Just read this article in "The Guardian" about sports betting in the U.S. and potential Congressional action that....

[MMBeilis]

.......may be taken to confront this problem. I find myself troubled that my first reaction is not to the merits of this discussion but to how our idiot president, in office after January 20th, will impose his will on this debate. I'm guessing he will bloviate about government interference, too many regulations on the business of sports betting, or, as I would put it, selling another addiction to the rubes who hate paying taxes for their kids schools. I say troubled because this reaction of mine, I feel, will be pretty consistent across the board over the next few years as issues come and go.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/22/congress-gambling-addiction-sports-betting

Side note: As usual, The Guardian is ahead of the curve reporting on "Problems, American".

[erronis]

1. So agree with The Guardian being ahead of the curve.

I hope their reporting can continue without interference from the new regime (musk, putin, thiel, vance, and maybe trump.)

[Blue_Tires]

2. I'm glad to see the Guardian found their fastball again

👍

[lame54]

3. The commercials are relentless...

A national get rich quick scheme

[MMBeilis]

4. The opposite of "trickle down" where all the dough flows upward, as usual.

[WarGamer]

5. Why is it a problem...

[RandomNumbers]

7. Are you asking why the surge in sports betting - via online

and presumably other reasons - is a problem?

If you know any problem gamblers, you probably KNOW why it's a problem.

I'd be surprised if there is anyone in America that doesn't know at least one problem gambler. Maybe you don't know that person is a problem gambler. But I guarantee someone that gambler knows, knows VERY well what a problem they have.

But okay, it is just like the gambling orgs have greased the chutes for people to throw their money away. And like alcoholism, it is just too hard for some to resist.

I admit, I see absolutely no positive value in gambling as a pastime, except perhaps in a small $ game against friends, or perhaps an office pool. That can be a means to build camaraderie - although there are certainly many other ways that don't have the downsides of gambling. But going to a casino? Or online betting? What the f*ck are people thinking? Now I don't think it should be fully illegal - prohibition raises its own problems - but let's not make it a fast track, like they have.

[WarGamer]

9. IMHO, anti-gambling and anti-prostitution are echoes of the Puritans.

Historically, gambling is opposed by religious groups because it reduces the amount of donations.

Sports betting is legal in most of Europe...

Sports betting is gambling, but it IS based on knowledge of the sport...

As a daily options trader... I see no difference between betting on the LA Lakers to score 105+ and trading the S&P to go up or down on Monday.

[MMBeilis]

8. The article mentions marketing to youth. Not just betting but betting addiction.

[WarGamer]

10. The stock market is literally gambling... especially in the short term forms like Options Trading... day trading.

Like I wrote above... Raiders over the Chiefs, I'll take the Raiders and 6.5pts... or trade SPY 0DTE options on Monday betting the S&P goes up.

Same thing.

[mopinko]

12. heard a story on npr about ppl pressuring college athletes. ppl dont bet on w/l anymore.

they bet on stuff like free throws and 3’s, individual performance.
the story quoted an athlete saying his friends said shit like- i dont want u to throw a game, just dont take any shots in the 1st 3 min.
betting on who wins is 1 thing. betting on every little aspect of a game leaves way to much wiggle room.

[mahina]

6. Michael Lewis, author of Moneyball, the big short and the fifth risk, has a podcast whose whole season five just ending

Now is on sports gambling. It is fascinating. The whole podcast is brilliant, but this season has been an eye-opener for me as sports gambling is illegal in my state. The podcast is called against the rules.

[Rebl2]

11. I am in

Missouri and we voted on allowing sports betting in our state this last election. It barely passed and also voted on a casino in the Branson/ozarks area, and it did not pass. I know our local sports teams were all for the sports betting.