To me this just mirrors what people would write about drinking in the prohibition era[1].<p>There are some people for whom gambling is a profitable profession (I was one such person), some for whom gambling is a reasonable recreational activity, some for whom it is a life-crushing addiction, and there are many shades in between.<p>And prohibition only makes things worse for all the actors. Professionals and amateurs alike have to play on sketchy sites that fund criminals to make their living, and people end up being exploited by the lack of regulation similar to how you might die of alcohol poisoning from moonshine you drank in a speak-easy in the 20s[2].<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Wikipedia:Featured_picture_candidates&#x2F;The_Drunkard%27s_Progress#&#x2F;media&#x2F;File:The_Drunkard%27s_Progress_-_Color.jpg" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Wikipedia:Featured_picture_can...</a><p>[2] Here&#x27;s one example where a poker site stole millions of dollars from its players. There were many such cases: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Cereus_Poker_Network" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Cereus_Poker_Network</a>