And so is most of the gambling. Whether poker, roulette or slot machines, a lot of people would tell you they&#x27;re doing it for the pleasure.<p>But in a way, a lot of things are gambling - up to and including investing, particularly in startups. The desirability of a particular form of gambling in society is tied to the negative effects it has on people (e.g. how easy is it for a player to get addicted), and how exploitative the organizations operating a given game are. Under those metrics, fantasy sports are very much like lottery or one-armed bandit, and very much unlike investing.<p>And hell, it&#x27;s not just about being condescending to people. I&#x27;m perplexed by how people tolerate, and even vocally support companies that intentionally fuck over poor people.