On the occasions when I have chatted with men who like to wager, and there have been a number, not one has said to me that overall he is down ( out of pocket ).
Is this coincidence that I have only spoken with winners ? Ricc you suggest that 99% are in full control of what they are doing, would you bet on that ?
If they are in full control they would stop when they see that they are giving money away, but they don't/won't/can't.
You cannot argue against the fact that bookies are making billions, so where are they getting it from ?
I would say the same for the national lottery. Please don't tell me that charities benefit, I already know.
Pubs, brothels, opium dens and chess clubs are on a different level and should be dicussed separately elsewhere.