Gambling stigma

MackeMacke
in Off Topic Lounge
Just a quick thought and this may only apply to me and my area but why does gambling have such a bad stigma? Especially in regards to say drinking or drug use which are seen as perfectly normal.. not saying they aren't..

Comments

  • trigstrigs
    Macke wrote: »
    Just a quick thought and this may only apply to me and my area but why does gambling have such a bad stigma? Especially in regards to say drinking or drug use which are seen as perfectly normal.. not saying they aren't..

    gamblers were always seen as criminals back in the day and the stigma hasn't fully went away.
  • DrTyoreDrTyore
    Have you met me?

    Mark
  • kwstevekwsteve
    Simple answer: throughout the 20th century, gambling was closely associated with organized crime. Before casinos were legal you could only go to underground gambling joints run by organized crime. Of course they were always quick to loan money to losers, so the loan sharks were always hanging around the games, and they preyed on addicted gamblers. Business owners who got into debt to the mob were forced to hand over their businesses, and that is how mobsters gained footholds into legitimate businesses. The fact is the Mafia used gambling as a one-stop shop to get their tentacles into people so they could control them quite easily.

    The gamblers themselves weren't necessarily criminals, but it was a certainty that you would be associating with criminals if you wanted to go play casino-type games.
  • MackeMacke
    I guess that makes sense.. but that period was also a long time ago now.. I just find it weird how someone can be so open about getting wasted every weekend and doing some harder drugs and yet I mention I go to the casino a couple times a week and am asked if I have a problem...lol.

    Personally out of having a drug problem or a gambling problem I'd take the gamble all day.

    though I guess you could say it's all just one big addiction.
  • trigstrigs
    Macke wrote: »
    I guess that makes sense.. but that period was also a long time ago now.. I just find it weird how someone can be so open about getting wasted every weekend and doing some harder drugs and yet I mention I go to the casino a couple times a week and am asked if I have a problem...lol.

    Personally out of having a drug problem or a gambling problem I'd take the gamble all day.

    though I guess you could say it's all just one big addiction.

    you are expecting people to actually question the societal norms and think for themselves. that's a BIG expectation to have imho.
  • The Prophet 22The Prophet 22
    Daily fantasy sports gaming illegal in Canada, trade group says

    Daily fantasy sports gaming illegal in Canada, trade group says - Article - TSN


    With what happened in New York today, can Canada be that far behind?

    Prophet22
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