BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Beware the pitfalls of betting technology

THURSDAY is best described as a slump after the feast of football we've been treated to over the last week or so and I'm going to use it to take stock, reload, recharge and get ready to unload my peerless punting potential on bookmakers.

In other words, I'm going to check my bank balance.

Over the Christmas period I had to explain to an elderly relative how to use those little devices distributed by banks to make checking your online banking more secure.

She thought it was a calculator and that she had to work it all out herself, but rather than being furious with the bank for having the cheek to make her do so, she was actually really chuffed that she had received a tiny calculator for free.

It got me thinking about taking things for granted, ingratitude at the things that make our life easier, the privilege so many of us enjoy while sitting there watching Sky Sports on our massive HD TVs and betting in-running on our phones.

Distracted by all that, I accidentally backed Wigan to beat Man United shortly before Park Ji-Sung cooly slotted home.

Unless I'd taken a large quantity of mind-altering drugs, I can't imagine that I would have ever walked into a betting shop, filled out a betting slip marking Wigan, and then taken it up to the window without either the rational thinking process or someone else interferring.

I hate technology.