Online Gambling

ANY addiction, whatever form it takes, is merely a symptom of a larger problem.

The fact that addiction is legal simply absolves some of the guilt they might otherwise experience.

Unfortunately, when that addiction becomes problematic, that is the issue that receives the most attention. But it often won't stop what led to the addiction in the first place.
 
i had young highly dependable firefighter at my station, hit big on sports betting early on. fast forward about a year, was on the brink of getting fired, all the money everything he and alot he didnt was gone. Army waved a big sign on bonus in front of him, enough to get him close to out of debt, and now. Starts SF selection soon. He seems to be in a much better place though, stopped by other day for firefouse thanksgiving. Long story short we were pleading with him to stop. once we realized how bad it was it was too late. The issue i have is online sports betting is highly predatory due to its easy access and who it targets. unlike drugs or alcohol more gambling can, although highly unlikely, can fix the problem it gets you in too. That said i also support the free will an individual to manage there own life.
 
Gambling has been a problem for a long, long time. The gamblers have just found a way to better get to the masses.
They make it look harmless, then .......
I've had friends hooked on it, lost a lot, won some, lost --- You know the routine. Eventually some of them lost their families over it, just like alcohol and drugs or sexual immoralities.

They can't push cigarettes nor alcohol, let's push gambling.
 
When we would travel thru Nevada on our hunting trips we'd usually stay in Elko or Wendover. I'd put $100 into a dollar slot and maybe get a couple watered down drinks until it was gone. Off to bed after that. Once with a group of guys in one truck we all put $100 for gas in an envelope. I won about $500 one night and gave everyone their money back.
 
I know a guy who lost his house, that was paid for, and eventually his wife to online gambling.

Another who lost multiple houses and land, and eventually his wife and everything else because he couldn’t stay out of the Indian casinos.

My motto when it comes to casinos, sports bets, sure things, and tattoos is that I’m not in the habit of buying stuff I can’t sell if times get hard.
 
One has to understand that gambling is a losing proposition for the one placing the bets. That's the way it is structured by "the house." If anyone need to be convinced of that, all they have to do is drive the Las Vegas strip. Gambling is nothing more than throwing money away. Gambling addicts need serious intervention to shake the habit, which appears to have a strong mental component.
 
The money in sports is insane and wagering or bets for sporting events have been present since the age of time. You used to have to go to Vegas,nor "know someone" for big bets.. Now, Technology and media only acclerates advertising, obviously the price of customer aquisition is paying off for them or they wouldn't be advertising…. Different set of issues than substance abuse, but whatever problems is creates for people will likley only accelerate with time
 
I used to gamble right after I turned 21. Go to Vegas and have a COSTLY weekend. I was single and and so were my buddies. It in about 1962 when I realized that the only thing I was getting was being broke all the time. Quit gambling and have never done it since. I buy raffle tickets for RMEF and our local stuff to benefit kids, but thats it.
 
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