Gambling isn’t just a personal choice — it’s a destructive habit, and I can’t respect anyone who chooses to feed it.
We’re talking about an industry built to exploit addiction, ruin lives, and prey on people’s hope.
And yet somehow, it’s been normalized, even glamorized.
No one talks about the families it tears apart or the people who lose everything.
Sorry, but I just can’t look at gamblers the same way.
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This is the definition of “not an unpopular opinion”
This is like saying you don’t respect anyone who drinks or smokes- yeah, you’re not alone. But evangelizing about it doesn’t accomplish much.
Man you sound fun
So if I play a slot machine here and there I’m helping exploit people? Or if I bet with my buddies for the Super Bowl? How about if I have a glass of wine at dinner or a beer? Am I the reason for alcoholism?
Bet you 20 bucks can change your mind
So what about someone that goes for their birthday and blows 100 bucks like every 5 years ? I mean is it a destructive habit then ? I did go about 10 years ago last time, it was fun.
I would say you need to define what you include in gambling. Are charity raffles included? Does it include the occasional lottery ticket?
Most people see how destructive sports betting, casino games, and obsessive lottery purchases can be, but there are lots of forms of gambling which are generally harmless fun.
Can say the same for almost anything
I love going to the casino 🤷🏻♀️
Do you include the stock market and insurance in the definition of gambling?
I agree, the amount of betting ads makes me sick.
Tell that to my bookies. Those sons a bitches
Is there anyone you respect that smokes, drinks?
Just about any habit can be taken to unsustainable extremes. Most people don’t go anywhere near that far. Some people are simply hellbent on destroying themselves and will eventually find a suitable vehicle for their own ruination. I don’t think it’s constructive to vilify the 95% for the self-defeating impulses of the other 5%.
Although I admit, gambling does absolutely nothing for me. Sex, sugar, and alcohol though? Different story.
I don’t shame someone who’s a victim of their own impulses. But I might not trust them much either.
Sure hope you’ve never eaten fast food.
Destructive industry as well.
Or drunk any sugary drinks.
Or had any alchohol.
Or had a vape.
or…..
This isn’t an opinion, it’s a fact you don’t respect them.
How many humans does OP think care about his/her respect?
And you don’t have a phone or a computer, or use anything made from china, or access the inter—- Oh wait…
Those poor Bingo players…losing your respect.
I side with OP. I had a gambling problem. I’m glad I was aware and stopped it. I wasted a lot of money.
And I’m not a fan of puritanical, holier than thou types
the stockmarket is the same
It is a personal choice.
A personal choice that many who have no self control can’t make.
Those of us, stronger people, shouldn’t have to ruin our good time because old Billy Bob was born with self control problems.
You’ve got to hear about this thing called liquor
Do you respect anyone who drinks alcohol?
What’s your stance on people who invest their money?
I bought a raffle ticket once. Please don’t kill me…
You could say the same thing about prostitution.
I have terrible news about social media and the Internet…
Gambling, just like with anything else, is enjoyable if the person isn’t proned to addiction. I know I have strong addictive behavior because of this, I don’t gamble… most of the time. I always got the itch though. That being said, don’t try to shit on someone’s fun or their addiction. It’s not helpful in the least.
Do you understand that plenty of people gamble amounts of money they can afford losing?
Aren’t most industries built on addiction and destruction?
Ok
I have a friend who loves to gamble. Also the most frugal person I know. He only gambles 3 times a year and he always thinks he somehow came out on top. Via points or free drinks or something else.
He’s super careful with his money and is very successful and he doesn’t gamble to excess on these few outings. But I always like to point out that every single time we’ve been to a casino or he’s told me about a casino trip, he’s never ever once came out ahead financially. It’s really amazing to walk him through it and listened to the justifications.
Have you ever eaten fast food?
What about people who only gamble every now and then and don’t blow a significant amount of money on it? I bought a few lottery tickets here and there in my 20’s, and played slots at the casino a few times, but many years I decided to stop. There’s no sense risking losing the money I’ve earned. But even though I don’t, is it so terrible for the people who only gamble occasionally?
As a former gambling addict, your “respect” would be very low down on the list of things I’d have been concerned about.
technically a lot of things are gambling. going for a surgery with 90% chance of success can be gambling with ur life
Gambling is a real problem for a small subset of gamblers. Lives and families destroyed. To some people, it’s an occasional form of entertainment. Then there’s a bunch of people on that spectrum. If you must lose respect for someone, —not sure you should, but that’s not* the point I’m trying to make —I think you need to draw a line in the sand about at what point does a gambler lose your respect. You wouldn’t want to cut off someone that went to a casino with buddies and played some craps. Unless he’s a douche, then you cut him off. Anyway, my point is that it’s not that black and white.
Edit to add a missing ‘not’
Can’t win if you don’t play
Great! What’s your stance on liquor stores?
In this sub, this has got to be one of the Top 10 posts ever.
Do you have this same opinion towards people who drink alcohol? People who smoke cigarettes? What about people who drink soda? What about people who eat candy and potato chips?
Gambling is a waste of time and money.
Everybody gambles in varying degrees though
I play for the rewards. Free hotel rooms, free dinners, free spa treatments, free champagne, free shows, free cruises, free gambling money, etc. if you can stay within limits, you can come out on top and receive far more than what you’ve paid. Everyone hears about the tragic stories, but never about the responsible gamblers that never had their lives destroyed.
That is the same for a lot of what humans do and enjoy.
We talkin about the American pharmaceutical industry or gambling? Or the alcohol industry? Oh! I know, the in home entertainment industry? Can’t e say the same shit about the streaming, wifi, cable industry? Or maybe Nike only releasing 500 pairs of a shoe, that they know sneaker heads will wait in line all day and dole out thousands for. Even fight and kill for.
We all spend money on dumb shit, one way or the other. The gambling industry is just another player in the game.
You mean like…consumerism in general? Buying a bunch of shit no one needs…or consuming social media…all of those things fuel exploitation of people in third world countries, and are definitely detrimental.
I respect this opinion and I wish more people felt this way
Gambling doesn’t tear families apart. At some point, people have to take responsibility first their choices and actions instead of blaming everyone and everything else.
Get mad at the gambling organizations? Sure. Get mad at the other organizations that constantly promote it? Sure. Get mad at the people that have the ability to partake but not let it ruin their lives? Why?
Do you also lack respect for people who use credit cards, drink, buy lottery tickets, play video games, or spend money on wants (not just needs)?
Friendly $20 buy-in games with friends once a month in which winner has to buy food next time?
It’s exploitative.
How much money did you actually lose?
I agree, but you better not watch porn or eat fast food or wear fast fashion
But what about hedge fund managers?