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Addiction Markets

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387 points toomuchtodo | 3 comments | 31 Oct 25 17:42 UTC | HN request time: 0.745s | source
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Balgair ◴[01 Nov 25 14:20 UTC] No.45781844[source]▶
I'll make a bet here:

By the 2040 US presidential election, anti-gambling legislation will be a bigger party platform issue than abortion is for one of the two major US political parties.

We are ruining a generation of men with this, just as we did with alcohol in the era before prohibition. A wiser and more sensible approach is desperately needed today, but will not come for another 15 years until the damage is inescapable to see.

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Den_VR ◴[01 Nov 25 14:54 UTC] No.45782098[source]▶
A generation of men?
replies(2): >>45782677 #>>45783144 #
1. watwut ◴[01 Nov 25 16:46 UTC] No.45783144[source]▶
The ads and apps are very much targetted at men. I have seen "some and few" gambling apps targetted at women. Traditionally too, gambling was more of a "male" issue.

Also, the people loosing money on crypto, MtG and games with gambling mechanics tend to be more of men. It is kind of a gendered issue.

replies(1): >>45788598 #
2. Den_VR ◴[02 Nov 25 07:50 UTC] No.45788598[source]▶
Does it disproportionately impact men because: - men are still expected to be financial “winners” in relationships - men adopt high risk strategies to accomplish such status - sports are essential to identity and social activity in 2025
replies(1): >>45794099 #
3. watwut ◴[02 Nov 25 22:44 UTC] No.45794099[source]▶
That sounds more like post rationalization. Yes sports are essential to identity and that has zero to do with relationships.

But gambling is not high risk strategy to become rich. It is basically certainity to loose money strategy.

Yes, making gambling part of masculine identity is what many of those ads are trying to achieve.