Forum Archive Index - March 2004

["Paula Cooper" <paula@tudorsteel.co.nz>]

HEAR HEAR Woody….

 The only positive attribute gambling could have is the redistribution of wealth, but this is a misnomer for the following reasons:

 

1)       The gamblers are usually at the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum, so instead of taking from those who don’t need the money and giving to those who do, gambling takes from those who need the money and gives to those who don’t.

2)       The distribution process creates a loss to the charities… there is a portion of the money lost to the charities because of the percentage taken as costs and the margin taken by the gaming operators. I don’t know what portion of the money lost on gambling that is actually received by these constantly touted charities but I’d be willing to bet (pun intended) that it wouldn’t be a huge percentage. It would be more efficient (disregarding the “entertainment” value of gambling) for the poor gambler just to hand over his/her weekly wages to the charities in question (and, of course, then he/she could stroll home and explain to the children why they aren’t getting any food/shelter/clothing for that week).

 Gamblers act on the belief that they can beat the system, but as Woody said, the system always wins… therefore this constant denial could be deemed a mental illness (gamblers do not act logically)… gambling companies are taking advantage of this. I don’t invest in gambling companies for that reason, and I applaud anyone who listens to their morals over the chance of making some quick money.