[apta]

> Don't legally recognize gambling debts. If people lose a bet they can pay it if they want to, but the law wouldn't recognize or enforce the debt.

Correct, and you take it a step farther. People don't pay even if they want, both parties engaging in gambling are penalized.

[icebraining]

To penalize them, you have to identify them first. Gambling is like corruption, in that two innocent activities (a game and a transfer of money) are combined, and you need to prove that link to prove that gambling occurred.