Category Archives: Gambling

Tasmania became the first state in Australia to open a casino in 1973, and since then, it has become a place in which the gambling lobbys influence on Australian politics is at its most bald-faced.

Now, a bill about to head through Tasmanias upper house has brought that influence into the open.

The bill would mark the end of a monopoly on gambling licences in Tasmania held by Federal Group a company owned by the Sydney-based Farrell family who are worth $564m since it established that first casino. The Liberal state government argues the legislation will deliver an additional $8.5m a year in state revenue for essential services and community needs, at the expense of Federal Group.

But critics say the Gaming Control Amendment bill is a missed opportunity for reform in a state where gaming interests have long held sway and which has one of the highest levels of gambling harm. Tasmanians as a whole lose an average of $15.5m every month to poker machines.

This opportunity in Tasmania is unique, Meg Webb, an independent upper house MP, says. We should be grasping with both hands this opportunity to do everything we can to regulate this industry effectively.

No other state in Australia has this chance, and were utterly blowing it.

For decades, the political deals between Federal Group and the Tasmanian government were shrouded in secrecy. But when details of the controversial arrangement were exposed in 2015, the government committed to put the licences to tender.

A joint parliamentary committee was set up to investigate. At the 11th hour, the Tasmanian Hotels Association (THA), which represents the states pubs and clubs, and Federal Group put forward a joint submission proposing, among other things, a model that raised the tax on pub pokies but slashed them drastically on casino pokies by far the most lucrative from 25.88% of gross profit to 10%.

The proposal was slammed by independent assessors and by the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission, which argued that it would not provide greater protection for vulnerable people from pokies use or increase regulatory compliance.

In an extraordinary pivot, the government abandoned its policy and adopted the industrys position wholesale taking it to the 2018 state election, but staying mum on one crucial detail: the value of the casino tax cut. When Labor took an anti-gambling policy to the same election, the national gaming industry converged on it in a startling display of power directly bankrolling the Liberal Partys campaign and funding its own separate advertising blitz.

Labor lost, and dumped their anti-pokies policy. When the 2021 election rolled around neither of the major parties wanted to talk about pokies especially not the intended casino tax rate. Then a memorandum of understanding between the Labor Party and the THA was leaked, signed prior to this years election, showing that Labor had effectively capitulated to the industry, giving the THA the power of veto over its pokies policies. A Right to Information request from Webb also uncovered evidence that the casino tax rate had been agreed upon between the government and Federal Group well before the 2021 election, but kept secret until after it. The figure was 10.19%: the industry got exactly what it wanted.

That tax cut represents $119m in lost revenue over the 20-year life of the proposed licence. Were casino pokies to be taxed at the same rate as pubs, the state could yield $248m in public revenue. And revenue is needed: Tasmania is falling behind in a number of socioeconomic measures. Social housing waitlists are longer than they have ever been.

Tasmanian historian James Boyce, who has spent years investigating the links between the gaming lobby and the government, says the problem is a failure of democracy.

The situation in Tasmania exposes the fact that the depletion of our public services is directly connected with the vulnerability of our democracy and breakdown of the democratic process, Boyce says.

Anti-pokies campaigners say that 40% of losses from poker machines come from high-risk gamblers. The easiest measure of an effective harm minimisation effort, then, is reduced revenue. That doesnt necessarily mean all pokies revenue is jeopardised: measures proven to reduce the harm on gambling addicts such as $1 bet maximums and doubling of machine spin speeds from 3 to 6 seconds (thereby halving the speed at which a punter can make a new bet) are also shown to have no effect on revenue from recreational gamblers. None of these measures form part of the proposed legislation.

The bill finally passed through the lower house of Tasmanian parliament in late October. Labor MP Dean Winter said the party supported it because it ended Federal Groups monopoly and was an improvement on the status quo. By voting with the bill we vote for a piece of legislation that we wouldnt have proposed, but something that we fundamentally believe is better than the current arrangements, he said.

The Greens and a lower-house independent, Kristie Johnston, disagreed. Dozens of amendments were proposed and voted down.

All signs point to the governments intention to ram the bill through the upper house this week. Critics say the best outcome now would be an upper house inquiry allowing controversial elements of the bill to be scrutinised, but this would require support from Labor.

When the governments policy has been literally written by industry, you would look to the opposition to be true representatives of their community, but the Labor opposition has also been captured by this industry and compromised, Webb says.

The issue is actually not just poker machines, its about our democracy. Low-income people in Tasmania pay the price of this failure of democracy. This is easily preventable suffering, says Boyce. This is a major taxation measure and its locking in enormous levels of social harm.

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Cashing in: the gambling industry writes the rules and sways Tasmanias elections - The Guardian Australia

Its the bye week, Lions fans, and for as much side-splitting laughter is borne out of jokes about Detroit being underdogs this weekend, were going to put our energy into something a little more productiveand hopefully a lot more profitable.

Lets take a look at the best bets money can buy you in Week 9, using the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.

New England Patriots (-3.5) at Carolina Panthers

The Patriots are coming off back-to-back games where they covered against the spread, knocking off the Los Angeles Chargers as 3.5-point underdogs on the road last weekend and the absolute shellacking they dealt the New York Jets in Week 7, 54-13. As road underdogs this Sunday against the Panthers, what you really have is two teams heading in opposite directions. The Panthers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games, and after narrowly edging out their NFC South rival Atlanta, just 1-4 in their last five.

Meanwhile, Mac Jones is red hot, and it looks like the Patriots are finally getting things to go their way as winners of two in a row and three of their last four. Bet on Bill Belichicks team to keep things rolling against a Carolina team hoping Christian McCaffreys hamstring is healthy enough to solve their identity crisis on offense.

Buffalo Bills (-14.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

If you thought you had it bad being a Lions fan, look at whats going on in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are an absolute mess of a football team as the Urban Meyer experience continues to circle the drain. Sure, theyve got one win under their belt, but losing 31-7 to a Geno Smith-led Seattle Seahawks is about as ugly gets in the NFL.

As for the Bills, dont let the spread theyre spotting the listless Jaguars deter you from laying the points: Buffalo has twice been double-digit favorites this season and theyve yet to lose against the spread. They also have one of the best defenses in the league, sporting a +13 turnover differential. Putting your faith in the way the football bounces seems like a risky proposition, but the Jaguars are 31st in turnover differential at -11. Count on the Bills in this one.

Green Bay Packers (+7.5) at Kansas City Chiefs

Im so done with the Chiefs this season, especially as favorites. Kansas City is 2-6 ATS with their only covers coming against Philadelphia and Washington. Of course, this game seems to be falling in the Chiefs' favor with the news of Aaron Rodgers being held out of this weeks matchup due to COVID, but even thats not enough to make me think the Chiefs can handle their business.

Meanwhile, the Packers are 7-1 ATS this season, but things are going to look a little different at the most important position on the field. Jordan Love gets his first NFL start at Arrowhead Stadium, normally a difficult place to play, but he gets to go up against one of the worst defenses in the leagueKansas City is 30th against the pass and 29th against the run according to Football Outsiders DVOA metric.

The Packers are back to full strength at their skill positions with Davante Adams returning to action this week and the two-pronged rushing attack of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon highly capable of lessening the load on Love. Packers and the points seem like a no-brainer to me.

Los Angeles Rams (-7.5) vs. Tennessee Titans

With the terrible news of Derrick Henry getting placed on injured reserve with a foot injury, the dynamics of this game change drastically. This isnt just a team missing a key player, this is a team without the leading rusher in the NFL and the most important skill position player on a roster that includes Julio Jones and A.J. Brown. And hes being replaced with... Detroit Lions legend Adrian Peterson? Sure.

On the other side, the Rams added to their already top-4 pass rush by trading for Von Miller in general manager Les Sneads continuing crusade against having draft picks. But at 7-1, its a question worth asking: who really needs draft picks? Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is tied for fourth in interceptions this season (7) and can really struggle when the pass rush gets in his faceTannehill has a 62.4 passer rating under pressure.

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NFL Week 9 gambling guide: Best bets, odds around the league - prideofdetroit.com

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) State lawmakers seeking to legalize sports betting in North Carolina said Thursday they hope to hold votes on a bill to make it legal as early as next year as its argued to not be gambling.

The House Commerce Committee approved the bill in a 12-4 vote Thursday, as legislators in support of it continue discussions to try to find a compromise that would ultimately pass both the House and Senate.

It happens in offices and really across the state. People are doing this and doing it right now illegally, Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln) said.

North Carolina allows sports betting on tribal lands only. Meanwhile, Tennessee and Virginia have both legalized it, and Saine said North Carolinas bill is modeled on what Virginia has done.

While theres been bipartisan support for it, theres also been bipartisan opposition.

The bill passed the Senate in August on a 26-19 vote, with Republican Senate leader Phil Berger taking the rare step of bringing a bill to the floor for a vote that most in his party opposed.

On Thursday, Rep. Jon Hardister (R-Guilford), who is backing the bill, told the committee, Its not gambling. You can analyze sports. You can analyze the data.

When asked about that later, he said, Let me clarify that. I would say its not gambling in the typical sense Its not so much a game of chance, its a game of skill.

Some House members said theyre opposed to the idea because it likely would lead to more people taking part.

It is a wild expansion of gambling in North Carolina, Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover) said. I think that it is clear to me that it is going to affect those that can arguably least afford it.

She continued, Im not a Puritan by any stretch of the imagination, but I just feel like this is not good for North Carolina.

Some Republicans also opposed the bill.

Rep. Jay Adams (R-Catawba) said, I saw families destroyed by gambling.

He brought up the North Carolina Education Lottery and questioned whether money generated from legalizing sports betting would truly benefit schools, as some of the bills sponsors have said they want to target the money toward education.

What you see is not always what you get when it comes to gambling, and for that matter for a lot of legislation, he said. When the government becomes addicted to such things as this, its very hard for them to untangle themselves.

Nonpartisan staff at the General Assembly have estimated that if passed, the proposal would generate $8 million to $24 million annually for the state, causing some legislators to suggest that the state should be taking in more than that. Republicans have proposed a budget this year of $25.7 billion.

My own mother doesnt like this bill, Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir), one of the leading advocates for the bill in the Senate, told the committee.

He brought up the recent budget debate and pointed out that lawmakers often ask to be able to fund more things than the state can afford.

Looking around at all the fiscal conservatives in the room that I know, and I know to be fiscal conservatives, but I also know you turned in a number of requests on that budget that were working on right now, he said.

Ches McDowell, who represents various professional sports leagues, told lawmakers that as other states move forward with legalizing and regulating sports wagering, North Carolina could be at a competitive disadvantage as those organizations decide where to move teams or host events.

At the end of the day, theyre businesses. Its about profit, he said. So, theyre going to look at wheres the most profitable. Right now, North Carolina is falling behind.

Rep. Saine said he does not expect the bill to pass before the end of this year.

He said he wanted legislators to talk more about it in the coming months with the goal of passing a bill during the spring short session.

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Sports betting is not gambling: NC lawmakers putting legalization back on the table Thursday - WNCT

Just like every other activity that involves money, gambling too has a set of rules that you should follow, irrespective of the country or game that you are playing. Not only do these increase your chances of winning but also make sure that you do not get addicted to gambling and ultimately end up breaking your banks. Gambling itself is not a bad habit, but people may grow a nasty habit out of it, and these rules seek to prevent that.

So, what are you waiting for? Read on!

Alcohol and other intoxicating substances may reduce your ability to reason and also your clarity and focus. You may make all the wrong decisions while intoxicated and end up losing your money. Hence, steer clear of alcohol and other intoxicating substances when gambling online or in a casino. If you can handle it, a drink or two may be nice and set the mood, but do not go beyond that.

You should not gamble without knowing every rule of the game properly. You may end up losing your money otherwise. You can also get thrown out of the game even if you do something by mistake, like counting your cards, while playing blackjack.

On somesitus judi bola, you should even know about all the betting strategies before you place your bet to increase your chances of winning. How to play, how much to bet, when to bet, how to earn bonuses, are a few things that every gambler should know.

You just cannot think of gambling as a source to earn money. Always come to the table if you have enough money to last. Gambling should be taken as a casual game, and not something that will determine your fortune. If you are lucky, you may win a jackpot, but most of all, you should enjoy the experience instead of getting all anxious and worked up.

Whether you are judi online or playing in a live casino, you should never gamble to recoup the losses you have suffered in a previous game. You can have no guarantee that you will win this time. So, if you have lost a good amount of money, consider it your luck and move on. If you try to gamble more to win that lost money, who knows, you may even end up losing all of it in one go.

Gambling without any discreet strategy is a sure-shot recipe for failure. If you do not have a strategy, do not come to the table, simple. Learn the basic strategies by watching tutorials, demo games, and then place your bet. You should know the right way to play each game so that you do not lose money.

It is easy to flow with a game, but make sure you set your limits well in advance. Even if you have unlimited cash, there is no logic behind spending itjudi online, right? Right. Create a budget and hop in only if you are sure that you can stay in control.

If you follow these rules carefully, gambling will never get you over the edge and be with you like a pastime or hobby. And trust us, it is for the best!

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Online Gambling Rules That Everyone Should Follow by Heart Film Daily - Film Daily

The first case that came before newly appointed Larimer County Judge John Washburn happened in 1864. Following a horse race in which the owner of some of the horses refused to surrender his animals after losing a bet, with his horses as the stake, the winner of the bet took him to court.

A jury was selected (all male; women were not appointed to juries until well into the 20th century). Following a lengthy discussion as to a point of law, namely, whether or not property could be legally acquired through gambling, the jurors rendered a verdict in favor of the new owner of the horses. The way the counsel wrangled over the technicalities of the law was a caution, says Ansel Watrous in his History of Larimer County.

Before arriving at a verdict, the jury was sequestered in a single room in the judges home, which was also his office. The sheriff was directed to keep the jury confined until they reached a verdict. The jurors deliberated for several hours but could not agree until about midnight, when they voted for the plaintiff, the new owner of the horses, and assessed him with costs incurred due to the deliberation.

Hearing the verdict, the judge said he could not agree with it, and he ordered the jury to continue deliberations. Told by the judge to keep them on bread and water until they agree (in other words, until they came to a verdict he would accept), the sheriff locked them in the front room of the house, whereupon the jurors entertained themselves whittling wood that was passed through a window to them by a friend. (Watrous notes that the judge was well supplied with kindling wood for quite some time after this incident.)

The friend also furnished them with cigars, which, says the account in the history, served a good purpose. The smoke from the cigars wafted upstairs to the judges bedroom, thick enough that he and his wife could not sleep. He came downstairs to tell them the smoke was keeping him and his wife awake.

Story continues

The jurors informed the judge that they could not agree on anything other than the verdict they had already arrived at, so he might as well let them go home.

The question before the court, whether or not property could be legally acquired through gambling, was not directly addressed as such in the verdict, but by accepting the jurors verdict, the judge also accepted the premise as lawful.

Does custom make law? The plaintiff argued that it does, whereas the defendant claimed that property acquired through gambling was illegally obtained. The statutes in place at the time declared gambling illegal.

Perhaps the only reason the judge accepted the jurors verdict was that he was very tired and wanted to get some sleep.

Contact history columnist Barbara Fleming at fcwriter395@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: History: A fine point of the law

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History: Horses, gambling and a fine point of the law - Yahoo News

The police broke up an allegedly illegal gambling joint on Park Avenue on Friday night, arresting three people and seizing drugs and a defaced firearm, according to public safety director Jerry Speziale.

Musa Coward, 30, of Paterson; Donald Johnson, 19, of Bronx, NY; and Atefah Johnson, 24, of Paterson, were arrested on drugs and weapons charges during the bust at 309 Park Avenue.

Coward, the alleged owner of the gambling joint, was additionally charged with possession of a gambling device. He lives on the second floor of 309 Park Avenue.

Police seized 300 glassine envelopes of heroin, 188 Oxy tablets, and a defaced high-powered Ruger EC 9mm handgun. They also seized $601 cash.

Detectives were in the high crime Park Avenue and East 22nd Street area because of large gatherings and gun violence. On October 30, police had to disperse a large group. After the group left the area shots were fired. On November 4, police were alerted to gunfire at the location.

Police officers observedDonald Johnson exiting underneath a halfway open pull-down gate. He went back inside after noticing police. Detectives followed inside and busted the joint. Police observed gambling and a makeshift bar area.

Coward was charged with 10 offenses. Johnsons were each charged with six offenses.

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Paterson police arrest three, seize drugs, defaced weapon from Park Avenue gambling joint - Paterson Times

CEDAR RAPIDS (KWWL) - Residents have voted to allow gambling facilities in Linn County.

In a 55 percent vote, Linn County residents voted to allow gambling facilities in the county. The vote is only for allowing facilities, it does not mean a casino will be built. Approval of a specific facility has more requirements, such as an application and approval by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

Residents first voted to allow gambling back in 2013 but state law says gambling measures must be voted on and approved twice, eight years apart.

Since 2013, many new decisions have been made about gambling in the state. Linn County voters passed a gaming referendum in 2013, but the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission rejected four state license requests in 2013. However, there are now new members on the commission. The state of Iowa has also legalized sports betting in 2019.

Voting yes on this referendum is about Linn Countys future, Drew Skogman, a member of Cedar Rapids Development Group said. Linn County is the largest county in Iowa without a gaming facility, and its time for us to receive the same economic stimulus that casinos bring to other counties in the state.

Several hundred jobs in constructing a casino, if approved, would add hundreds of jobs. Keeping the casino operational would include 700 new jobs in the area, Jonathan Swain, the president of a company that works with CRDG told KWWL.

Iowa requires casinos to share a percentage of their revenue to local charities and community projects. The Linn County Gaming Association will serve as a nonprofit organization that facilitates revenue to other organizations.

"On average, a county that has a casino is able to allocate $6.3 million to their non-profits and for those counties, much like Linn County that do not have a casino, that take is about $140,000 on average," president of the LCGA, Anne Parmley previously told KWWL.

If a casino is approved for the county, current Mayor Brad Hart previously told KWWL the city of Cedar Rapids does not get to choose the location.

CLICK HERE for more election results.For results not seen onkwwl.com, go to the Secretary of State's websitehere.

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Linn County Gaming Referendum passes, voters complete 8-year process of bringing gambling to county - kwwl.com

One of the challenges often repeated when addressing gambling related harms is not enough evidence, explained Anna van der Gaag, chair of the advisory board for safer gambling.

Reflecting on Safer Gambling Week, van der Gagg, emphasised the need for listening, learning and acting when it comes to tackling gambling harms.

As a lifelong researcher, I support the need for more research, claimed van der Gaag. But there is an urgency here. Individuals are suffering harm. So what kind of evidence are we looking for? For what purpose?

Those involved in the measurement of health care have tended to use somewhat polarised frames of reference; positivist versus interpretive, objective versus subjective, empirical versus narrative, expert versus lay person, each one claiming superiority over the other in an increasingly politicised world of measurement. What creates a way through this forest of conflicting views?

Citing Muir Gray, Gaag noted that he asserted that health care would, not only need to retain and improve on the achievements of the modern era but also respond to the requirements of a post-modern society, namely concern about values as well as evidence.

She continued: These observations are no less relevant today than they were some two decades ago. We must not wait for one type of research evidence to be fully complete before moving forward on planning provision of services. We must evaluate carefully as provision evolves, and adapt accordingly, listening to those who already provide treatment and support.

We must listen to what people with lived experience tell us. For individuals, populations, and for society as a whole, these tested observations are key organising principles that can help to create a path to better understanding and improved access to services and support.

The ABSG provides independent advice to the Gambling Commission with the aim to help achieve a Great Britain free of gambling related harms. It is one of three advisory groups who support the Gambling Commission in its work to make gambling fairer, safer and crime free.

Additionally, the ABSG also supports the Gambling Commission as it collaborates with others to implement the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, ensuring progress is made on its strategic commitments.

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Van der Gaag calls for need to listen, learn and act on gambling harm - Casino Beats

Nov. 1During Tuesday's municipal elections, voters in Nashua will be asked again if they want to see an in-person sportsbook location in the Gate City, and Portsmouth voters will be asked if they want Keno locations.

After a 2019 law legalized sports betting in New Hampshire and up to 10 brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, voters in six cities, including Manchester, approved sportsbook locations. Nashua narrowly rejected sportsbooks in 2019, as did Concord.

Fourteen towns approved sportsbooks during their spring 2020 town meetings.

But that does not guarantee a location will open. The state lottery commission and the sole company the state contracts with to run sports betting DraftKings can decide if they want to take up a city's invitation to open.

Absent a brick-and-mortar location, bets can be placed from a mobile phone app, as long as the gambler is physically in the state of New Hampshire.

In August, the lottery commissioner said he was eyeing locations on the Seacoast and the Massachusetts border. The commissioner estimated half of the sports bets made in New Hampshire come from Massachusetts residents.

In the two years since sports betting was legalized in New Hampshire, only two sportsbooks have opened, one in Seabrook and one in Manchester.

The Manchester location has been the site of at least two violent crimes this year. A man was shot nearly to death in the parking lot in April, and another was threatened with a gun in February.

Portsmouth voters will be asked to decide if they want to allow Keno in city businesses.

Approval for Keno has become far more widespread than approval for sportsbook locations. The quick-pick game was legalized in 2017, in an effort to catch money from gamblers who had been crossing into Massachusetts to play Keno, and help pay for full-day kindergarten.

Voters in almost 90 towns and cities have let Keno in. That has led to more than 200 kiosks in restaurants and social clubs around the state.

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Gambling on the ballot for Nashua and Portsmouth - Yahoo News

Ive always been a fan of dystopian literature with its what-if premises and cautionary tales. George Orwells 1984 was an early favorite, soon followed by Aldous Huxleys Brave New World. Television shows such as Rod Serlings classic Twilight Zone and Charlie Brookers contemporary Black Mirror offer similar plotlines that match my thematic interests.

Most recently, Squid Game has captured my attention along with 142 million other Netflix subscribers, making it the streaming services most popular original series to date. Produced in South Korea, Squid Game envisions the consequences of debt-ridden people playing reimagined childrens games for considerable prize money. Violent and gruesome, it is a dystopian allegory that criticizes a rapacious capitalistic society in which people are so desperate to rid themselves of debt, theyd wager their very lives.

Many South Koreans despair of advancing in a society where good jobs are increasingly scarce and housing prices have skyrocketed, reported Kim Tong-Hyung of the Associated Press, enticing many to borrow heavily to gamble on risky financial investments or cryptocurrencies.

Just as I began watching Squid Game a few weeks back, my CTNewsJunkie colleague Christine Stuart posted this story:

Starting at 6 a.m. [on Oct. 19] residents across the state will have a casino in their pockets. Thats because residents will have access to three different online gambling platforms, two operated by the tribes and one by the Connecticut Lottery.

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation in partnership with Rush Street Interactive will begin taking bets via PlaySugarHouse.com, the Mohegan Tribal Nation will take bets via FanDuel and the Mashantucket Pequots will be taking bets via DraftKings, Stuart explained.

Not by coincidence, advertisements for DraftKings began showing up on TV as I watched NFL games and on my Twitter feed as I scrolled through posts. I could now place bets on my smartphone at any time of day from almost any location. An absolute sports gamblers dream!

Or maybe more like a nightmare.

Before Im labeled a prudish, anti-gambling crusader, Ill admit that I have placed friendly wagers on sports contests on occasion. I understand the allure of betting. But I also understand that gambling can be powerfully addicting and I worry that making it as easy as checking the weather forecast on your phone is a perilous proposition.

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says broader access to gambling with online betting exposes gamblers to vulnerabilities, such as financial difficulties, troubled relationships with family members and significant others, poor work performance, an increase in money-related crime, and a reported increase in severity of mental health-related symptoms, according to the Hartford Courant.

Diana Goode, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, said Connecticut does not make it easy for gamblers who know they have a problem to self-exclude, or submit to bans in the casinos and online, reported the Courants Stephen Singer. Self-exclusion is incredibly difficult, she said gamblers must notify the state Department of Consumer Protection and the two casinos.

The National Survey of Problem Gambling Services estimates that 1.1% of Connecticut adults nearly 40,000 in total have a gambling disorder.

Suffice it to say, I find the confluence of these two events the massive popularity of Squid Game and the introduction of app-based gambling in Connecticut more than a bit ironic. Even as gambling continues to destroy lives, we find ways to make it more accessible.

Before Im labeled a prudish, anti-gambling crusader, Ill admit that I have placed friendly wagers on sports contests on occasion. I understand the allure of betting. But I also understand that gambling can be powerfully addicting and I worry that making it as easy as checking the weather forecast on your phone is a perilous proposition.

Dystopian literature has told this tale before. One episode of the Twilight Zone The Fever features a character who is transformed from an anti-gambler into a gambling addict. It seems he just cant resist the siren song of a slot machine he thinks is calling his name.

A preposterous plot, not unlike that of Squid Game. But its a theme from dystopian literature that nonetheless deserves serious attention.

Barth Keck is in his 31st year as an English teacher and his 16th year as assistant football coach at Haddam-Killingworth High School in Higganum where he teaches courses in journalism, media literacy, and AP English Language and Composition. Follow Barth on Twitter @keckb33 or email him at keckb33@sbcglobal.net.

The views, opinions, positions, or strategies expressed by the author are his alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of CTNewsJunkie.com or Regional School District 17.

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OP-ED | It's a Good Bet That App-Based Gambling Will Cause Problems - CT News Junkie