Nobody is more addicted to gambling than government. The original argument was that gambling was a social ill, and therefore government needed to regulate it to protect the vulnerable and keep organized crime out and to generate the revenue to treat problem gamblers. That quickly morphed into a lottery or casino ad every fifteen minutes on the tv, and now steady rotating ads for sports gambling and casinos on your iPhone. I recall reading back in the eighties that the Ontario government’s “ handle” - their cut - from horse racing alone was a billion dollars a year. Online and casino gambling has cannibalized much of that, and horse racing is now subsidized and depends on slot machine parlours for survival. Meanwhile, lotteries, slots and online casinos generate $1.5 bbl or thereabouts a year in no tax revenue (though, really, gambling kind of is a tax on the stupid). Also, it is only a matter of time until gambling ruins professional sports.
I guess with fewer of us smoking, govts need to replace that revenue. Contrarian data point: the worst degenerate gambler I know has a degree in mathematics and works as a professional statistician. Its all about that dopamine hit.
You've perfectly captured the worrying reality of online betting. It makes you wonder: if the government only cares about tax profits and fails to protect vulnerable people, are regulated sites actually safer than offshore ones. I'd still say yes.
Which gender statistically has more problems with gambling?
Seems to fit the pattern of picking and choosing who to protect and who to ignore.
Nobody is more addicted to gambling than government. The original argument was that gambling was a social ill, and therefore government needed to regulate it to protect the vulnerable and keep organized crime out and to generate the revenue to treat problem gamblers. That quickly morphed into a lottery or casino ad every fifteen minutes on the tv, and now steady rotating ads for sports gambling and casinos on your iPhone. I recall reading back in the eighties that the Ontario government’s “ handle” - their cut - from horse racing alone was a billion dollars a year. Online and casino gambling has cannibalized much of that, and horse racing is now subsidized and depends on slot machine parlours for survival. Meanwhile, lotteries, slots and online casinos generate $1.5 bbl or thereabouts a year in no tax revenue (though, really, gambling kind of is a tax on the stupid). Also, it is only a matter of time until gambling ruins professional sports.
I guess with fewer of us smoking, govts need to replace that revenue. Contrarian data point: the worst degenerate gambler I know has a degree in mathematics and works as a professional statistician. Its all about that dopamine hit.
I'm not sure there are now fewer of us smoking. Sadly, tobacco manufacturing is quite "healthy" in Canada these days. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1610004701
You've perfectly captured the worrying reality of online betting. It makes you wonder: if the government only cares about tax profits and fails to protect vulnerable people, are regulated sites actually safer than offshore ones. I'd still say yes.
David, thanks for tackling such an important topic. I feel like, give it 10 years and the social fallout from online gambling is going to be massive.