Gambling is a game of luck, and we all have different perspectives about it, to some people, it may be illegal while it may be legal to others, the way and how we see it differs and that is what makes it gambling. We have so many people who are rich through gambling and we have people who are becoming poorer because of it, whichever way it has its advantages and disadvantages
Betting, in its various forms, has been linked to a multitude of negative consequences. Some of the most significant concerns include:
Addiction: Betting can lead to addiction, causing people to spend excessive amounts of money, leading to financial ruin and debt. So many people now have betting sites or rooms as their houses, I have a neighbor who always wakes up in the morning to resume to a betting house and closes with them, he always uses his money to bet on others to double it, he prefers not to eat and the little change he has is always on betting, this man has been addicted to it and there is no way and no amount of advice can take him away from there.
Financial instability: Gambling can also lead to financial instability, The allure of quick wealth can lead to reckless spending, causing people to neglect essential expenses. Gambling has turned so many fathers into irresponsible fathers, not only drunkards can be irresponsible, some men prefer gambling over their family, they can spend their last card on it and also borrow more, and some people can sell their houses, expensive watches, or gold just to gamble leading to financial instability at the end of it and making them homeless.
Mental health issues: The stress and anxiety associated with betting can lead to mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and even suicidal tendencies. The rate at which my neighbor always checks his ticket from time to time always baffles me, he will always curse any club that made him lose and he is always uneasy and this habit can lead to depression or mental health issues.
Crime: This is the last on my list, In extreme cases, gambling can lead to criminal activity, such as theft or fraud, many people will go as far as stealing just to bet, they can do anything for them to stake games when someone has the spirit of covetousness that is when you will always want to double the little you have and when there is no money to put into betting then the spirit can just overshadow your thinking and make such person go the extra mile just to get what they need to bet.
In my opinion, the disadvantages are much more than the advantages, and I would say gambling should be illegal because of the disadvantages I listed above, especially the mental health issues, because if this is overlooked then we have to nurse so many issues of covetousness and ignorance.
In my country betting is never legal but most of our leaders encourage it because most of these betting platforms are always advertised on our screens every day without being sanctioned, gambling should not be legalized in any country because of the well-being of people, there are so many ways we can make money, people who depend solely on betting are lazy people who are not ready to make a real investment but waiting to turn $1 to $50 within a twinkle of an eye.
This is my response to today's episode of hivelearners community prompt of #hl-w148e3 which the topic is tagged Should Gambling/Betting Be Illegal?
