Very few people gambled illegally. Putting some gangster out of business (Lol if you actually believe that) at the cost of addicting the entire working class to throwing away their money is bad math!

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awesome_dude 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Sorry, but what?

Illegal gambling has been rife for a very long time - the bookie down the pub taking bets on horses, games, whatever

Add to that that the Costigan Commission (1984) and the Fitzgerald Inquiry (1989) proved that illegal gambling was the foundational "river of gold" for organised crime in Australia.

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mikkupikku 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Illegal gambling at its peak was nothing compared to every store, restaurant and smartphone being a casino, advertised right out in the open.

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awesome_dude 2 hours ago | parent [-]

True - legalisation increased total gambling.

But your original claim was 'very few gambled illegally' which the historical record contradicts.

The Costigan and Fitzgerald inquiries showed illegal gambling wasn't just widespread - the profits funded other organised crime including the heroin trade.

We can debate whether legalisation was net positive without rewriting that history.

	▲	Teever an hour ago \| parent [-]
		So how wide spread was it? Like is there a graph of illegal gambling participation by pop over time? I've run in many different circles in my life and I've never really come across any sort of illegal gambling. I know it exists[0], it just honestly doesn't seem very common. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59JkkMBpQtU

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girvo 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Yeah these people have no idea what they are talking about, you’re correct.