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.
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%.
So many harrowing and infuriating passages, some too distressing to share without warning here.
This part was one of many that stood out to me.
This part was one of many that stood out to me.
November 22, 2025 at 8:05 AM
So many harrowing and infuriating passages, some too distressing to share without warning here.
This part was one of many that stood out to me.
This part was one of many that stood out to me.
StubHub Holdings, owner of Viagogo, is now worth less than half of the $8.6bn valuation it achieved when it floated in September.
November 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
StubHub Holdings, owner of Viagogo, is now worth less than half of the $8.6bn valuation it achieved when it floated in September.
No, I'm sorry. Just change the name of the school, I don't care how old it is.
(I drove past it the other day, before you ask about my search history)
(I drove past it the other day, before you ask about my search history)
November 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
No, I'm sorry. Just change the name of the school, I don't care how old it is.
(I drove past it the other day, before you ask about my search history)
(I drove past it the other day, before you ask about my search history)
Go home, Spotify, you're drunk.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin did not write Chameleon.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin did not write Chameleon.
November 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Go home, Spotify, you're drunk.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin did not write Chameleon.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin did not write Chameleon.
It's what he would have wanted.
October 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM
It's what he would have wanted.
Is it me or is the Mercury line-up a bit weak this year? I don't even have a clear favourite, which is unlike me.
October 16, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Is it me or is the Mercury line-up a bit weak this year? I don't even have a clear favourite, which is unlike me.
Me (lying broken on the ground): "C....coke. Oh God what's the point though?"
October 10, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Me (lying broken on the ground): "C....coke. Oh God what's the point though?"
Once you know how, it's easy. Often the details are incomplete/false (naughty, that contravenes the terms of a court order!) but many have company names and full address details.
For reporters, it's easy to track those people down and ask why they're happy to exploit fans. 🧵
For reporters, it's easy to track those people down and ask why they're happy to exploit fans. 🧵
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Once you know how, it's easy. Often the details are incomplete/false (naughty, that contravenes the terms of a court order!) but many have company names and full address details.
For reporters, it's easy to track those people down and ask why they're happy to exploit fans. 🧵
For reporters, it's easy to track those people down and ask why they're happy to exploit fans. 🧵
So, now we've put in our fake card details, we get the tout's name again but this time with a hypertext link to "trader information", circled below.
Click on that and...hey presto!
(I've redacted the info because I don't want to doxx people here, just show you how to get the info) 🧵
Click on that and...hey presto!
(I've redacted the info because I don't want to doxx people here, just show you how to get the info) 🧵
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
So, now we've put in our fake card details, we get the tout's name again but this time with a hypertext link to "trader information", circled below.
Click on that and...hey presto!
(I've redacted the info because I don't want to doxx people here, just show you how to get the info) 🧵
Click on that and...hey presto!
(I've redacted the info because I don't want to doxx people here, just show you how to get the info) 🧵
For some reason, I've found that if all the details are wrong, Viagogo's system sometimes spots it. But if you just change the three-digit security code, it works. Oops, I'm taking too long, Viagogo is hurrying me. I don't want to miss out! 🧵
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
For some reason, I've found that if all the details are wrong, Viagogo's system sometimes spots it. But if you just change the three-digit security code, it works. Oops, I'm taking too long, Viagogo is hurrying me. I don't want to miss out! 🧵
Now, touts are understandably not keen on being easily identified. When you click on the ticket, all you get is a name. Sometimes it's a totally anonymous and possibly made up company (eg Tix Ltd or some such).
Here's an example from one Radiohead listing. You can't glean much from that. 🧵
Here's an example from one Radiohead listing. You can't glean much from that. 🧵
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Now, touts are understandably not keen on being easily identified. When you click on the ticket, all you get is a name. Sometimes it's a totally anonymous and possibly made up company (eg Tix Ltd or some such).
Here's an example from one Radiohead listing. You can't glean much from that. 🧵
Here's an example from one Radiohead listing. You can't glean much from that. 🧵
In the pics below, you see Viagogo listings for Radiohead's upcoming gigs at the O2 in London. Those lucky enough to get tickets only received them today. Yet already there are dozens for every night of the tour.
See the stars I've circled? That means the ticket is sold by a "trader" (a tout). 🧵
See the stars I've circled? That means the ticket is sold by a "trader" (a tout). 🧵
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
In the pics below, you see Viagogo listings for Radiohead's upcoming gigs at the O2 in London. Those lucky enough to get tickets only received them today. Yet already there are dozens for every night of the tour.
See the stars I've circled? That means the ticket is sold by a "trader" (a tout). 🧵
See the stars I've circled? That means the ticket is sold by a "trader" (a tout). 🧵
Here we (Viago)go...
After the efforts Radiohead have gone to to prevent touting, will Viagogo still try to profit from fans' desperation?
Looks that way.
After the efforts Radiohead have gone to to prevent touting, will Viagogo still try to profit from fans' desperation?
Looks that way.
September 11, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Here we (Viago)go...
After the efforts Radiohead have gone to to prevent touting, will Viagogo still try to profit from fans' desperation?
Looks that way.
After the efforts Radiohead have gone to to prevent touting, will Viagogo still try to profit from fans' desperation?
Looks that way.
August 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
August 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Can't believe it's been nearly 960 years since them slags smashed an arrow into Harold Godwinson's mincer. Still freaks my nut out to this day.
August 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Can't believe it's been nearly 960 years since them slags smashed an arrow into Harold Godwinson's mincer. Still freaks my nut out to this day.
Someone in this bookshop has an impish sense of humour.
August 9, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Someone in this bookshop has an impish sense of humour.
First drafts that never saw the light of day: JFK
August 2, 2025 at 6:59 PM
First drafts that never saw the light of day: JFK
OK, the scaling back of HS2 has gone too far now.
July 8, 2025 at 1:24 PM
OK, the scaling back of HS2 has gone too far now.
I am also disgusted. It's 2025, there's no place for Mick Hucknall at Glastonbury.
June 29, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I am also disgusted. It's 2025, there's no place for Mick Hucknall at Glastonbury.