The usual problem with gambling: regulate it too much and people will flock to somewhere else, quite often somewhere where the odds are lower towards the gambler than before.
Like with drugs, booze and smoking: banning is not a solution, especially not in our hyper-globalized world.
But on the other hand, gambling can bring serious social ills. Gambling isn't banned in most places because we don't want you to risk $5 to win $10, it's banned because of addiction, associations with crime, heavier impact on the poor, etc.
I don't have a stance on the issue per se, but I do think there are strong arguments against unrestricted gambling. Unlike the drug war, at least, the people in hot water are the people making money, not their customers.
Those same strong arguments might apply to alcohol, as well.
I don't agree with people being told they can't use their money irresponsibly. It's theirs to spend how they please.
Every poker site & casino I've played at allows self-bans, and we have treatment programs for problem gamblers just like we do for problem-everything-elsers.
>I don't have a stance on the issue per se, but I do think there are strong arguments against unrestricted gambling.
There are strong arguments against unrestricted anything. I think it's a shame so many people see little value in the ability of people to do what they want and accept the consequences.
Like with drugs, booze and smoking: banning is not a solution, especially not in our hyper-globalized world.