[thebigjewbowski]

The state taxes casinos and sports books an insane amount on top of regular federal taxes and whatnot.

It’s not totally extractive but they are obviously still profitable.

The thing is, everyone gambled before legalization. You didn’t even need a bookie, every online casino has taken bets from US citizens and then pay no taxes to the state or country.

Bookies are even worse than online casinos because they offer a line of credit and later coerce you to give up your business, sell drugs, etc.

All in all it’s very similar to drugs. People are going to do it anyway, might as well make it legal.

You can contact any casino and request to be excluded from play indefinitely. You can set deposit limits and cannot lift them for a month at a time. There’s some “harm reduction” required by law.

[Cupertino95014]

No, "everyone" did not gamble. Some people did, but others didn't want to enough to find a bookie or try an online casino.

"People are going to do it anyway" -- wrong, some people are going to do it. Many will not if it's illegal.

[thebigjewbowski]

Many people still don’t ;). I’m one of the only software engineers I know who gambles on sports or plays cards.

Sports gambling has been legal in the UK and other parts of the EU for a long time.

Betting on horses and dogs, too, has been legal for forever.

[Cupertino95014]

Yeah, I've seen or been on several work trips to Vegas, and only a few people gambled. It doesn't appeal to everyone.