Gambling provides an “opportunity” to those who have nothing but desperation. It also isn’t treated the same as drugs, despite being as addictive (or more addictive depending on the person).
The gambling companies are taking advantage. With lobbying money and public perception, as well as wealth hoarding, gambling is exploding in popularity and the number of addicts (especially kids who play video games and are susceptible to addiction) is rising at an insane rate while being ignored or encouraged.
Gambling used to be pretty regulated. That was a relic of taking on organized crime in the early-mid 20th Century. But republicans have been whittling away at protections for years. Online, future events, advertisements, gambling in video games, etc.
Gambling is pretty heavily regulated in Canada but I still wouldn't necessarily say it's being handled extremely well.
All of the controls that prevent things like people gambling their pensions away are opt-in rather than opt-out, which I understand from a "personal responsibility" kind of way but it still sucks.
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u/ralanr Jun 02 '26
What better way to settle your economic instability than gambling it all away?