It’s time to wipe slate clean with bettingoffenders

SCOTTISH football must offer betting offenders a discreet lifeline now.

If the authorities want to rid the game of the gambling, providing a period of designated time for those who have stepped across the forbidden bookies lines to come forward would be a major next step.

Hamilton chief executive Colin McGowan’s call for an amnesty period is a brilliant suggestion.

Technically, it wouldn’t be fair on the guys who have been caught and done in the past. Boys like Ian Black and Michael Moffat had to take the medicine of fines and suspensions and suffer the stigma but this is about looking forward.

Rules are rules. Whether they are right or not is up for debate. No one says you should be betting for or against your own team.

But if players from Scotland’s League Two are on an end-of-season holiday and fancy having a fiver on a first goalscorer in the Champions League Final between Barcelona and Real Madrid for a bit of fun is that really a crime?

Most folk would say no. However, the rules say yes. There has to be cases where this has happened. An innocent move that someone is now scared to admit to.

If the football authorities want people to come clean, give them anonymity. Give them amnesty.

Whatever you think of the term gambling addict, you are never going to get the majority responsible for placing bets they shouldn’t have to come forward if they know that punishment and stigma will follow.

Let them wipe their slate clean without being hammered or shamed.

There are varying opinions on this issue with several fingers being pointed in the direction of the bookmakers.

That seems unfair. People say it’s just too easy to have a bet these days because of technology and i-phones. That is true.

But it’s also true that every other aspect of life has advanced the same way. You can buy as much alcohol online as you want via your phone, buy clothes. People do their Christmas shopping now without leaving the house. Or buy their week’s groceries via an iPhone or iPad.

Bookmakers are offering a service, just like every other consumer outlet. There are clear opportunities to limit daily deposits on your account. If people bet more than they can

If the authorities want folk to come clean, give them anonymity

afford, it’s hardly the bookies’ fault.

Those who bet too much are worthy of help and support. Just like anyone who struggles with anything else such as alcoholism or other addictions. The authorities can help those with serious problems.

There will also be many who do not have a serious problem but have made a mistake.

Say to them – if you’ve done it, tells us now, we’ll wipe the record. Don’t do it again. If you do after we’ve given you this second chance, you’ll be punished.

It might not work but if it does it will go a long way to getting a big chunk of it removed in one swoop.