do professional gamblers contribute anything to society?

**raiders72001** · 12-19-05, 12:57 AM

As long as you can pay the bills and aren't a burden on society, by raising your kids properly you will contribute to society.

**bigboydan** · 12-19-05, 01:01 AM

pay taxes on your winnings in another way, you can contribute to society.

**slacker00** · 12-19-05, 01:14 AM

This has been handled to death over on 2+2, but let's do it here.

I agree with raiders, that if you raise your kids, pay your bills, etc, you are doing your job. Nobody says you have to be a doctor or humanitarian or whatever. How about lawyers, what do they really "contribute"? How about politicians? We can get pretty deep pretty quick, if you really want that.

The best argument I've heard, is that gamblers are essentially "entertainers". They are part of the fabric of the entertainment industry. Think about the "losers" in the gambling world. What are the "getting" for their dollar? Entertainment! They watch the game, bet and lose, or push the chips into the pot, bet and lose, and take away an experience. Professional gamblers are the ones pulling in the pots, or winning the bets. Casinos, online or otherwise, are the ones taking the grease or rake, whatever it might be. Professional gamblers are really just a miniature casino, if you think about it: they take action and pay winners.

The deeper question is maybe whether entertainment needs to be so central to our culture. Does Schwartzenegger really need $50 million to shoot his next action film? Does Favre really need $8 million a year to play a GAME? We live in a capitalistic society, so whatever people are willing to pay for, they'll get. It seems we're willing to pay quite a bit to be entertained.

**Illusion** · 12-19-05, 01:37 AM

Originally posted by raiders72001

As long as you can pay the bills and aren't a burden on society, by raising your kids properly you will contribute to society.

Sharp post, raiders is dead on here.

**isetcap** · 12-19-05, 01:38 AM

Entertainment is a core component in achieving self-actualization. While I would wager (if I had a bonus to play through) that most people aren't actually capable of that perception, it does not make it any less valuable from an individual or social standpoint. A society that values "entertainment" is one that gives more individuals opportunity to be self-actualized, therefore a professional gamblers contribution to society is indeed significant, although the greater portion of significance my be individual.

**newb411breaker19** · 12-19-05, 12:59 PM

i agree with raiders about the children and living a decent life but gambling is a zero sum game, nothing is produced out of it other than a loss for one and a gain for another. I really don't know much about philosophy/sociology but i would argue that people need stability in their lives even more than they need entertainment. If this is the case, professional gamblers are just feeding off of another human's weakness which can ultimately destroy his life. im kinda sadistic i suppose

in regards to self actualization are you talking about Maslow's theory? if so i guess you could say that a pro gambler is satisfying another's self fulfillment, however for most it is a short sighted fulfillment which often leaves someone in a worse state than when they started i.e. the joy of having "action" on a monday night football game, to the anger or compulsiveness he may revert to if he loses.

slacker, when someone pays for entertainment (like buying a movie ticket) they usually don't feel compelled to buy 5 more tickets like a losing sports bettor does. it's parasitic in essence. and when you pay for real entertainment they don't tantalize people buy saying you might have a chance to win more money if you're lucky, its deception in its finest more profitable forms

**Brick Tamland** · 12-19-05, 01:11 PM

I gave up my dream of bein meth dealer and professonal hitman to be a gambler. Thank you uncle Mo and vegas.

**newb411breaker19** · 12-19-05, 04:47 PM

lol

**pats3peat** · 12-19-05, 05:15 PM

even if you're a 'burden' on society... its not like what you do is gonna impact anything 1000 years from now.. chances are you being dead or alive wont matter

hopefully i can get away with never paying taxes

**pags11** · 12-19-05, 05:55 PM

I don't like touts, but Dave Cokin does a pretty good job on the stardust radio show...

**slacker00** · 12-19-05, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by newb411breaker19

slacker, when someone pays for entertainment (like buying a movie ticket) they usually don't feel compelled to buy 5 more tickets like a losing sports bettor does. it's parasitic in essence. and when you pay for real entertainment they don't tantalize people buy saying you might have a chance to win more money if you're lucky, its deception in its finest more profitable forms

You don't feel compelled to buy more movie tickets?! Can you say SEQUEL? How about the trekkies? How much money to they dump on that sick obsession. You can hardly blame the movie industry for creating a crackpot fringe like that. Similarly you cannot blame casinos or the gambling establishment, per se, for aberrant behavior.

That said, gambling addiction can turn into a very real disease just as real as alcohol addiction or nicotine addiction. There are people with real problems, and these problems need to be addressed by the gambling establishment in general.

The truth is somewhere in between. But, you'd be hard pressed to convince me that gambling is more harmful to society as a whole than alcohol.

**newb411breaker19** · 12-19-05, 09:44 PM

yeah you got me slacker, but for many alcohol is just a thirst quencher not for entertainment. at least for irish people

**pats3peat** · 12-20-05, 03:31 PM

Originally posted by newb411breaker19

yeah you got me slacker, but for many alcohol is just a thirst quencher not for entertainment. at least for irish people

for teenagers its a form of entertainment and sometimes death while drunk driving

**newb411breaker19** · 12-20-05, 09:56 PM

i know that and it's sad, it was meant as a joke sorry if i offended anyone

**imgv94** · 12-20-05, 11:07 PM

Yes Professional Gamblers contribute to society immensely!! Professional
Gamblers create jobs(casinos,sportsbooks,race track etc)Don't get in the
way of someone else looking 4 a job.Take half of the pro gamblers away
There will be longer lines at the employment office,Less demand for
casino employees.Which is a double-whammy. Pro Gamblers pay as much
in taxes as the next person. When They Go out and buy a 99 cent burger
they pay $1.07 also.

**mad** · 12-20-05, 11:30 PM

8 cents juice on a burger?
Now that's crazy!

**isetcap** · 12-21-05, 06:22 AM

that's how it is in cali. don't know how those people can stand living in virtual socialism the way they are taxed. worse in norcal than socal though.

**imgv94** · 12-21-05, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by isetcap

that's how it is in cali. don't know how those people can stand living in virtual socialism the way they are taxed. worse in norcal than socal though.

you from cali bro??

**isetcap** · 12-21-05, 07:54 AM

lived there for a while. my girl is in cali (sf) and my business partner is in cali (la). i go there every other month for at least a week.

**jumper** · 12-22-05, 01:07 PM

i feel that my involvement in these markets helps the economy of costa rica as i help support the employement of many sportsbook workers,most of whom work in costa rica.i hope many of these employees get nice year end bonuses-happy holidays

**jay88** · 12-22-05, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by jumper

i feel that my involvement in these markets helps the economy of costa rica as i help support the employement of many sportsbook workers,most of whom work in costa rica.i hope many of these employees get nice year end bonuses-happy holidays

Gambling is extremely important to Costa Rican economy... You guys pay for hundreds of clercks education.

**pats3peat** · 12-22-05, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by mad

8 cents juice on a burger?
Now that's crazy!

"juice"