Last week’s discussion about college athletics has prompted a follow-up on the impact of gambling on sports, income inequality, and our society in general.
Although there are plenty of ways to approach this topic, here’s a link to get us started:
- Who gains from gaming/gambling? Who loses?
- Is gambling a “tax” (statistically speaking) on low-income people?
- If so, should something be done to address that, or should individuals be free to pursue their own vices?
- Are gaming revenues/taxes too tempting for politicians to refuse?
- Does the ability gamble on sports activities taint the underlying sport?
- How to avoid the temptation to “fix” matches?
- Is there a difference (from a gambling perspective) between professional and amateur sports?
- How do other societies that have been more open to gambling dealt with these potential issues?