Originally Posted by
Dark Horse
I completely disagree with the first part.
I didn't realize you saw it so black and white. Sportsbook and casinos, in my opinion, are neutral entities that offer people the opportunity to learn about proper decision making. Is not every single one of life's big decisions in essence a gamble? Look up the divorce rate. Check out NASA's history. Every exploration comes with build-in risk. Risk can't be conquered. It can only be managed. The elements to be conquered are fear and ignorance.
So I completely agree with the second part, about education.
Driving off a cliff doesn't make a car toxic. Why not learn to drive the thing first? If people wish not to learn the lessons life places before them, that is their right and free choice. Even then, if suffering results, something will be learned; so something is gained. Life goes on, so even 'ruin' is not a permanent state. The only difference between choices in real life and in the world of gambling is that the latter offers no place to hide. In this realm people pay for every single mistake they make. Some may find that unacceptably ruthless, but others find it incredibly beautiful; perhaps even more so because it goes hand in hand with a quest to improve upon current (scientific) knowledge.