the morality of gambling

Shrykull · Post by **Shrykull** » 2003-05-18 08:46am

what do you think? Why is it illegal(if it is) just to run a poker game at your house, what business is it of the law's? Should people who make huge sums on it have those taken away, and/or should the government deserve a portion of the money? And why? Should you be able to start a casino out of your house if you wanted to?

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » 2003-05-18 11:36am

I don't think there's anything immoral about spending money stupidly. Well Unless you have a family to support or something like that.

Anyways, I voted on the first choice. I don't gamble myself, and I don't think I ever would, but I know some people who do. It doesn't necessarily mean they're stupid enough to think they're going to win, most of them just do it for the thrill when they have a bit of extra money to spend.

I don't see why people shouldn't be allowed to run a little poker game at their house since every participant has an equal chance of winning in that case.

However in the case of Casino games, it always is a lot less likely that you'll win than lose. I remember there was a specific term for this my math teacher used when he was teaching my class probability.

Anyways, basically, the longer a person plays casino games, the more money he's going to lose. Sure he might get really lucky and win $1000, but if he doesn't leave immediately and instead decides to spend that money trying to win more he is going to lose it all.

So in the case of poker games, it should be legal, however opening a casino in your house shouldn't.

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-05-18 12:09pm

The reason that it's illegal to run poker games at your house is because if you win, it's income. And that income is often not recorded. Thus, it cannot be reported to the IRS. Whenever money exchanges hands, it must be documented, as a rule. So... um... yeah. That's why.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-05-18 12:24pm

It's stupid, not immoral.

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-05-18 12:26pm

Queeb Salaron wrote:The reason that it's illegal to run poker games at your house is because if you win, it's income. And that income is often not recorded. Thus, it cannot be reported to the IRS. Whenever money exchanges hands, it must be documented, as a rule. So... um... yeah. That's why.

Which would be why the GDP is alwas so fucking OFF.

NapoleonGH · Post by **NapoleonGH** » 2003-05-18 03:05pm

I see no reason for gambling to be illegal, it is afterall your money, and I know plenty of people who can make a decent living gambling in casinos. If you are self disciplined enough to simply play the odds and not take dumb risks, gambling can make you a fair amount of money. Trust me on this point

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2003-05-18 05:05pm

It's immoral when compulsive gambling is incorraged in lowincome neighborhoods or communities, where such diversion could mean the breakdown of families due to lack of funds. It's also the stupid way that moralists can go off and lose 8mil.

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2003-05-18 05:07pm

I play a friendly poker game with a few friends every know and then, mostly for nicles and dimes. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. I've kept a record of my winnings and losses over the last 6 years and according to those I've lost a total 78 Euros in that time. Thats 78€ in 6 years or an averige of 13€ a year. For me it's a hobby and it's pretty damn cheap hobby at that. The beer I drank during those games is worth way more the 78€, I spent twice that much at the range this weekend, my computer cost me nearly 16 times as much.

However gambling with sums of money that actualy have some financial meaning to you a damn stupid way to waste money and that is where the problems arise. Some people just get addicted to gambling and some of those people have lost everything because of it, but should we illegalize gambling because some are stupid? In my oppinion, hell no.

Oh, and:
Immoral != should be illegal

Particulary since "Immorality" is a rather fluid concept, just see all the things fundies consider to be immoral.

beyond hope · Post by **beyond hope** » 2003-05-18 06:04pm

Good question. Timely too, because right now there's a raging debate over slot machines in Maryland. You see, our governor thinks that slots will be the cure for all our state's ills: they'll supposedly help the racetrack owners, make up our budget deficit, and allow for more money for schools (nicknamed "Slots for Tots.") Originally we were told that the slots would only be introduced at the racetracks. Well, it seems that they did the math and figured out that slots in those locations won't be adequate to generate the kind of revenue the state is talking about. Now it's slots at "places of interest" as well, which is a veiled way of saying "a one-armed bandit in every tourist trap." The measure is of course opposed for a variety of reasons, from claims that our crime rate will rise with gambling legalized to concerns that poor minorities will basically be the group most fleeced by them.

Now, the punchline to all of this is that Maryland has a state lottery. In other words, whether people like it or not gambling is already legal. The state lottery commission is (quite understandably) concerned about the impact that slots will have on lotto ticket sales. After all, the odds of winning the lottery jackpot are about even with the odds of getting struck by lightning 10 times in a row, or of two planes colliding in the air over PSInet stadium and plunging into the crowd during a game. With slots legal people who play lotto now will obviously spend at least some of that money on slots instead as the payoff odds beat those for lotto. Betting on the horse races is also (surprise, surprise) perfectly legal. In short, the gambling puritans are hypocrites.

Me, I think Nevada has the right idea. I personally have no problem with gambling or with casinos. It's your money, and if someone wants to piss it away on bacarat or feed the one-armed bandit I see no reason to stop them. Of course, if someone spends themself into bankruptcy they should be liable for it too. If the state does have a compelling reason to ban gambling, then we need to immediately put a stop to betting on the horse races and end the state lottery. The state cannot have it both ways.

>>side note: in all fairness I should probably add that my girlfriend works at a casino.<<

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-05-18 06:21pm

Gambeling shouldn't be illegal, however it is a stupid past time. I played the lottery once when i was 16 and just turned the legal age to play. I bought a scratch card, won 10 quid and decided to quit while i was ahead. My dad and his work collegues spend £30 a week on lottery tickets with the idea that anymoney they win they take at the ned of the yead and go for a piss up. Little do they realise that if they took that £30 and put that in the bank they'd have a fecking fortune by the end of the year. What winds me up is when you see in the paper that some down and out or tramp wins 18 million. It's nice that they aren't broke anymore but wht are they buying lottery tickets when they are piss poor?

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-05-18 06:44pm

States are more likely to legalize a lottery before organized gambling. This is because with a state lottery, only 50% goes back to the winner(s), with maybe around 35% going to the government. At casinos, usually 97% goes back to the winners. Only 3% stays with the house and can be taxed. Don't think for a second you government has your best interest in mind.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-05-18 06:54pm

Well, if gambling is legalized in all 50 states and casinos are built, Las Vegas might become Anytown, USA, and that would be bad for tourism there. However, it might not.

However, I don't see a problem if the state governments can benefit form the added tourism and funds, cities can be revitalized with the added attractions, and casinos in houses are controlled.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-05-18 07:29pm

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:Well, if gambling is legalized in all 50 states and casinos are built, Las Vegas might become Anytown, USA, and that would be bad for tourism there. However, it might not.

People predicted that back when Atlantic City started with gambling, but now a days Las Vegas is still reigning king. Sure, you can gamble in many states and reservations now, but if you want the gambling experience, you can't beat Sin City.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2003-05-18 07:57pm

I flipped a coin and it told me to vote option b, so that's who voted b.

beyond hope · Post by **beyond hope** » 2003-05-18 08:01pm

Darth Pounder wrote:Gambeling shouldn't be illegal, however it is a stupid past time. I played the lottery once when i was 16 and just turned the legal age to play. I bought a scratch card, won 10 quid and decided to quit while i was ahead. My dad and his work collegues spend £30 a week on lottery tickets with the idea that anymoney they win they take at the ned of the yead and go for a piss up. Little do they realise that if they took that £30 and put that in the bank they'd have a fecking fortune by the end of the year. What winds me up is when you see in the paper that some down and out or tramp wins 18 million. It's nice that they aren't broke anymore but wht are they buying lottery tickets when they are piss poor?

The other side of the coin is that quite a few of those people who go from middle or lower class to $1 million a year from a lotto win go on to spend themselves right into bankruptcy. Winning can be worse than losing if you're not disciplined with your spending.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-05-19 12:33am

The states have no business running a for-profit gambling operation in the form of lotteries. However, if someone wants to run a poker game in his house, fine and dandy with me. Casinos are iffy because they can wreck nearby property values, and some asshole running a roulette wheel in his living room is likely to attract bad elements.

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the morality of gambling

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the morality of gambling