I despise the gambling/betting culture pushed in MMA and sports today

[Daniel_LaRusso]

I know a lot of people will disagree with this and enjoy gambling on fights and having access to online betting.

But for me, as a non-gambler & anti-gambler, it is getting to the point of being so "in your face" it is becoming sickening.

Gambling is equally if not more damaging than tobacco advertising and I'd rather see it greatly toned down if not abolished. For those the industry preys on - the weak, naive and easily led, gambling addictions don't just destroy one life, they destroy many.

Is there such thing as "responsible gambling"? Yes. I know many will know their limits, but from experience many just don't see themselves sliding down the slope to financial ruin from gambling. Once you start chasing losses and gambling with money you really can't afford to lose, one bad move can easily lead to financial ruin you never escape from for the rest of your life.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I bet I can stop anytime I want.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

I never bet on the fights. My Tapology record tells me that would probably be a bad idea. I used to love the horses a cpl decades ago. I’d study the racing form and the newspapers everyday. I was pretty good at it. But it’s not something I would ever become rich doing. And I’d most likely lose when I could least afford it. But, I do like seeing the odds, and the bet slips posted in here. I like to see people actually bet and win big. Good for them. But, I wonder how many losing bets they made that they never actually mention?

Because I call bullshit on anybody winning 100% of the time.

 

[tritestill]

Yea, the culture is pushed. People like to bet. Hard to ignore all the ads. I run a monthly Tapology league. It is for money. That's the extent of betting I do. Not great when comes to betting and gambling. Use have this reoccurring nightmare of me being killed in my past life over trying to cheat while gambling in an old Western Salon.

I regret not putting money on Carwin over Gonzaga til this day tho.

 

[DaviVasco]

while you are at it, let's stop ads of fast-food, soda, energy drinks, alcohol, violent movies, etc....

 

[Poirierfan]

I know all too well about how gambling can destroy families (my ex was a compulsive gambler/addict). We lost everything and I got sole custody of our son because of it. With that being said, I don't see a problem as long as the person is being responsible. It only becomes a problem when the person has an addictive personality and takes everything to the extreme, and not just gambling. However, what I'm saying everyone already knows anyway, so.

 

[You Will Vote For Dreyga]

I know a lot of people will disagree with this and enjoy gambling on fights and having access to online betting.

But for me, as a non-gambler & anti-gambler, it is getting to the point of being so "in your face" it is becoming sickening.

Gambling is equally if not more damaging than tobacco advertising and I'd rather see it greatly toned down if not abolished. For those the industry preys on - the weak, naive and easily led, gambling addictions don't just destroy one life, they destroy many.

Is there such thing as "responsible gambling"? Yes. I know many will know their limits, but from experience many just don't see themselves sliding down the slope to financial ruin from gambling. Once you start chasing losses and gambling with money you really can't afford to lose, one bad move can easily lead to financial ruin you never escape from for the rest of your life.

 

[USADA Golden Snitch]

How do you think they got to that 1 Billion ?

Just like they suckered ESPN they suckered the gambling sites for a share and advertising.

This is no accident at all. Imo the UFC smurfs millions and millions a year from other casinos.

Control the sport and take advantage of the odds

 

[Anaconda99]

Im a degenerate so i strongly disagree. Seriously though people who lose all their money on gambling are just trash people they will always find a way to piss away money. My dad was a degenerate gambler and he lost it all at one point selling his car. Not the pushing of betting is causing this but inheretly bad people. Lack of character.

 

[Shaddows]

I know a lot of people will disagree with this and enjoy gambling on fights and having access to online betting.

But for me, as a non-gambler & anti-gambler, it is getting to the point of being so "in your face" it is becoming sickening.

Gambling is equally if not more damaging than tobacco advertising and I'd rather see it greatly toned down if not abolished. For those the industry preys on - the weak, naive and easily led, gambling addictions don't just destroy one life, they destroy many.

Is there such thing as "responsible gambling"? Yes. I know many will know their limits, but from experience many just don't see themselves sliding down the slope to financial ruin from gambling. Once you start chasing losses and gambling with money you really can't afford to lose, one bad move can easily lead to financial ruin you never escape from for the rest of your life.

I've gambled a few times.
I traveled to Vegas and set two nights to experience gambling. I set my limits and abided by it.

but living relatively close to some Casinos, I did hear and learned about the dangers of gambling. I respect it, and avoid gambling (I mostly go when I have visitors who want to go and "see a Casino" as if it is a tourist attraction).

But I agree with you. I would rather see less adds for gambling, and have the UFC stop calling so much on the odds every single fucking round. That is not a good example.

 

[Krixes]

I love gambling on sports.... The vbookie here on Sherdog has helped me slow down on real $$$ wagers. I just get off on the thrill feeling it brings...

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

I know a lot of people will disagree with this and enjoy gambling on fights and having access to online betting.

But for me, as a non-gambler & anti-gambler, it is getting to the point of being so "in your face" it is becoming sickening.

Gambling is equally if not more damaging than tobacco advertising and I'd rather see it greatly toned down if not abolished. For those the industry preys on - the weak, naive and easily led, gambling addictions don't just destroy one life, they destroy many.

Is there such thing as "responsible gambling"? Yes. I know many will know their limits, but from experience many just don't see themselves sliding down the slope to financial ruin from gambling. Once you start chasing losses and gambling with money you really can't afford to lose, one bad move can easily lead to financial ruin you never escape from for the rest of your life.

The things i don't like i ignore instead of crying about it on the internet

 

[SouthpawSouthernFist]

I agree. Most people have no edge and should not be sports gambling at all.

 

[Oblivian]

I agree. Most people have no edge and should not be sports gambling at all.

I'd say most that are avid fans of the sport should be near break even which is honestly fine with a recreational gambler. I'd say most "hardcore" fans of any sport should be able to turn a profit if they have a head on their shoulders. Of course this will be largely overshadowed by the just looking for action bettors and the ones looking to get rich. In the betting threads, I see so many scale up their wagers until they crash and burn.

 

[Poirierfan]

Im a degenerate so i strongly disagree. Seriously though people who lose all their money on gambling are just trash people they will always find a way to piss away money. My dad was a degenerate gambler and he lost it all at one point selling his car. Not the pushing of betting is causing this but inheretly bad people. Lack of character.

True, me and my ex wife even went down to the police station to sign some shit so she wouldn't be allowed onto the casino boats. She found ways around it, this girl was college educated but had a highly addictive personality and was a shit human being. Because of this she did some really horrible things at the time that I won't even go into. But yeah, I agree for the most part with what you're saying.

 

[Guffman]

I'm up over the last four years I've been betting on MMA, but not by a lot. That keeps it fun. If I were down, I'd have probably cashed out and let it go. I don't think it's a problem for most people, really.

 

[christopher]

I know a lot of people will disagree with this and enjoy gambling on fights and having access to online betting.

But for me, as a non-gambler & anti-gambler, it is getting to the point of being so "in your face" it is becoming sickening.

Gambling is equally if not more damaging than tobacco advertising and I'd rather see it greatly toned down if not abolished. For those the industry preys on - the weak, naive and easily led, gambling addictions don't just destroy one life, they destroy many.

Is there such thing as "responsible gambling"? Yes. I know many will know their limits, but from experience many just don't see themselves sliding down the slope to financial ruin from gambling. Once you start chasing losses and gambling with money you really can't afford to lose, one bad move can easily lead to financial ruin you never escape from for the rest of your life.

It's a part of the culture, because before it was organized it was underground.. think Kimbo Slice.. i'll bet 10 grand my guy knocks out your guy. Heck think back with Van Damme and Lion Heart.. underground fighting is a betting mans world.. that's what motivated the competition to happen in the first place. Lets wager who is the better man, not to mention Vegas is the heart and MMA capital of the world. One could argue without gambling the sport would never be where it is in the first place. Bets have been laid on fighting for probably thousands of years, and like one of the earlier posters I for one like seeing the odds as well. It's cool to know who is considered the underdog and the favorite theres more pressure to the fight, that way when you see Nunes get tapped out by a 10 to 1 underdog in the likes of Pena it hits that much harder.

Although I do agree with your one point that gambling destroys lives, it has affected my life as well not knowing when to stop so I do agree with you there, but this is also the fight game people face potential death putting their lives on the line and that's way more risk than gambling will ever be. If you root for someone to beat the crap out of each other than why is betting the part you have a problem with?

 

[Islam Imamate]

I know a lot of people will disagree with this and enjoy gambling on fights and having access to online betting.

But for me, as a non-gambler & anti-gambler, it is getting to the point of being so "in your face" it is becoming sickening.

Gambling is equally if not more damaging than tobacco advertising and I'd rather see it greatly toned down if not abolished. For those the industry preys on - the weak, naive and easily led, gambling addictions don't just destroy one life, they destroy many.

Is there such thing as "responsible gambling"? Yes. I know many will know their limits, but from experience many just don't see themselves sliding down the slope to financial ruin from gambling. Once you start chasing losses and gambling with money you really can't afford to lose, one bad move can easily lead to financial ruin you never escape from for the rest of your life.

I'm conflicted because I largely agree with you but that being said I do enjoy seeing the odds before the match up since to me its a key bit of information, as important as the other stats you get in the tale of the tape.

If anything odds are probably a far better predictor of a performance than rankings are and yet we hear endlessly about the rankings. Who cares what random Twitter Yes men say the rankings are, I want to see what the people who put their money where their mouth is think.

But yeah, gambling is bad.

 

[EndlessCritic]

I know a lot of people will disagree with this and enjoy gambling on fights and having access to online betting.

But for me, as a non-gambler & anti-gambler, it is getting to the point of being so "in your face" it is becoming sickening.

Gambling is equally if not more damaging than tobacco advertising and I'd rather see it greatly toned down if not abolished. For those the industry preys on - the weak, naive and easily led, gambling addictions don't just destroy one life, they destroy many.

Is there such thing as "responsible gambling"? Yes. I know many will know their limits, but from experience many just don't see themselves sliding down the slope to financial ruin from gambling. Once you start chasing losses and gambling with money you really can't afford to lose, one bad move can easily lead to financial ruin you never escape from for the rest of your life.

I have gambled on MMA for over a decade, am up well into the 5 figures, and used to bet $5,000 per card. I completely agree with you.

I think they should show the odds, but they don't need to talk about the odds unless they think there's something significant about them. The odds are supposed to reflect information. They should be talking about that information.

 

[Anaconda99]

True, me and my ex wife even went down to the police station to sign some shit so she wouldn't be allowed onto the casino boats. She found ways around it, this girl was college educated but had a highly addictive personality and was a shit human being. Because of this she did some really horrible things at the time that I won't even go into.

I believe it. Havent seen my Father since i was 19, thats when i moved out and havent missed him a second. It did prepare me for life though. Havent met many people as fucked as him. Good riddance.