Gambling is extractive by definition, so I’m not particularly convinced that it’s not a problem for most of the people that “enjoy” it.

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davewritescode 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I have worked in gaming before so feel free to disregard my opinion but I truly do enjoy occasional betting and while its hard to argue it’s a net positive in my life it has never caused any financial hardship.

Betting $25 on a game hijacks something in my brain that treats it like a fun problem to solve. It gets me interested in teams that I’d otherwise have no interest in. I’ve been betting on sports since the days of offshore betting sites and I can’t say I’ve ever lost or gained more than a few hundred dollars a year.

I’m an adult and I enjoy being able to gamble on sports. It’s never been a problem for me and I suspect it never will be because of the way I do treat it, strictly something to be done for fun.

I grew up in a household where family members also went to casinos and bet on sports responsibly so it was drilled into my head that you can’t ever beat the house and you should never bet what you couldn’t afford to lose.

What business do you have telling me what I’m allowed to do with my own money for fun?

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TheOtherHobbes 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I'm someone who thinks corporations shouldn't be free to prey lawlessly on emotional weaknesses.

What business do you have telling everyone your personal experience justifies the horror others experience?

If you couldn't put down that $25, would you really not be able to find some other way to entertain yourself?

	▲	davewritescode 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Making gambling illegal doesn’t make it just go away. My Grandfather used to bet on sports in 40s and 50s with a local bookie. The bookies even ran sweepstakes which resembled the modern day lotto which my great grandmother played every week. People like to gamble we need it legalized with reasonable regulations. What my big problem is that Wall St and the wider market seems to be trending to the least ethical companies (Kalshi, Polymarket, Bettr) are running unregulated gambling operations, providing 0 tax money to offset societal costs and are denying what they’re offering is gambling at all and even promising you can make money off it.

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JohnTHaller 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

The fact that you and the industry try to call it "gaming" is still such a scummy thing. It's gambling. Call it what it is.

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ekholm_e 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I mean, it depends. Gambling in moderation is fine, and it can be fun. Aside from concerns about supporting casinos/gambling companies (which I'll acknowledge are real), I don't see any difference between paying $200 to play blackjack for a couple of hours and paying $200 for some other form of entertainment (e.g. attending a live show).

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boelboel 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Gambling isn't all the same, betting on horse races in person can be quite an enjoyable experience it's not nearly as accessible as online gambling.