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No Evidence That Online Gambling Creates More Problem Gamblers
from the finally,-we-can't-blame-the-interent-on-something dept
While the US continues its attempts to wipe out all forms of online gambling (other than those forms of gambling that politicians partake in, such as horse racing and lotteries), a new study is suggesting that, contrary to politician grandstanding, online gambling does not lead to more problem gamblers. The study takes place in the UK, where they measured the different types of gambling that people engage in and determined the number of problem gamblers out there. What they found is that, even though it's a lot easier to gamble these days, the number of problem gamblers seems to have remained mostly constant (representing less than 1% of all gamblers). This shouldn't really be all that surprising. Problem gamblers are problem gamblers whether or not they have internet access to gambling sites. Either way, this should raise some questions about the idea that preventing online gambling somehow protects gambling addicts.
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Gotta Ask
What happened to all of the other TechDirt writer's Mike?
I thought there were about 4 or 5 of you?
Looking at all of the articles for today, they are pretty much all you and one from a TIC expert.
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Not that I agree with the ban, but if you open up more outlets for gambling (Internet) the percentage of problem gamblers might not go up but the real number of problem gamblers will increase, because the amount of gamblers will go up.
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Decay of modern Society
I'm not much on big brother government, but if there is one place it should step in; it would be gambling. I don't care if it is casino, riverboat, or on line.
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on-line gambling does not promote problems
...yeah, and if you buy into that, I've got a great deal on a honest to gosh, authentic Houdini autograph I can part with for a price.
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A world with no bad things
So what happens when all vices are taken away to protect the children? Do we all become little angels? I predict social unrest.
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Doesn't matter...
If gambling - online or not, 'creates more problem gamblers' then the lottery is as much of a problem as anything.
It's one way or the other, I really tire of the Government's double standards. I refuse to play lottery at all because of that. Well - that and I think for the most part it's a waste of money. I'd really rather just play Roulette, lol
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Protect the children? The lottery supposidly does that as a large portion of their profit goes to funding schools.
There are a lot of things the govt. shouldn't be involved in, I believe gambling is one of them.
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Government...
I think the government needs to quite dictating morals to our society and start cashing in on people's little vices. If someone wants to gamble their life away, let them. If it is online, tax the heck out of people. If it is in a casino, still tax them but not as much.
That will curb the number of online gamblers and I bet the government would make tons of money to use for schools and roads (which have been ignored for far too long now).
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Even if online gambling "created" more "problem" gamblers, that wouldn't be a justification to ban or restrict it.
If Johnny Jackass wants to blow his paycheck playing blackjack online, that's his choice.
And, no, I don't gamble. It's for suuuckers! =P
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Re: Government...
I think the government's main issue with online gambling is that they can't tax it as easily.
Well, that, and the casino lobbying dollars that pay for anti-online-gambling legislation.
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Gmabling
I bet you I could find evidence!
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The Nanny State
When will we let people be resp for their own actions? It's rediculous that the gov tries to protect people from their own weaknesses at our expence. Gambling isn't the problem. The problem is the people who are too weak to control themselves. If they gamble away their life savings that is their problem. Maybe that is what they need to happen before tehy wake up.
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Re: The Nanny State
It's rediculous that the gov tries to protect people from their own weaknesses at our expence.
I wonder what costs us more...banning internet gambling or supporting the losers who gamble so much they have to go on welfare...maybe their is some sense to the government's madness.
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This just in
There is also no proof that smoking causes cancer. There is no proof of global warming. It is next to impossible to prove anything useful using statistics. It could all just be one big coincidence. Anyway gambling is bad it destroys people lives and I don't think it's a bad think that you have to go to Vegas to do it.
If you play the lottery you are throwing away 70 cants on the dollar. Odds of winning are much much better in a casino leave it to private industry to do things better than the government.
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Something similar to this happened many years ago.
I remember once that the government decided to outlaw alcohol in the United States, to save the drunks from themselves... and we all should know how that turned out.
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blah
My take - online gambling is actually a safer way to gamble in the grand scheme of things.
I know, I know, I'm crazy...but here's why.
You can't bet online with money that is not in your account. It's that simple. You don't have to worry about Guido showing up at your door with a baseball bat because you called up your bookie and made a "sure-winner" bet while drinking with your buddies at the bar the night before.
I'm tired of the angle that this stuff is banned for our own good. (so betting on horses is any different??) It's a money thing, pure and simple.
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Hold 'em fold 'em
I'd bet five dollars that the numbers cited in the study are too low.
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I see your five and raise you ten :P
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And you've got to love how betting on horse racing and dog racing is given nice little exemptions under the law.
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nothing..jus my opinion!!!
this is a very gay site..i loves my gambling
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