting firms sponsor our biggest teams and our major tournaments. Yet we know the damage addiction to betting causes, especially among young men, some of whom make a living from Scottish football. We cannot stand by and watch as gambling addiction ruins lives and families. Section 20(5) of the 1982 Act requires the court, in determining any question as to the meaning or effect of any provision contained in Schedule 8, "and derived to any extent from Title II of the 1968 Convention" to have regard to THEY missed a golden chance to go to the top of the Premier League, but more than that, far more, Celtic missed Henrik Larsson. It's so widespread, especially in younger people. It really is a shame because people don't understand the harm and the hurt it causes to them and the families round about them. It's destructive.

If you were to take any ­professional club on any Saturday morning I would guarantee about 90% of players will be gambling, whether it’s a small coupon or whatever. It’s what they do, it’s part of the culture. As the provisions of Rule 3 reflect the terms of Article 13 of Title II of the EC Convention on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Brussels 1968) it is with these words of exhortation that one embarks on an exercise to determine whether a person who earns his living by playing football and who engages an agent to negotiate contracts in terms of which he will be paid for doing so has concluded a contract which "can be regarded as being outside his trade or profession". As in many areas where the jurisprudence of the European Court applies, all is not necessarily as obvious as it seems.It was the same with Steve Jennings at Motherwell. He was cleared of an alleged betting scam and yet the first thing people think about when they hear his name is gambling irregularities. I'd have been doing the lot because I was that engrossed in gambling, totally addicted. Online doesn't help. It's an epidemic, gambling just now. But I didn’t finally hit the bottom because I had no money, I got help because of what I had done to people. Are you telling me they don't have betting accounts? I would suggest they have. When you're Scottish and go to football, from an early age, your father will take you and you stop at two places on the way to the game - the pub and the bookies. That's our culture.