The Dangerous Lure of Gambling

[Padreruf]

As a minister I have had several acquaintances and 1 close friend -- former golfer @ Bama -- get in deep trouble with illegal gambling. One even committed suicide rather than endanger his family. Now that it is legal I fear that the danger is masked, but is evermore present. BTW, I will at times risk small sums of money (max 20) on the golf course with my buddies...we know each other's games and work hard to make the game "fair."

Here is a great pod cast from Michael Lewis (Moneyball) on how sports gambling came to be legal; he also talks about how the average bettor is, to put it mildly, a sucker who cannot compete with the "house." Most bettors do so as fans or on emotion and not on the basis of relevant statistics. If the bettor starts winning they will find themselves on the outside looking in...the house will not take their money and in some cases will "freeze" the accounts they have.

A good listen that really informs us all as to how the system is rigged against the player.

Against the Rules with Michael Lewis

Society & Culture Podcast · Series · Journalist and bestselling author Michael Lewis explores the figures in American life who rely on the public's trust, whether in sports, in business, in the courtroom, or on TV. What happens when that…

podcasts.apple.com

 

[teamplayer]

Gambling is one of the clearest examples of a fool and his money soon being parted.

 

[AlistarWills]

Gambling isn’t there for the house to lose money regularly. Those folks are blindingly rich for a reason.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I've known quite a few people who gambled, I've never had any interest. I work too hard for my money to give it away, and if you've ever seen my TideFans weekly picks, you'd know I'd be giving it away in handfuls.

No thank you.

 

[Padreruf]

Former athletes are very prone to gambling addiction. I had one tell me that it was the only place he could get the same adrenaline rush that he had on the football field. It's the action, the action -- have heard that way too much in my life.

 

[CB4]

Former athletes are very prone to gambling addiction. I had one tell me that it was the only place he could get the same adrenaline rush that he had on the football field. It's the action, the action -- have heard that way too much in my life.

Yep, as a compulsive gambler with over 20 years clean time, gambling for the former athlete is an existential way of remaining “in the game”. The worst thing you can be as a gambler is highly competitive. That is my story. The same thing that wired you to win on the football field, basketball court, hockey rink, or golf course is the same thing that destroys you as a compulsive gambler.

 

[Tidewater]

I had a tradition of betting on college football with my boss (a Buckeye fan)..
The stakes were always the same: a sausage McMuffin. I would normally bet against Alabama. My thinking was, if my team loses, at least I get a sausage McMuffin on Monday. If my team won, I'd gladly pay $1 for a Bama victory.

 

[CrimsonCleanse]

Almost everybody goes into gambling with a mentality of being "the exception". The one who "beats the system". It's hard to even win ONE bet. I don't see how people do 5 and 6 game parlays

 

[Crimson1967]

I just read the Wikipedia article on Art Schlicter. A story of a talented football player done in by his addition and being a sorry human being.

 

[DymaxionDon]

This comment may get me banned from the site, but an important part of the football fan base enjoys a wager on their favorite team with no discernable downside. There is a minority of gamblers who cannot control themselves but don't condemn the activity because of a few bad actors. This is the same argument used to condemn the consumption of alcohol when I was a kid. I might be willing to wager there are more people in Alabama with an addiction to shopping than gambling. I definitely would wager there are more people in Alabama with an addiction to overeating. Both of these have ruined more lives than Gambling for sure. Not trying to start an argument but a little wager on the Crimson Tide is enjoyable for the vast majority of people. Just go easy and let the people have a little fun. Worry about the big problems.

 

[92tide]

nybf could beat the house /s

 

[crimsonaudio]

This comment may get me banned from the site, but an important part of the football fan base enjoys a wager on their favorite team with no discernable downside. There is a minority of gamblers who cannot control themselves but don't condemn the activity because of a few bad actors. This is the same argument used to condemn the consumption of alcohol when I was a kid. I might be willing to wager there are more people in Alabama with an addiction to shopping than gambling. I definitely would wager there are more people in Alabama with an addiction to overeating. Both of these have ruined more lives than Gambling for sure. Not trying to start an argument but a little wager on the Crimson Tide is enjoyable for the vast majority of people. Just go easy and let the people have a little fun. Worry about the big problems.

Why on earth would this post get you banned?

 

[crimson fan man]

To gamble is not making a wager. Gambling is when you gamble your livelihood that supports yourself or your family. That is the sin.

 

[dWarriors88]

I feel like there is a risk/reward ratio for everything we do. I like to ride dirt bikes, it's risky to my physical health but the rewards outweigh those risks to me. If you can wager responsibly, within your risk limitations, I don't necessarily see an issue with it. I'm more liberal in that regard I suppose.

 

[CajunCrimson]

I start with $50/year and I play it until it’s gone. The longest I’ve had it was October. For me, it’s entertainment. The highest I’ve built it is $500. But always end at zero.

 

[Padreruf]

This comment may get me banned from the site, but an important part of the football fan base enjoys a wager on their favorite team with no discernable downside. There is a minority of gamblers who cannot control themselves but don't condemn the activity because of a few bad actors. This is the same argument used to condemn the consumption of alcohol when I was a kid. I might be willing to wager there are more people in Alabama with an addiction to shopping than gambling. I definitely would wager there are more people in Alabama with an addiction to overeating. Both of these have ruined more lives than Gambling for sure. Not trying to start an argument but a little wager on the Crimson Tide is enjoyable for the vast majority of people. Just go easy and let the people have a little fun. Worry about the big problems.

When your friend loses a house or puts a gun to his head and pulls the trigger, it is a big problem. Enjoy your bliss...yes, we are an addictive species, but that doesn't mean we have to be prisoners to it's reality,

 

[CB4]

When your friend loses a house or puts a gun to his head and pulls the trigger, it is a big problem. Enjoy your bliss...yes, we are an addictive species, but that doesn't mean we have to be prisoners to it's reality,

I think per your original comment @Padreruf it wasn’t the issue wasn’t gambling in general, fully admitting that you make friendly wager every now and again. The point seemed to the pervasiveness now across all sports.

Has it always been there? Certainly. But the ease of participation now is ridiculous. For example, all the major sports use to “run from” any and all associations with gambling. Heck Al Michaels (a big time gambler himself) said networks would strictly forbid gambling talk, lines, points spread etc. Today? Today it is part of almost every discussion, from college on up. And the ease at which you can do it? No more calling a bookie. It is now as easy as downloading an app.

Most data shows that approximately 1 to 2% of the population have what is considered pathologic/compulsive or problem gambling issues. While that may be true, most people working in behavioral health will tell you based on their experience, it is most likely at least double that. The other data that is alarming is the fastest growing segment of problem gamblers is the 18-30 year old age group, exceeding 5%. Also there has a significant surge of women’s behaviorial health issues associated with gambling, particularly sports betting. Much of that growth can be related to the ease at which a wager can be made. No longer is problem gambling a middle-age male problem.It now is growing across demographics.

What @Padreruf was getting at, IMO, is most people don’t realize (as the podcast points out) how the odds are stacked against them. Gambling, for the problem gambler, is not a logical or rational process . It is an emotional/behavioral (that in time becomes physiological) process. The value of money becomes insignificant. And these sports books and sites like DraftKings and FanDuel along with casinos know every bit of the emotional part of it. And they use that in more ways than most know to “keep the house” ahead.

 

[CB4]

I feel like there is a risk/reward ratio for everything we do. I like to ride dirt bikes, it's risky to my physical health but the rewards outweigh those risks to me. If you can wager responsibly, within your risk limitations, I don't necessarily see an issue with it. I'm more liberal in that regard I suppose.

Exactly. Even as a compulsive gambler I fully recognize there are many “normal” folks that can participate in the behavior. I’m not normal like others. I can’t. My next bet will kill me. Not immediately but in time. Just like the alcoholic, “one is too many and a million is not enough”. And I’ve learned self awareness is a wonderful thing, and “being different” from others isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

 

[DymaxionDon]

When your friend loses a house or puts a gun to his head and pulls the trigger, it is a big problem. Enjoy your bliss...yes, we are an addictive species, but that doesn't mean we have to be prisoners to it's reality,

You are taking very small issues and blowing them all out of proportion. There is nothing wrong with wagering on a football game and many people enjoy it every weekend. Alabama has much bigger problems than a few compulsive gamblers. Leave football alone!

 

[DymaxionDon]

Why on earth would this post get you banned?

I understand how the anti-drinking/ gambling crowd operate in Alabama. They start with small out of context comments and grow from there until they want any mention of gambling banned from the channel. I have followed this channel for a long time, and this is the first thread I remember attacking the gaming component of football. I do not want that to go unchallenged. Hopefully this is the last of this thread.