Latest news with #Olden
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Gambling addiction cost my sick mum thousands'
The daughter of a woman who became addicted to slot machines and lost thousands while undergoing cancer treatment is calling on the government to introduce tougher controls. Jackie Olden said her late mother Wendy Hughes got hooked after working at a bookmakers where she was asked to play the machines on a free demonstration mode to help drum up customer interest. She said it prompted Ms Hughes, who died from cancer in 2024 at the age of 64, to begin playing slots in her own time before spiralling into debt. Ms Olden said: "My mum was never someone who would have gambled before this, she was absolutely dedicated to her family." She said her mother, a widow, had worked hard to make ends meet while raising her three children in Stockport, Greater Manchester. "She had her own house and some money saved but all of that just went and it went really, really, really quickly," Ms Olden said. Ms Hughes's children intervened in an attempt to get her excluded from gambling outlets but she relapsed years later after discovering 24-hour adult gaming centres. Ms Olden said: "When I found out, I was absolutely flabbergasted to hear that there are 24-hour slot machine places on almost every high street in the UK. "In Stockport, where I live, there are three of them." Ms Hughes continued gambling after being diagnosed with cancer in April 2023 and became progressively more unwell. In November of the same year, she lost almost £2,000 pounds in two sessions at the Merkur slots venue in Stockport. The German company was fined £95,450 earlier this year by the Gambling Commission following a complaint by Ms Hughes, which found the operator failed "to follow rules aimed at keeping consumers safe from harm". In a bid to protect others, Ms Olden earlier delivered a petition with more than 40,000 signatures to Downing Street, calling on the government to give local government stronger powers to refuse licences for gambling venues where concerns are raised. She said: "I'm not an anti-gambling purist or someone who wants to tell people what to do, but these places are so dangerous. "The products in there are known to be the most harmful, the most addictive and I just think we need to regulate them way more tightly." Merkur said the the failure was "due to premises staff not implementing our policies and procedures effectively". They continued: "Customer welfare is our priority and we have conducted a thorough internal review. "As a result, we have strengthened training for our 1,840 venue-based staff as well as enhancing reporting procedures to ensure our high standards are upheld." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Slot machines to go cashless as debit cards allowed
Forbes
12-05-2025
- Forbes
When It Makes Sense To Book Cruise Line Shore Excursions
P&O Cruises' Aurora cruise ship docked in Olden, Norway. Shore excursions are a major part of cruising, offering a chance to experience the culture, history, and natural beauty of each destination on the itinerary. Deciding how to explore each port can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing the convenience and peace of mind of cruise line tours against the freedom and potential savings of going it alone. Many experienced cruise travelers mix and match, booking cruise line excursions for more ambitious trips or riskier destinations and doing their own thing in walkable cities or familiar ports. The key is to weigh the cost against the convenience, and always plan with the ship's departure time in mind. Here's when it makes sense to stick with the ship's own excursions. Most cruise ship port calls last most of the day. However, half-day port calls, often used as a 'pit stop' on the way to or from an itinerary's main destinations, make time ashore much tighter. Cruise line excursions are timed with the ship's schedule and come with a vital guarantee: if your tour runs late, the ship will wait. Independent travelers don't enjoy the same protection. Miss the 'all aboard' time and you'll be making your own way to the next port at your own expense. This safety net is often worth the higher cost, especially in destinations with unpredictable traffic, ferries, or long distances between the port and the main attractions. Some shore excursions involve more than a bus ride and a walking tour. Think glacier hikes in Alaska, guided snorkeling trips from a tender port, or multi-leg journeys involving trains, boats, or 4x4s. Cruise lines work with vetted local partners and handle all the coordination, leaving you to relax and enjoy the experience. Coaches lined up at Flåm cruise port ready for excursions. In remote or logistically complex destinations like Iceland's volcanic interior or the jungle ruins of Mexico and Central America, cruise line tours reduce the stress and risk of tackling these places on your own. In countries where safety is a concern or where few locals speak English, the comfort and structure of a cruise line excursion can go a long way. Guides are usually bilingual and you're less likely to be exposed to uncomfortable situations. Even in safer or better-known destinations, certain experiences are only available through the cruise line due to exclusive access or limited capacity. Examples include after-hours visits to historic sites or behind-the-scenes access at cultural institutions. If something catches your eye that you couldn't reasonably book yourself, it might be worth the splurge. Many cruise passengers receive onboard credit as part of a booking promotion, a loyalty perk, or compensation for itinerary changes. While this credit can be spent on anything from cocktails to spa treatments, using it on a shore excursion can be a smart move. That's especially true if it means ticking off a once-in-a-lifetime experience like a helicopter ride over a glacier or a guided tour of a world wonder. Since most cruise lines allow you to apply onboard credit toward excursion bookings, it's an easy way to offset the premium price while still getting the convenience and security of an official tour. That said, going it alone can be incredibly rewarding and often cheaper. If you're returning to a familiar port, simply want to wander a local town, or plan to hire a private guide with excellent reviews, an independent option may suit you better. The same is true for smaller ports, in which options for independent tours may be limited. Norway's Flåm Railway is a good example of an excursion that can be booked independently. The station is just a few minutes' walk from the cruise ship port, and independent passengers will share the train (albeit in different carriages) with people booked on official excursions. For independent options such as this, booking in advance is essential to avoid disappointment. Before booking a cruise line deal, check services such as Shore Excursions Group, Get Your Guide, or Viator to see what's available. Just be sure to leave plenty of time to return to the ship, keep an eye on local traffic or weather disruptions, and carry contact details for the port agent, the cruise line, and a local taxi company, just in case.
