Emma’s Reviews > Imitation Games: How Gambling Hijacked Sport > Status Update

Well researched in both thr history and psychology of gambling today. A heavy emphasis on manipulating men to better themselves not through a get rich quick scheme but through their knowledge of sport. Juxtaposed with actual accounts from gamblers saying how they just pick the type of bet they like and not necessarily the best one. Also, people now have no team loyalty, betting against their team for better odds.

Online sports betting is just the stock market but insider trading is legal.

This idea that sports betting is simply "good, clean fun" diminishes the old idea of "the house always wins". Without a "house" persay, the gamblers seem to be simply making a bet with friends rather than betting against the house. This is creating the illusion of being able to win, if you study the statistics enough (but then everyone bets on their favourite team anyway).

"Dehumanization" by replacing bookkeepers with other systems (player to player, more like stock market exchanges) and cashiers with computers.

This would take away the community aspect of sports very quickly and turn it into a singluar experience and addiction. Dehumanizing always leads to problems.