Rob Davies
@byrobdavies.bsky.social
Guardian reporter.
DM me with tips or for Signal/Protonmail/PGP (NO PR PITCHES)
Spurs fan (mute #thfc #coys to avoid).
Author of Jackpot: How Gambling Conquered Britain.
DM me with tips or for Signal/Protonmail/PGP (NO PR PITCHES)
Spurs fan (mute #thfc #coys to avoid).
Author of Jackpot: How Gambling Conquered Britain.
As a fan of Welsh rugby and Tottenham Hotspur, all I ask of the sporting gods is a Joe Root century in Australia. Just this one thing. Please?
December 4, 2025 at 6:51 AM
As a fan of Welsh rugby and Tottenham Hotspur, all I ask of the sporting gods is a Joe Root century in Australia. Just this one thing. Please?
My Spotify age is 83. Which is what happens when your solution to having to knock out 1200 words in a couple of hours is to drown out the world with John Coltrane.
December 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
My Spotify age is 83. Which is what happens when your solution to having to knock out 1200 words in a couple of hours is to drown out the world with John Coltrane.
I don't want to play BrewDog's game by soliciting negative responses to this. And yes, "commercial suicide" is a widely-used term in its own right. But...
December 2, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I don't want to play BrewDog's game by soliciting negative responses to this. And yes, "commercial suicide" is a widely-used term in its own right. But...
Briefly checked the reaction to this on Twitter, where the consensus is that creeping toxicity is, in fact, good.
Friends fear he is writing about Tottenham Hotspur Football Club again. #thfc #coys
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Guglielmo Vicario boos show a creeping toxicity is taking hold at Tottenham | Rob Davies
Reaction to goalkeeper’s error on Saturday was reprehensible but fans have had enough of being let down by the team
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Briefly checked the reaction to this on Twitter, where the consensus is that creeping toxicity is, in fact, good.
"Is this off the record?"
Steve, nobody cares about your mid-level work gripes.
Steve, nobody cares about your mid-level work gripes.
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
"Is this off the record?"
Steve, nobody cares about your mid-level work gripes.
Steve, nobody cares about your mid-level work gripes.
Friends fear he is writing about Tottenham Hotspur Football Club again. #thfc #coys
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Guglielmo Vicario boos show a creeping toxicity is taking hold at Tottenham | Rob Davies
Reaction to goalkeeper’s error on Saturday was reprehensible but fans have had enough of being let down by the team
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Friends fear he is writing about Tottenham Hotspur Football Club again. #thfc #coys
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
I watched Wales lose by a record margin at home in the rugby, then dashed out the door to travel the length of London to see Spurs.
Am available to attend your hated ex's wedding.
Am available to attend your hated ex's wedding.
November 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I watched Wales lose by a record margin at home in the rugby, then dashed out the door to travel the length of London to see Spurs.
Am available to attend your hated ex's wedding.
Am available to attend your hated ex's wedding.
November 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Cracking scoop from @jasperjolly.bsky.social. Hard to see how this can possibly be fair or justified.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Wrexham AFC receives £18m from government despite Hollywood backing
Welsh government grants used to fund football club even though it is owned by wealthy movie stars
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Cracking scoop from @jasperjolly.bsky.social. Hard to see how this can possibly be fair or justified.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Somewhat counter-intuitively, shares in most of the UK's biggest listed gambling companies (except William Hill owner Evoke, which is a basket case) are up since the budget added £8bn+ to their tax bill over five years. An attempt to unpick why...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Analysts back British gambling firm stocks despite tax rises for sector
Paddy Power owner Flutter and other betting and gaming firms say higher online gambling taxes will hit profits hard
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Somewhat counter-intuitively, shares in most of the UK's biggest listed gambling companies (except William Hill owner Evoke, which is a basket case) are up since the budget added £8bn+ to their tax bill over five years. An attempt to unpick why...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Very lucky (and tired) to have seen Radiohead twice and English Teacher in the same week. Tonight's gig, after a busy Budget day, was such a treat. The pipes on Lily Fontaine.
November 26, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Very lucky (and tired) to have seen Radiohead twice and English Teacher in the same week. Tonight's gig, after a busy Budget day, was such a treat. The pipes on Lily Fontaine.
Here we go. Three gambling firms have now updated investors on the impact of the Chancellor's duty rises after the market closed.
Entain (Ladbrokes/Coral): -£150m operating profit by 2027
Evoke (888/William Hill): £135m extra duty cost
Rank (Grosvenor Casinos/Mecca Bingo) -£40m operating profit
Entain (Ladbrokes/Coral): -£150m operating profit by 2027
Evoke (888/William Hill): £135m extra duty cost
Rank (Grosvenor Casinos/Mecca Bingo) -£40m operating profit
Looks like the market may have misjudged how gambling firms will be affected by the rise in duties announced by the Chancellor.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
November 26, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Here we go. Three gambling firms have now updated investors on the impact of the Chancellor's duty rises after the market closed.
Entain (Ladbrokes/Coral): -£150m operating profit by 2027
Evoke (888/William Hill): £135m extra duty cost
Rank (Grosvenor Casinos/Mecca Bingo) -£40m operating profit
Entain (Ladbrokes/Coral): -£150m operating profit by 2027
Evoke (888/William Hill): £135m extra duty cost
Rank (Grosvenor Casinos/Mecca Bingo) -£40m operating profit
Looks like the market may have misjudged how gambling firms will be affected by the rise in duties announced by the Chancellor.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
November 26, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Looks like the market may have misjudged how gambling firms will be affected by the rise in duties announced by the Chancellor.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
Rank Group (owner of Mecca Bingo and land/online casinos) finished the day up 10%.
It just announced a hit to operating profit of £40m.
As the person live-updating the Guardian's "at a glance" Budget story, may I thank whoever at the OBR accidentally published the forecasts early and offer them dinner on me, should they end up experiencing cashflow problems in the immediate future for any reason.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Budget 2025: key points at a glance
Rachel Reeves is announcing her financial update – here are the main points, with political analysis
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
As the person live-updating the Guardian's "at a glance" Budget story, may I thank whoever at the OBR accidentally published the forecasts early and offer them dinner on me, should they end up experiencing cashflow problems in the immediate future for any reason.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Thoughts on gambling duty rises.
This is celebrated as a win by campaigners but note that shares in the biggest players (Ladbrokes owner Entain and Paddy Power owner Flutter) are up.
I suspect this is because investors are betting that some of their smaller rivals will be forced out of the market.
This is celebrated as a win by campaigners but note that shares in the biggest players (Ladbrokes owner Entain and Paddy Power owner Flutter) are up.
I suspect this is because investors are betting that some of their smaller rivals will be forced out of the market.
November 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Thoughts on gambling duty rises.
This is celebrated as a win by campaigners but note that shares in the biggest players (Ladbrokes owner Entain and Paddy Power owner Flutter) are up.
I suspect this is because investors are betting that some of their smaller rivals will be forced out of the market.
This is celebrated as a win by campaigners but note that shares in the biggest players (Ladbrokes owner Entain and Paddy Power owner Flutter) are up.
I suspect this is because investors are betting that some of their smaller rivals will be forced out of the market.
Reposted by Rob Davies
Can’t wait until tomorrow, when the kite flying about the next budget can start afresh - only 364 sleeps to go 😬
November 26, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Can’t wait until tomorrow, when the kite flying about the next budget can start afresh - only 364 sleeps to go 😬
The annual gambling stats report from the regulator, the day before a Budget in which the industry is trying to resist a tax grab on online gambling.
Online gross income up 13%.
Online gross income up 13%.
November 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The annual gambling stats report from the regulator, the day before a Budget in which the industry is trying to resist a tax grab on online gambling.
Online gross income up 13%.
Online gross income up 13%.
Reposted by Rob Davies
Reform’s ‘Trumpian’ legal threats hint at more aggressive approach to media
Reform’s ‘Trumpian’ legal threats hint at more aggressive approach to media
Ultimatums sent to publications appear to intensify as Nigel Farage’s party rises in polls
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Reform’s ‘Trumpian’ legal threats hint at more aggressive approach to media
More caveats than a pharmaceutical disclaimer.
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 8:26 AM
More caveats than a pharmaceutical disclaimer.
I know why it costs that much but it is genuinely funny that you can show these picture to 95% of the world and say "This house costs nearly £1m" and they will think you've gone insane.
They really don't want to share any interior shots but when they do, you just know that unspeakable acts have been committed within... www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...
Check out this 3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove
3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in 75 Camden Mews, Camden, London, NW1 9BY, NW1 for £925,000. Marketed by Auction House London, Hampstead
www.rightmove.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I know why it costs that much but it is genuinely funny that you can show these picture to 95% of the world and say "This house costs nearly £1m" and they will think you've gone insane.
Oh no! I will be attempting to hit the first notes of Many Rivers To Cross in the shower later as a tribute. RIP.
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Oh no! I will be attempting to hit the first notes of Many Rivers To Cross in the shower later as a tribute. RIP.