Simply put: technology is one step ahead of the law. All of these ‘tricks’ should be regulated as gambling for the same reasons gambling is regulated: they’re a

Simply put: technology is one step ahead of the law. All of these ‘tricks’ should be regulated as gambling for the same reasons gambling is regulated: they’re addictive, they disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, they extract large sums of money from these groups and enrich some large companies in the process. When viewed in that light, perhaps even existing gambling regulations don’t go far enough because there are plenty of people who suffer from gambling addiction and even ruin their lives in the process. As for the people who oppose all of this regulation on the basis of individual freedom (and perhaps don’t care about gambling addicts), here is the issue: externalities. People with severe gambling addiction can do tremendous damage to society as well as enable and enrich organized crime groups. It’s well documented that people with gambling addiction can and do commit thefts and even murders to fuel their addiction. Now you might also argue that regulation does not prevent gambling addiction but that is only evidence against the current set of regulations, not proof that all regulation is ineffective. Trying to determine the right regulations to minimize the harms of gambling addiction while balancing personal freedoms is the hard part of policy debates.