thewhyteboar Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 I think there’s a big difference between gambling in a casino while on vacation and betting your paycheck on a minor league baseball game while taking a shit. I’m gonna steal this from a writer I saw: “Gambling should be contained to adults-only places in the desert that make you feel a little bad about yourself.” It shouldn’t be so widely available. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazyPiranha Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 1 hour ago, Commissar SFLUFAN said: It's not that the economically/socially disadvantaged are "dumber" about gambling in the least. It's that the predatory aspects of the gambling industry are much more effectively targeted at the those groups as it preys upon their desperation and need for escapism. You are correct and dumb was the wrong and overly harsh word to use. I just don’t see what the ultra wealthy see in it. Gambling minor stakes is entertaining to me because hey, a little extra money and if not then a little bit of fun along the way, but for someone who that money is meaningless to? What’s the thrill? Where’s the high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted May 3 Author Share Posted May 3 1 hour ago, LazyPiranha said: You are correct and dumb was the wrong and overly harsh word to use. I just don’t see what the ultra wealthy see in it. Gambling minor stakes is entertaining to me because hey, a little extra money and if not then a little bit of fun along the way, but for someone who that money is meaningless to? What’s the thrill? Where’s the high? I don't see the appeal in purely mindless nonsense like slot machines but I enjoy stuff like poker where there's actually various skills involved in playing the game. I guess I can see finding enjoyment in that even if you're playing for what's effectively pocket change for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted May 3 Author Share Posted May 3 Also some of these insanely rich fucks are super sadistic so maybe there's also an angle of fucking around with the peons for stakes that's meaningful to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenTongue Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 14 hours ago, LazyPiranha said: You are correct and dumb was the wrong and overly harsh word to use. I just don’t see what the ultra wealthy see in it. Gambling minor stakes is entertaining to me because hey, a little extra money and if not then a little bit of fun along the way, but for someone who that money is meaningless to? What’s the thrill? Where’s the high? This is one of the harder aspects of addiction - unless you are/were an addict, your ability to understand an addict's thought processes is going to be extremely limited, at best. Which isn't meant to be disparaging at all; I've experienced it on a number of occasions when trying to explain what I was thinking/feeling while in action, and I'd be lying if I said that a part of me wasn't grateful that my family and friends are incapable of understanding the full scope of what addiction is, and what it can lead us to do. The best articulation I've heard has been from Dr. Kevin McCauley who has lectured extensively on the Disease Model of Addiction; it can offer some solid insights on the neuro-physiological mechanisms associated with addiction. From a more practical perspective, the regression of someone into a compulsive gambler can take numerous forms and paths - from teens/20-somethings getting roped in after a winning Sunday on DraftKings (easiest money ever!) in a social group setting where everyone is doing it, to people struggling with other issues whose coping mechanisms lead them to isolation and escape (and for whom the allure of a casino provides easy and consistent dopamine stimuli while the presence of others fosters an illusory perception of not being alone), to wealthier individuals whose gambling might start with stock market/crypto speculation but gradually extends to other forms of action...the road to rock bottom starts from many different places, following different routes. To your question about the wealthy - it can often be as simple as finding a novel thrill in a life in which there aren't any existential uncertainties that need to be considered. But to answer one question as well as I can - the high comes from that moment of uncertainty when you've put your cards/bet/race form/dice/roulette chips into play, and are waiting to see if you win or lose. The actual result is (or can be) inconsequentual and anti-climactic - it's the juice that comes with taking that risk and putting things into play. And the progressive nature invariably compels us to increasing the stakes - when a single $5 parlay doesn't do it anymore, multiple $20 bets are needed, which turns into $50 bets on every game at a particular time, which turns into....it's a horrific spiral of craving during which rational thought becomes impossible, where the "need" is engaged by the portion of the brain linked to survival instincts. The lying, cheating, and stealing that addicts often turn to thus is less a breakdown of morals, than a short-circuiting of the pathways responsible for moral consideration, driven by a survival-based need to do whatever it takes to get that next fix. It isn't the least bit rational, and studies/literature on compulsive gambling have yielded some results that are absolutely confounding to those with no experience with addiction - in one study, researchers observed periodic feelings of irritation when someone WON while playing slots, because the win disrupted the flow of (losing) action they had been going through. Absolutely bonkers. But I can get it. Addiction can be hard to understand in the context of gambling, where we aren't talking about a particular susbstance being drunk/snorted/injected, but rather a behavior and series of "choices". But despite that, many of the byproducts are virtually identical to those whose addiction is linked to alcohol, opioids, narcotics, etc. All forms of addiction cause diregulation in the body's dopamine/serotonin/oxytocin secretion, leading to (at times) mania, depression, anhedonia, etc. 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CitizenVectron Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 11 minutes ago, GoldenTongue said: But to answer one question as well as I can - the high comes from that moment of uncertainty when you've put your cards/bet/race form/dice/roulette chips into play, and are waiting to see if you win or lose. The actual result is (or can be) inconsequentual and anti-climactic - it's the juice that comes with taking that risk and putting things into play. This actually fits into my own personal view that the best thing in life isn't actually experiencing good things, it's looking forward to experiencing good things. The potential of the future is a better feeling than experiencing it. It's why I always try to ensure I have something to look forward to in both the short and medium term, even if it's just a small thing like a book or game coming out, etc. The human drive to predict and plan for future events is incredibly strong, and anything that feeds into that feeling of potential is a big motivator for both good and bad behaviour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenTongue Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 That's pretty consistent with a lot of what we understand about human psychology and behavioral economics. It's one reason why many books focusing on self-improvement speak to setting process-based goals, as opposed to outcome-based. A process-based goal can be sustainable in the long-term; an outcome-based goal, once achieved, can leave one feeling disheartened and lost. And from a broader perspective, the types of goals that we set can be strong indicators of how our individual value systems are arranged. People with outcome-based goals can often unknowingly cultivate such perspectives as a result of some formative event in their life: poor home environment leaving someone feeling unheard/unrecognized/unloved can induce them to seek validation from external sources, leading to a toxic cycle of defining themselves based upon how they perceive others to see them. That's a bit off-topic, although it's a subject I've studied rather closely in working on better understanding my own emotional baggage and disentangling myself from said baggage. I'd spent a long time (far too long, in all honesty) seeking validation from the approval of others because of a deeply flawed sense of self-worth; reprogramming myself with more positive values has been a bit of a challenge at times. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
best3444 Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 As an addict, great posts @GoldenTongue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massdriver Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 On 5/2/2024 at 11:45 AM, Chris- said: It also shouldn't be accessible via the internet - if you want to bet, you have to do it in-person. And I say that as someone who places a bet every now and again. I thought online gambling was illegal in the U.S. I remember seeing if I could get on the presidential election years ago and found out it was a legal gray area at best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spork3245 Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 3 minutes ago, Massdriver said: I thought online gambling was illegal in the U.S. I remember seeing if I could get on the presidential election years ago and found out it was a legal gray area at best. Online gambling is extremely legal. Betting on US politics is illegal (in the US) under federal law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massdriver Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 4 minutes ago, Spork3245 said: Online gambling is extremely legal. Betting on US politics is illegal (in the US) under federal law. Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 - Wikipedia EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG Here is the law I was thinking of. It appears that it is a lot more complicated than I remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spork3245 Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 7 minutes ago, Massdriver said: Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 - Wikipedia EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG Here is the law I was thinking of. It appears that it is a lot more complicated than I remember. Correct, that’s regulation. Sports betting is by state iirc, and online casinos aren’t included in that bill afaik. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenTongue Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 9 minutes ago, Massdriver said: I thought online gambling was illegal in the U.S. I remember seeing if I could get on the presidential election years ago and found out it was a legal gray area at best. You’d really need to narrow the definition to get a more definitive answer. Legality varies by state and categorization: online casinos, online sports books, mobile sports books, online horse racing, mobile horse racing, online/mobile fantasy sports, and online lotteries. Some states allow all of the above, while others permit some combination. At present, there are less than five states that prohibit all of those listed (I think it may be down to Hawaii and Idaho, but I’m not completely certain on that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spork3245 Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 What’s funny is if you’re outside the US, a lot of those online betting apps/sites let you bet on US political outcomes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted May 3 Author Share Posted May 3 18 minutes ago, GoldenTongue said: You’d really need to narrow the definition to get a more definitive answer. Legality varies by state and categorization: online casinos, online sports books, mobile sports books, online horse racing, mobile horse racing, online/mobile fantasy sports, and online lotteries. Some states allow all of the above, while others permit some combination. At present, there are less than five states that prohibit all of those listed (I think it may be down to Hawaii and Idaho, but I’m not completely certain on that). I think the federal restrictions are why each state has completely separated sites and player pools for stuff like online poker, even when the same company is operating in multiple states. Same as how marijuana brands have to replicate their entire supply chain within each state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentbob Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air_Delivery Posted May 3 Share Posted May 3 Gambling is fine as long as you have the right mind set to have fun not make money. However too many people can't handle their shit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greatoneshere Posted May 4 Share Posted May 4 3 hours ago, Air_Delivery said: Gambling is fine as long as you have the right mind set to have fun not make money. However too many people can't handle their shit. Human nature in a nutshell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewhyteboar Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 Sports Is Betting It All On Gambling | Defector DEFECTOR.COM There’s no greater testament to the emotional premium of watching live sports as they happen than the fact that ESPN, the biggest sports media enterprise in human history... Great article on the subject. Quote “Recovery now has to be fought every minute of the day,” Fong went on. “In the past it was, ‘Only when you’re driving past the casino, when you’re inside the casino, is when you’re super vulnerable.’ Now, you’re vulnerable at all times.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheeTo Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 On 5/2/2024 at 6:49 PM, finaljedi said: The poor are a lot more susceptible to pull of gambling, and not even just America. I work with offshore people in India and the Philippines, those people love to gamble all the time, they love talking about it. Fuck Ohio and that legalization of sports betting. The ads were nonstop everywhere, you couldn't go anywhere without seeing shit for Draft Kings, BetMGM, Hard Rock Sportsbook, etc just on and on. Every billboard between Mason and Cincinnati on I-71 and I-75 was pushing some betting app or another. I started to miss the Blake Maislin billboards, they came back though, so the world still spins thankfully Btw, I worked in an office that overlooked the Norwood lateral, I worked in an office that had a view of that billboard until COVID sent me home and I never had to go to the office again. As someone that lives close to the Norwood lateral, thanks for getting that song stuck in my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finaljedi Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 20 hours ago, CheeTo said: As someone that lives close to the Norwood lateral, thanks for getting that song stuck in my head. I sat staring out a window of the Paycor building at that guy's mug every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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