3 ms·

Gambling and alcohol destroy lives, every day. You can get a 6-pack of beer and a lotto ticket at the corner store down the street. How did alcohol probation g

by dgfitz 2y ago

Gambling and alcohol destroy lives, every day. You can get a 6-pack of beer and a lotto ticket at the corner store down the street. How did alcohol probation go? Why would gambling be different?

PittleyDunkin 2y ago
> How did alcohol probation go? In the context of fighting alcoholism, it was very effective. I'm not sure what other metric would matter—you're never going to be able to ban alcohol consumption (or gambling) entirely. Presumably the point is harm reduction, not absolute abstinence. EDIT: I reworded the above; it's static now. I, however, also would like to ban gambling again. I've watched multiple people in my life have their lives consumed by gambling apps(!?!) and I don't ever see them straightening their lives out without assistance from the state.
- dgfitz 2y ago
  Before sports gambling was legal on apps (in some states) I witnessed the same thing. That was the poor point I was trying to make about prohibition. Similar to the war on drugs I suppose.
  - PittleyDunkin 2y ago
    I think harm reduction is worthwhile. You're very correct that both responsible and irresponsible people will engage in the behavior regardless, but even if I were really into sports gambling (which I'm not really morally opposed to per se) I don't think being able to do it with strangers from my couch is worth the harm I observed. To be frank, the adults i referred to that are being sucked into this are very easily taken advantage of: illiterate, financially illiterate, and easily swindled by that One Big Win. That really does make my stomach turn. Even just making them trek across town to the casino would mark a noticeable increase in life quality. Watching them spend literally their last dollar on gambling every night truly makes me despair. In many ways I would prefer they spend it on alcohol. Just my two cents, of course.
    - dgfitz 2y ago
      Roger that, I agree with you, the point about making someone need to drive across town does introduce friction. Knowing what I know about gamblers, that commute would just become part of their addiction ritual. All addicts have a ritual.
f33d5173 2y ago
Gambling prohibition went fine. The laws were relaxed because there was money to be made, not because they were causing problems. The GP outlines why alcohol and gambling are distinguished. Alcohol is enjoyed by a majority of people, with a very small minority abusing it. Gambling is enjoyed by a much smaller portion of people, a larger portion of whom abuse it. This is especially true with respect to where money is made off of gambling. Since so much more money can be made off of single person from gambling than alcohol, the portion of the money made in gambling from abusers is much higher.

by dgfitz 2y ago

Gambling and alcohol destroy lives, every day. You can get a 6-pack of beer and a lotto ticket at the corner store down the street. How did alcohol probation go? Why would gambling be different?

PittleyDunkin 2y ago

> How did alcohol probation go? In the context of fighting alcoholism, it was very effective. I'm not sure what other metric would matter—you're never going to be able to ban alcohol consumption (or gambling) entirely. Presumably the point is harm reduction, not absolute abstinence. EDIT: I reworded the above; it's static now. I, however, also would like to ban gambling again. I've watched multiple people in my life have their lives consumed by gambling apps(!?!) and I don't ever see them straightening their lives out without assistance from the state.

dgfitz 2y ago
Before sports gambling was legal on apps (in some states) I witnessed the same thing. That was the poor point I was trying to make about prohibition. Similar to the war on drugs I suppose.
- PittleyDunkin 2y ago
  I think harm reduction is worthwhile. You're very correct that both responsible and irresponsible people will engage in the behavior regardless, but even if I were really into sports gambling (which I'm not really morally opposed to per se) I don't think being able to do it with strangers from my couch is worth the harm I observed. To be frank, the adults i referred to that are being sucked into this are very easily taken advantage of: illiterate, financially illiterate, and easily swindled by that One Big Win. That really does make my stomach turn. Even just making them trek across town to the casino would mark a noticeable increase in life quality. Watching them spend literally their last dollar on gambling every night truly makes me despair. In many ways I would prefer they spend it on alcohol. Just my two cents, of course.
  - dgfitz 2y ago
    Roger that, I agree with you, the point about making someone need to drive across town does introduce friction. Knowing what I know about gamblers, that commute would just become part of their addiction ritual. All addicts have a ritual.

f33d5173 2y ago

Gambling prohibition went fine. The laws were relaxed because there was money to be made, not because they were causing problems. The GP outlines why alcohol and gambling are distinguished. Alcohol is enjoyed by a majority of people, with a very small minority abusing it. Gambling is enjoyed by a much smaller portion of people, a larger portion of whom abuse it. This is especially true with respect to where money is made off of gambling. Since so much more money can be made off of single person from gambling than alcohol, the portion of the money made in gambling from abusers is much higher.