[Twirrim]

> A bit OT, but I wonder how I'd feel if I was offered a job working on software for missiles.

At one stage in my career I had an opportunity to go work for Betfair. I knew several people there and could bypass most or all of the interview process. At the time a rapidly growing on-line gambling company, wasn't quite the major company it is now. They were paying about half as much again over my existing salary, and technology wise it would have been a good opportunity.

I ended up having quite a long conversation with a few co-workers around the morality of it. I was against it, for what I thought were pretty much obvious reasons. The house always wins, gambling is an amazing con built up on destroying lives. I don't want to be a part of that, much like I wouldn't work for a tobacco company, oil company etc. Co-workers were taking what they saw as more pragmatic perspective: Gamblers gonna gamble, doesn't matter if the site is there or not.

[jmpman]

The reality behind corporate casinos is a bit more disheartening. Using analytics, from their “players club” cards, they know what zip code you’re from, and based upon that, they approximate your income. They know that if you lose too much, then your wife isn’t going to allow you to return to Vegas. Each income level has a certain pain threshold for how much you can lose in a year. The casino’s work very hard to ensure you don’t go over that limit.

If you’re on a bad losing streak, they’ll send a host over to offer you tickets to a show or a buffet. The goal is to get you AWAY from gambling. They know you’re an addict, but want to keep the addiction going.

That’s where they cross the ethical line.