Should gambling be banned or severely restricted? Or should it be encouraged?

Gamblers know that, overall, they are likely to lose money. They gamble because it is a leisure prusuit that they enjoy. There is nothing irrational about this. Some people get an enjoyable thrill from the remote possiblility that they might win a huge prize- even if they lose. they enjoy the experience. some forms of gambling are highly sociable. For example, many people go to bingo halls to spend time with friends. Society accepts people spending ("wasting"?) money on other leisure pursuits with no material benefits (e.g cinema tickets, watching sports)- gambling should not be any different. it is patronising to suggest that people, including those on low incomes, should not be able to choose how they spend their money.

Well, to gamble is irrational and reckless. There may be the possibility of winning a big prize, but the overwhelming likelhood is that a gambler will loose money. Casinos calculate their odds so that they will always make a profit. Gambling attracts people with little money who are desperate for a windfall. These are the people who can least affort to lose money. They should be protected from the temptation to gamble. Gambling should be banned, or at least very tightly controlled.

I think if the person can control the urge to gamble excessively, gambling shouldn't be a problem. Some people just lose control and create more problems, just like you make a bet with some friends and they rise their bets and you do that too. If you lose, you will lose a lot more than if you don't raise the bet. If you win, you get a lot more than if your friends don't raise the bet.