Sports Betting...the gateway drug.

[Blansky]

Not sure how I feel about this. There was a reason that gambling was illegal in most states at one time basically until city/state/federal governments saw it was a cash cow with the money made from Lotteries.

If I remember correctly Montreal Canada was one of the first lotteries (Lotto Canada) where every month someone won $1 million dollars tax free, to help pay off the massive overruns from the Montreal Summer Olympics in 1976.

Now when I watch a hockey game on TV almost every ad is a gambling ad since the NHL allowed it a year or so ago. One player was even suspended for half the season for some sort of lending someone his gambling password or some such thing. Obviously the big thing is betting on your own team.

One wonders with the advent of social media, a phone in every pocket, how online gambling will play out with the sophisticated tactics being used to lure people into playing and betting on everything. Perhaps people with addictive behaviors are probably going to get into trouble with this stuff and you wonder if it becomes a huge social issue. It's very rare to get the genie back into the bottle once it's out.

What do you think of it???

https://www.businessinsider.com/spor...fanduel-2024-3

[Dan Pierce]

The negative ramifications of prolific online sports betting, especially by the young, will have a lasting impact for a long, long time. Online sport books are not the gateway, they ARE the drug. Everybody wants to win, nobody wants to earn. Sadly, delayed gratification is a lost ideal from a bygone era.
dP

[Maleg]

People who bet on sports hate money.

In my day you had to know a bookie to lose your paycheck. Online sports books make it easy for people to lose their rent money.

[superdog]

I think the upswing in sports betting is a shame. And shame on our government. Again...this is them trying to raise money at the expense of tax payers. Preying on weakness.

[Redfoot]

It sure went form 0-100 quick with the legal sports betting. They advertise HEAVY and are allowed to offer those free bonuses to get people to play. I was at an NFL game a couple years ago, and it seemed everyone you looked at was making bets on their phones. It is so easy and feels like another game from the App store, but you can lose serious money quick.

[DeepSeaDan]

Just be a responsible adult and you will be fine. A fool and his money.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by DeepSeaDan

Just be a responsible adult and you will be fine. A fool and his money.

These online books are engineered to make you irresponsible. The psychology of social media and gambling are woven into the apps. The design and incentives easily overcome sensibility for people susceptible to a sure thing argument.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Maleg

These online books are engineered to make you irresponsible. The psychology of social media and gambling are woven into the apps. The design and incentives easily overcome sensibility for people susceptible to a sure thing argument.

I don't know how intrusive they are since I don't gamble but the easy access to you as well. Do they do constant texts or things to entice you or notification on games coming up etc etc.

I would wager (see what I did there) they have sooooo many ways to help you lose your shirt. And then have the nerve to say "gamble responsibly" in the ads.

[albertf]

I have mixed feelings about it since I find gambling to be pretty fun but also understand that it'll have extreme consequences for individuals and families of those individuals who have addiction issues.

I always felt the government was over-stepping by saying it was illegal in most states.

But the amount of commercials and advertisements pushing the activity is obscene. Maybe there should be a limit of how it's advertised, similar to cigarettes.

[Speedbird-1]

When I was very young, my favourite uncle took me to a greyhound meeting he had been given tickets for.
I knew nothing about betting, so he showed me the bookies windows and said, "what do you notice"? Seeing my confused gaze, he said, "look at the betting kiosks, notice, there are TEN paying IN kiosks, and just ONE, winnings kiosk".
"Gambling is a mugs game".

Wise man my uncle.




"You never see a bookie on a bicycle"

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

When I was very young, my favourite uncle took me to a greyhound meeting he had been given tickets for.
I knew nothing about betting, so he showed me the bookies windows and said, "what do you notice"? Seeing my confused gaze, he said, "look at the betting kiosks, notice, there are TEN paying IN kiosks, and just ONE, winnings kiosk".
"Gambling is a mugs game".

Wise man my uncle.




"You never see a bookie on a bicycle"

Growing up in Canada my mom had a way to get Irish Sweepstakes betting tickets or whatever they were. That was all the gambling that went on in our house.

The first time I went to Vegas and saw all the over the top casinos I said to myself: 95% or the people coming here are leaving with a lot less than they showed up with.

[codecow]

If it was legal to bet on sports where I am, I’d play all the time. Instead I only bother when it’s worth getting on the VPN or flying to Vegas.

With that said it’s possible to gamble on horses here with Twin Spires app, but generally I will only play for major events like the Triple Crown races.

Thing is, if people want to ruin themselves with gambling they should be able to do it.

You can ruin your life in all kinds of ways, it’s a free country so why limit everyone else because a few people go insane with gambling?

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by Blansky

I don't know how intrusive they are since I don't gamble but the easy access to you as well. Do they do constant texts or things to entice you or notification on games coming up etc etc.

I would wager (see what I did there) they have sooooo many ways to help you lose your shirt. And then have the nerve to say "gamble responsibly" in the ads.

My wife tried the free first bet ad from an NFL game. She bolted when they required credit card info to get the free bet. Then she was inundated with all the offers from the app until she opted out.

She has about zero chance of winning the lottery with her $2 a week habit, but at least the lottery doesn’t spam you to death.

[SMD]

Imagine the government was actively promoting cigarettes or alcohol. Imagine the govt profiting off of it (lotteries). It’s nuts.

[austinp]

I’m ok with it. I don’t gamble often but enjoy it every now and then.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[m4rty]

"Only my life, never my money."

[MILGAUSS88]

Las Vegas was the suicide capitol of the world for many years. Gee I wonder why.
However, I think it has dropped since gambling has spread nationwide.
I have seen and I have heard about lives ruined by it.
I like playing cards, but I cannot morally support a casino.

[East Bay Rider]

We're living in a contrarian time. Values are all over the place.
Vice is virtue. Weak is brave. Immorality is questioned, justified and explained away. Gambling is just a game. Brightly colored apps and free money.
Can't wait to see what's next.

[Rock]

Gambling, in all it's many forms is an evil insidious addictive substance, promoted and supported by hypocritical governments that encourage the most vulnerable members of our society to squander their limited resources - resulting in untold misery for their families and themselves. Governments themselves are addicted to the revenue they raise from gambling and have the nerve to trumpet their assistance to community organisations through their "Gambling Community Benefit Fund" (I assume there is something similar in the US.) They steal it off the vulnerable on one hand and give a tiny percentage back with the other. Next to illegal drugs, gambling is the greatest social evil that afflicts our societies.

[HHIslander]

One of my friends who had never gambled on sports before hit a CFB pick six in his first online bet. Worst thing that ever happened to him. You can’t beat the man at his own game.

[1st amg]

Scary how hard you can fall in any sort of betting, weather its cards, casino or sports betting. No thank you. Thankfully I am one that hates to do any of those above.

[AzPaul]

Gambling is just one of many relaxed societal standards I've seen in my lifetime.

[brandrea]

What’s the over/under on Taylor Swift at the Superbowl ….

Yes, I’d say it’s a problem.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10285120/...ft-super-bowl/

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Blansky

The first time I went to Vegas and saw all the over the top casinos I said to myself: 95% or the people coming here are leaving with a lot less than they showed up with.

Vegas was built on Dumb Money. Judging by the mathematics level / capability of current USA school kids, Vegas will profit very highly in the coming years. On the other hand, smart guys do quite well even though casinos do not like us. Casions set the game rules, they should let us play.

[DLRIDES]

I’m going to get flamed for saying this, but IMO ………………..

Lotteries and gambling is a “tax on stupid”.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by DLRIDES

I’m going to get flamed for saying this, but IMO ………………..

Lotteries and gambling is a “tax on stupid”.

no flame from me. I agree.

And I love to sit at the tables in Vegas. But I am know what I am comfortable losing. Only entertainment value for me.

[m4rty]

Originally Posted by superdog

no flame from me. I agree.

And I love to sit at the tables in Vegas. But I am know what I am comfortable losing. Only entertainment value for me.

x3.

"You can't lose if you don't play."

[GB-man]

I feel pretty strongly that we will look back in a decade and say what a mistake that was allowing online sports books to advertise. They should be treated like cigarette companies imho

Having Kevin Heart on TV every 5 minutes making it look easy and fun and telling people they can get $200 for free just for signing up is like handing out OxyContin to a room fool of strangers. Some of them are going to have a serious problem.

[codecow]

Originally Posted by superdog

no flame from me. I agree.

And I love to sit at the tables in Vegas. But I am know what I am comfortable losing. Only entertainment value for me.

Let’s take a look at what else happens on a Vegas trip (when I go):

First class flight <- about what I will change from cash to play one day
Dinner(s) <- A nice dinner is between 0.2 of one day gambling to 1.5x
Entertainment Tickets <- Again 0.2 to 1.5x

So when I go, before comps, for a weekend I’m going to spend around what I would wager by changing cash for non-gambling. So the gambling at worst is just another entertainment expense that doubles the cost of the trip.

Sports betting is a knowledge game where it’s one of the better things to do if you have the knowledge. I typically do one or more sports bets to offset losses.

Gambling is a voluntary transaction and as such it should not be regulated.

[HHIslander]

Originally Posted by superdog

no flame from me. I agree.

And I love to sit at the tables in Vegas. But I am know what I am comfortable losing. Only entertainment value for me.

+5?

No flame here either.

I’ve spent many a weekend at Vegas gambling for entertainment and been given three watches from others gracious sharing of big winnings. Poker and blackjack are a blast. But I’ve seen what happens when it bites you and it’s not pretty. The line at the lottery ticket counter makes me cringe.