Is Betting on Sports and Other Types of Gambling Wrong?

Throughout history, gambling has been associated with crime and addiction. Isolated cases like these have left a blemish on gambling.


Many people have a negative impression of gambling because they only associate it with bad things.

The truth of the matter is that gambling isn’t all bad.

As a matter of fact, betting offers some huge benefits over other forms of entertainment.

Let’s take a look at five key benefits of gambling. Then, you can answer the question for yourself.

Gambling Improves Health

No one considers playing poker or spinning slot machines for hours on end as a healthy endeavor. You’re not likely to break much of a sweat doing either.

Research suggests that gambling actually has a slightly positive effect on your health.

The correlation is more directly between the cognitive benefits of real money gambling and increased happiness.

A team from Yale compared the health of individuals that gamble with individuals that don’t. The team from Yale measured past and current alcohol use, depression, substance abuse, mental health, financial responsibility, and incarceration.

What they found may be surprising.

Gamblers have considerably fewer bad health markers than non-gamblers of the same age.

This falls along the lines of most thinking on healthy aging, which indicates the more socially active an aging adult is, the healthier they are in general.

This may indicate that healthier people simply enjoy gambling more than unhealthy.

Regardless, it is evident that gambling doesn’t always necessarily incur the stress that is often portrayed on TV and film.

Gambling Increases Happiness

In another independent research project, conducted results showed that gambling is one of the hobbies that increases joy in those who participate.

The research team had nursing home residents participate in different gambling games. Then, they implemented a four-component formula to assess happiness against the baseline.

Researchers discovered that participants’ happiness increased when engaged in gambling against the baseline. The baseline numbers were gathered while participants did everything from sitting in a chair to viewing a tv show and offering no happiness level.

Participants of the study played Five-Card Poker and blackjack. Researchers were able to conclusively determine that players received enjoyment from playing either game.

You Learn and Apply New Skills

Not many people view gambling as a learning tool.

But when you consider the strategy involved and the implementation of goals, it is a fantastic learning tool.

You are forced to learn new rules and gameplay for each new game you try. Some casino games have sophisticated strategies you must master to be profitable.

Blackjack is a prime example of a game where you must understand a combination of different rules and strategies.

Simply knowing the rules is only the first step to learning blackjack because you’ll also need to learn strategy for the best chance of winning. I recommend an online trainer or picking up a blackjack strategy chart to hone your skills.

Of course, blackjack isn’t the only casino game that relies on skill. Three-Card Poker, Texas Hold’em, Mississippi Stud, and sports betting all provide skilled players with better odds of winning.

Poker is the pinnacle of challenging casino games because you’re going head to head with other human competitors, unlike games where you’re competing against the house, proper strategy shifts based on your competition.

By learning a gambling strategy and playing through various scenarios, you are getting an edge against the house.

Gambling Encourages Math Skills

Most of us shudder at the thought of having to do the math. But increasing your math prowess can be fun when centered around a casino game.

Almost all forms of gambling implement some degree of mathematics. This may be as basic as choosing what size your slots bet should be to solving complex poker odds.

I suggest choosing a casino game relative to the degree of math you’re proficient in.

Obviously, you wouldn’t enjoy poker if you have an aversion to complex math problems. It may be more better to stick to games like roulette, craps, and slots. These games incorporate far less math to enjoy.

No matter what game you choose or how simple it may be, you’re going to have to use some math at some point, whether you realize it or not. Gambling is a fantastic way to subconsciously pump up the math skills for other daily applications.

Gambling Is Wonderful for Relaxing and Socializing

Earlier, I spoke about entertainment being among the most apparent benefits of gambling. The casino industry wouldn’t be nearly as popular if it weren’t an absolute blast.

Relaxation, entertainment, and socializing with others are other key benefits of betting on sports or playing casino games.

Millions of Americans enjoy spending a percentage of their disposable income to let off some stress in the casino. They find a few dollars on a game at the sportsbook or a session at the blackjack table, a welcomed distraction from their daily grind.

Many others get their kicks by chasing large payouts, like progressive slot machine jackpots or enormous bad beat side pots in the poker room. These provide an opportunity to buy-in for a relatively small amount and receive a massive payout on a win.

You can socialize at almost all casino games, but a few stand out above the rest. Namely, the craps table and sportsbooks are amongst the largest parties you can find in any casino.

The craps table really stands out as the leader in socialization at the casino. Most players bet with the shooter, as opposed to betting against the shooter.

Since most gamblers are betting together and sharing in wins while also feeling the burns of a loss, a bond is formed among individuals. The result is an atmosphere of excitement that is purely electric, and it remains unrivaled in the casino.

The sportsbook can be another beautiful area for socialization. Legions of sports fans pour into the plush leather seats and root on their favorite teams to pull out the victory.

Having so many sports bettors in one place sharing their common interest and feeling the emotional rollercoaster of emotions that comes with real money sports betting is really a beautiful thing.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the sportsbook is the trash talking. I am not a trash talker. I am more of the quiet, observant type. However, it brings me great joy to see others poke and prod at rivals.

Money Management

Another way betting on sports benefits you is by practicing money management, or maintaining a bankroll.

Everybody has to manage finances, and no doubt, some are better than others. Gambling helps teach financial discipline because you must accurately weigh potential risks against your available funds.

Your primary objective with bankroll management should be to determine how much you can risk. Players should be comfortable with the idea that they could lose their bankroll if they hit a bad luck streak.

Unfortunately, many bettors entirely skip bankroll management and end up surprised when their funds suddenly dry up. However, with some basic math, you can altogether avoid this and take full control of your bankroll.

In the big picture, you’ll improve your skills with managing your money and quickly transfer these new skills to your standard finances.

What About the Moral High Ground?

Attitudes about betting on sports and other casino gaming have slowly shifted over the years. Yet, a significant group of the general public believes gambling is a bad habit for worse people.

Most of this negativity revolves around gambling addiction. Still, the fact is that under 2% of gamblers are distinguished as being of the compulsive variety.

That leaves the other 98% that are actually receiving a bevy of benefits by choosing such a healthy hobby.

My favorite side effect of gambling is learning new strategies and practicing my mathematical abilities. You may find another of the critical benefits better suits your personality and gambling habits.

No matter the case, you are likely going to see some positive benefits from gambling.

Conclusion

Is betting on sports (or casino games) wrong?

It isn’t for me to decide for you. Nor is it the government’s job to decide. Nor is it anybody else’s business.

You’ll have to decide for yourself.

It’s hard for me to reconcile something being wrong that has so many apparent benefits and brings happiness to the lives of so many people. Truthfully, it all depends on the individual.

If you’re the type of person with addictive behavior or if you hold certain religious beliefs, then betting on sports may not be acceptable to you. But if you’re a passionate bettor who enjoys a little risk for entertainment while watching sports, then sports betting isn’t all that bad.