The addiction of online sports gambling: "Like crack in the '80s"

Posted by dzonga 14 hours ago

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Comments

Comment by schmudde 1 hour ago

The pace at which sports betting has changed in the USA is incredible. I grew up with Pete Rose not getting into the baseball hall of fame. Not it's impossible to imagine that athletes are not betting on games. And more importantly, there is the social cost:

"One UCLA study published earlier this year found that in states that legalized sports gambling online, bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies increased about 25%. A survey by the National Council on Problem Gambling found 8% of American adults, almost 20 million people, reported experiencing at least one indicator of problematic gambling behavior "many times" in the past year. "

Comment by laughing_man 10 hours ago

Certainly there are people who shouldn't gamble, but that doesn't mean gambling should be illegal. For a lot of people it's harmless fun.

Comment by toasterlovin 7 hours ago

I think it’s worth reflecting on the baseline paradigm of our political system. Which is: we are perfectly fine taxing one group of people (the working non-retired) at very substantial levels so that a different group of people (the retired) can not work for 20 years at the end of their lives. Given that our backdrop is such an incredible impingement of the liberty of some for the benefit of others, I think it’s completely reasonable to likewise impinge on the freedom of people who can gamble responsibly to save people who are prone to gambling addiction from destroying their lives.

Comment by laughing_man 5 hours ago

I disagree with the framing of your comment. For one thing, you get an old age pension for the extra taxes you pay when you work.

What do I get for restrictions on my liberties in this case?

Comment by juiceland 1 hour ago

> What do I get for restrictions on my liberties in this case?

A neighbor who is less likely to beat his wife because he gambled all the rent money on baseball

Comment by cjrp 3 hours ago

The industry can't survive on people who see it as harmless fun, that's the problem.

Comment by pseudohadamard 9 hours ago

So is Russian roulette 83% of the time.

Comment by AngryData 10 hours ago

The only reason gambling isn't 10x more dangerous than crack is because crack gets you arrested.

Comment by jazzcomputer 11 hours ago

Interesting how the folk they're showing actually have the money to burn currently/previously - it avoids reporting some of the problems you'd have impacting someone who is struggling economically.

Comment by znkynz 11 hours ago

Profit comes from addicts, not casual players. Gambling is a parasitic practice that harms communitites[1]. The bookmakers all know this, but obviously pretend otherwise.

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/25/life...

Comment by khelavastr 9 hours ago

It was not literally as bad as crack in the 80s. That's an insulting comparison.

Comment by elmer2 13 hours ago

Funny how the same people that want to fine Meta also want pot shops that sell a substance that's much more addictive.

Comment by Ylpertnodi 5 hours ago

I'm in a country where pot is illegal, but I get my prescriptions just fine. Damn the state for recognising there may be a problem with pot, but it's OK, really.

Comment by rc5150 11 hours ago

is it the substance that's addictive or is it the relief and respite it provides from this capitalist hellscape we're all drowning in?

Comment by UncleEntity 11 hours ago

I'd like to see the UCLA study which showed that in states that legalized marijuana, bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies increased about 25%.

Admittedly, I didn't read the whole article but I didn't see anything about banning social media and/or putting pot stores on every corner to compete with the liquor/tobacco stores. Seems like something they would have put in the beginning to draw the reader in, dunno?

What I do know from living on this planet for over half a century is that gambling and alcohol and certain drugs are very addictive and have the tendency of ruining people's lives. Pretty much common knowledge at this point, one would have thought...

Comment by brianwawok 13 hours ago

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Comment by awakeasleep 9 hours ago

You can say it, but if you want anyone to take you seriously, specify which definition of addictive you’re using.

No one is going to argue with “psychologically addictive”

Comment by hexapus 11 hours ago

And pushed on poor people by elites in government as a means of control.

Surprised this article made it past the editors, given the involvment of the Trump family in current betting markets.