quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
I found this, not too long ago:
https://www.wsj.com/business/h...de0?mod=hp_lead_pos7

Entire thread about it here: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...270048605#2270048605

My son says the other business students at his university do a lot of online gambling. I've never had much interest. I played slots once at the Windsor casino across the Detroit river in the 90's and spent about $20. Went to Vegas to see all the sights and didn't gamble once. Maybe it's because I am good at math and stats and know the odds are so far against you that it's not worth it.

At one point in history we realized how destructive gambling is an banned it in most instances. Nevada never did because Nevada was pretty unpopulated until Las Vegas was invented by the mafia. But everywhere else, illegal except at horse tracks.

And over the years we've allowed the various lotteries, Indian reservation casinos because they are not subject to state law, more casinos because we can't let the Indians get all the business, and now legal sports betting.

The argument that gambling raises money via taxes or provides jobs is negated by the amount of money it sucks out of a community. A lot of sports betting is offshore so they won't even pay taxes.

I know someone with a gambling addict husband who is ex-military. She works long hours 6 days a week, and he contributes his pension to the family expenses. His current job goes 100% to the casino. It appears no different than cocaine or heroin addiction, it's all that matters to him. They have a decent life, nice house, nice cars, but I keep thinking sooner or later she will find a massive pile of debt that he is hiding...

Back when the Cabela's Visa credit card was actually owned by Cabela's (it has been a Capital One Mastercard for years), I recall it specifically disallowing its use for online gambling. It wouldn't kill the card companies to do the same thing, or at least cut people off if an abusive spending pattern is detected. Considering that they can apparently track one's gun purchases, that shouldn't be too hard.

As for myself, my money is safe.

One out of ten customers leave with more money. We patronized the local casinos as the food was beyond reasonable. Two of my children had brief employment with one casino. I told my kids that they were in the math business and they understood accordingly. After Katrina Vegas style casinos opened up and the prices went sky high for food.
Gambling can be done reasonably. Advertising is a part of it. It is interesting to note that AA members who have sobriety now frequent the casinos instead.