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A truly bizarre article, because it bemoans the money being sucked out of already deprived areas by FOBTs (true, and important) while at the same time wringing its hands over what the closure of hundreds of bookmakers will do to horse racing. theguardian.com/sport/2019/jul…
But money is blind. £20 lost on a few spins of a FOBT or on backing the wrong horse is still £20 lost. There's nothing different about the £20 that went on the latter.
So either gambling hurts vulnerable people and communities, or it doesn't. Can't have it both ways.
So either gambling hurts vulnerable people and communities, or it doesn't. Can't have it both ways.
Now, I'm not saying "all gambling is bad". If you can afford to treat it as entertainment and can shrug off the losses, it may be ok. But the sector is the only one that specifically relies on making people poorer to thrive. "The house always wins" isn't just a saying, it's key!
And overall it's massive business: the UK gambling industry takes in £14.5 billion a year. In other words, gamblers are losing £14.5 billion a year more than they win. That's £223 per man, woman and child!
No wonder some see gambling as a "tax" people line up voluntarily to pay.
No wonder some see gambling as a "tax" people line up voluntarily to pay.
