well, entertainment is a purpose. not to be all gambling industry apologist but i’m sure many people visiting montreal are going to have a great time losing an accounted-for amount of money on roulette while sipping cocktails and feeling fancy.

rational or not, we have a biologically-ingrained fascination with gambling like we do sugary foods and hot people, and enjoying these things are some of life’s true pleasures! it’s just, some are much more susceptible to it than others, which crosses the blurry line into exploitation. practical and effective regulation comes from acknowledging and working with this, not disavowal.

if i stick around here you’re gonna see a lot of this contrarian liberal shrug from me.