I think about this Australian woman[1] all the time. It’s clear that the prospect of winning money isn’t the primary motivation for most problem gamblers and gambling addicts and it scares me to think of the implications, especially when helped along by technology. I think those of us who aren’t problem gamblers have an easier time turning a blind eye to the predatory nature of gambling because for most of us the fun is winning a few bucks on a penny slot or putting $10 on black. (Or at least we think it is!)

But, like the app in the article I linked, what’s a casino that takes in real money but never pays out? It’s hard to see it as anything other than predatory. And while the woman shouldn’t have embezzled funds from her employer we’ve sent her to prison and then allowed the obviously exploitative app to continue operating. And when some other unlucky person who is, for whatever reason, predisposed to problem gambling becomes addicted to this app and it ruins their life and possibly the lives of their friends and family we’ll again focus on the “personal responsibility” of the victim and ignore the system and industry that not only facilitated but targeted and then nurtured the victim’s problem in order to profit.

[1]https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7547225/woman-stole-9...