Gambling: Moral or Immoral?

Thomas G Herrick | May 31,1957 | Thomas G Herrick

[GSlob]

Well, one could win in lottery without winning - it is a matter of attitude. Once in the late 80s there was a 100+mil jackpot in Pennsylvania. One couldn't buy a newspaper at a newsstand for the ticket lines. So, four of us (three postdocs and me, a grad student) bought one ticket. And for a whole week until the drawing we were addressing one another "my fellow millionaires". One of us did not have a quarter and wanted to chip in 30 cents - the rest immediately ganged up on him for "disgusting behavior" and "unspeakable greed". So on balance I'd say that each of us got more fun out of it than 25 cents' worth.

[GSlob]

The article is dated 1957, and the money numbers must be from that time.

[JoeSixPack1]

Life is a gamble. The stockmarket is a gamble. Orders from a drive thru window are a gamble. Running for political office is a gamble. Planning a picnic is a gamble. Arriving safely to work each day is a gamble. Me spelling correctly without spell check is a gamble.

This question is stupid. Always has been, always will be.

The fact that games of chance played for monetary profit/loss is an un-insurable transfer of cash IS the ONLY problem worth addressing. The nanny state is all that's left to bail out the losers and the rightous among us always use the wrong argument to try to prevent it.

As long as people have the ability to choose, gambling will continue.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Okay. That could very well be. I only noticed March's date on the article. Silly me.

[Old Professer]

I'll bet you a dollar this guy wrote this just to get paid.

[GSlob]

"I only noticed March's date on the article."
It's May 31, 1957

[bigsigh]

on its face, neither. If you start starving the kids then it's immoral.

[DaughterofEve]

ha!

[pure_capitalist]

[layman]

I wonder if Thomas G Herrick has any money invested in the stock market. The bottom line to me is this ... gamble if you want to ... don't gamble if you don't want to. Either way, good luck.

[bigsigh]

dad?

[rdcorso]

A large percentage of the people with gambling problems got that way by gambling illegally.When the government makes gambling illegal it only punishes the law abiding citizen who enjoys it.The problem gambler will find a way to gamble whether it's legal or not.We live in a free country where we should have the choice of whether we want to gamble or not.How could a state outlaw gambling and then run a money making scam like the lottery?Besides,I won $1500 at the casino last Saturday night and I didn't see anything wrong with it.

[hinckley buzzard]

I distinguish between forms of gambling in which the player has some control--e.g. poker--and those which depend purely on chance--roulette. A good poker player can win over the long run. Included in the latter is all forms of sports betting because the bettor himself has no control, even though it would be a stretch to say the outcome was pure chance. I used to work with compulsive gamblers in a treatment program, and I can verify that the sports bettors(including the horses) were the most degenerate narcissists I had ever met en masse. They actually believed that the more they bet, the faster their horse would run.

One thing they all agreed on, however: gamblers die broke.

[unlearner]

This article is about whether gambling is immoral and touches briefly on if it should be illegal.

I don't feel like debating anyone on legality right now, but I will express my reason for saying it is immoral:

It is an activity which requires someone to lose financially.

We all "gamble" every day. We take risks when we get on the road. We take risks when we eat food prepared by strangers. When people engage in gaming for money "gambling" they are doing something selfish.

The same cannot be said of "playing the stock market" generally. Because it is feasible that everyone can win. While gambling may have some entertainment value, it remains unproductive and takes more from society than it gives back.

Some here are saying that gambling is foolish. Well yes, if you are not the house simple math illustrates that a percentage of what you gamble will be lost on average. Contrary to the author's position, the math is not that complex. Casinos want customers to believe in myths like luck, but they base their payouts on the cold, hard facts of math.

I would like to know why moderators consider this opinion piece "news", but when I post current information just published it is deemed general interest. It happens often. What are the odds on that?

[abigailsmybaby]

The stock market is a gamble. Is that moral while gambling in Vegas or an Indian casino is immoral?

I just don't see a whole lot of difference. Besides, it's my money. I can do with it whatever I want and I will suffer whatever consequences come around.

[Bittersweetmd]

For what it's worth, here is my personal attitude: there is no such thing as "chance" or "coincidence."

I would agree. :)

[little jeremiah]

later read/pingout.

[neb52]

Well said, If gambling is immoral than so is Capitalism. The immoral part is abusing and developing an obsessive addiction. IMHO

[JoeSixPack1]

If gambling is immoral than so is Capitalism.

There it is!! The nannies ain't gonna like that statement, and will be hard pressed to dispute it! :-)

[Illwind]

We don't have gambling in Kansas.... Our gov. calls it gaming.