• deczzz@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    13 hours ago

    The question is how many people are harmed/unharmed by gambling? If say 2% of all bettors develop a gambling addiction, does that warrant a complete ban? What if it was 0,5% ? I don’t know the actual numbers on this but I generally think that you shouldn’t illegalsize for the many what is a problem for a small minority. I watch hours upon hours of sports with betting ads and I have never engaged in betting because I’m self aware enough to know that I might not be able to handle it if I get of “to a good start”.

    It’s the same problem with drug prohibition.

    • timochka@lemmy.zip
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      12 hours ago

      According to reputable sources (Lancet), around 1.5% of people engage in problematic gambling, with at-risk harder to estimate but probably around 8%. Compared to around 50% of people overall who participate in gambling perfectly happily (and the rest don’t engage at all.).

      Interestingly, there is a high co-morbidity with substance abuse and alcoholism. So if it’s all about protecting those people, we need to ban alcohol as well (and win the war on drugs - haha.)

      • deczzz@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        8 hours ago

        That’s what I’m saying. To me, 1,5% is way too few people that it warrants banning an activity that the vast majority can handle - even though the ads for gambling are through the roof. Just like alcohol. Take Norway, s country that is known for its very strict alcohol laws. According to https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/alcoholism-by-country (don’t know creditably), 1,59% suffer from alcoholism. Sweden is 2,81%.

        However, it’s too different debates. My stand is that it’s all about proper relegation and education.

    • Dr. Moose@lemmy.world
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      12 hours ago

      It’s not only about addiction. Gambling industry is very corrosive overall being a major source for money laundering, financial exploitation and source of conflict. Generally I’m very libertarian but gambling is just an incredibly toxic industry because it has so many invisible costs that is more than just addiction.

      • deczzz@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        8 hours ago

        Depends on regulations. In my country, the main big gambling company transfers their income to social projects

      • timochka@lemmy.zip
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        12 hours ago

        There is zero money laundering in well regulated gaming. None. Regulated gaming businesses have better AML & KYC than most banks.

        Black market though - 100%. Why do you want to help black market operators?

          • timochka@lemmy.zip
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            10 hours ago

            I’ve worked in the industry 30 years. You’ve already shown you’re not remotely familiar with it.