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Bob's avatar

The source you cite cites another article which looks like the source of the sportsbetting-oxycontin analogy: "Brian Hatch, a recovering gambling addict who’s now an addiction counselor in Hartford, Connecticut, compared the rise of sports betting to the opioid crisis. Referring to the family behind Purdue Pharma, Hatch told me: 'This industry is profiting off of people with an addiction the same way the Sackler family profited off of opioids. Opioids were pushed by the drug companies and doctors relentlessly. Gambling is pushed by the industry and state governments.'” That seems like a legitimate analysis that bears further discussion.

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Dustin Gouker's avatar

Their is a serious discussion to be had about addiction and sports betting, and I admire Brian and his opinion. What he said can be totally correct, and the piece I wrote about can still be utter garbage. Both things can be true. Brian didn't say sports betting is worse than opioids, which has literally killed hundreds of thousands of people.

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