to think this is not normal behaviour and it could be quite dangerous

[gnesher]

My brother (19) and sister (22) are both back from university and today they went to a bookies and spent nearly 3 hours there gambling . They then went to a bar and got trolleyed on champagne as apparently my sister had won some money on a fruit machine. When my mum was describing it to me and I said how weird I thought this was she couldn't understand why I thought this. AIBU to think its not normal for a 19 and 22yo to spend nearly 3 hours in a bookmakers.

I'm sure they will be fine Op. Its nice to do something a bit different once in a while.

That sounds like a fine Easter afternoon to me.

I'll go against the grain here and say I think it's a bit odd. I don't know anyone who goes to a bookies and never been in one myself either. So I guess I'd think it was a bit odd. But only dangerous if it was a regular thing.

Don't worry OP.
Its actually quite good fun sometimes.There's often a nice crowd of people of mixed ages and I would say the vast majority don't spend big money.
If its every day for a few hours that would become worrying,but this sounds like just a bit of fun.

It sounds a bit lower class, if you ask me.

Some of my relatives spend hours in the bookies every day, but they are addicted to gambling.

I would not say it is dangerous to go there once, if your sister were spending a lot of time, and more than she can afford on gambling, then you could be worried.

You need to be careful of those dangerous lower classes TEO, before their cultural habits take over mainstream society

Those lower classes are all scoundrels. Beware.

Rapscallions tufty, all despicable rapscallions.

I know. Sometimes when I go into town, I can smell the lower classes.

They all watch 'the low channel' aswell. Dreadful.

I would be worried. They're showing scary signs of premature ageing.

Drag them out clubbing tonight & watch they don't sneak off down the Legion for a pint with the 60 yr olds!

[bugrin] at Latara.

You're supposed to do things like this when you're young, OP.

Could be dangerous, could be normal. Based on one afternoon in a bookies and then a trip to the pub with the winnings there is absolutely no way to tell. Think about it - bookies aren't all the seedy places that our grandads used to go to, many are big, light airy places with cheap/free tea, coffee, snacks etc, lots of sport on TV and often quite a friendly crowd in there. Spending 3 hours in one and burning through say £50 or £100 isn't really any different from spending it in a pub or a restaurant - you've had 3 hours of fun and have nothing to show for it at the end other than an experience you enjoyed.

On the other hand gambling can be particularly seductive to the student demographic as there is the air of 'easy money' if you're winning. Also the 'fruit machines' in bookies are generally FOBTs (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals) and a very quick way to lose money (and they are also notoriously addictive for some people).

If they are down the bookies/betting online every day they're home then that might be a different story. this sets out warning signs of potential gambling problems and here is the GA equivalent of the Edinburgh PND questionnaire. If you do see more warning signs then these are the people to contact if you are worried about them.