I Don't Think Gambling Specifically Targets the Poor

[mu_enrico]

I often hear that the poor are prone to gambling, and that problem gamblers are mostly from lower-income groups. Well, that's only half-true at best, in my opinion, because gambling doesn't care whether you're poor or rich -- if you like it, you like it. If you don't, you don't.

Perhaps this idea comes from data showing that poor people spend a higher percentage of their income on gambling than the rich. For example, $50 is 10% of your income if you earn $500, but only 1% if you earn $5,000. But it's still $50 nonetheless.

The argument that gambling is driven by the desire for a "get rich quick" dream is also flawed because even the wealthy want to get richer. It's just human nature to be greedy -- look at emperors in the past who had everything, yet still wanted to rule the entire world.

What do you think? Do you believe the poor are more prone to gambling?

[_act_]

You will see rich people that will gamble just to spend some time having fun but the poor will gamble just to find ways to make money from gambling. That is why you will see the poor looking for more than 5 or 10 time return but they continue to use small amount of money if they are not addicted. This is what I noticed about the rich and poor people that are gambling.

[Stompix]

I heard this thing back in the 90s when the nationalists were saying that the EU wanted to keep us poor so they could sell us their stuff, and I was always wondering who in their sane mind would want poor not rich customers.

Same here, nobody targets the poor specifically, because it would be a waste of money, every casino wants high rollers, not pennies munchers, it's just a myth mostly because it's poor gamblers that end up in tragic situations that make it in the news, rich ones can afford to lose millions and not bat an eye.

[bisdak40]

Gambling targets all people because they want to bet their money on their casino but the poor are somewhat more likely to gamble because they are hoping that they will be lucky and rise out of poverty.

[SmartGold01]

Gambling as per from the view of the Rich people is just for pleasure sake, and they does it with ease and happiness without the hope for something in return but when a poor gambles they so much expect something very higher from gambling, but on the reverse it leads to them being worried as the plans fails since money doesn't come as they planned. The Joy is taken away from there since they don't win as regular, which has defeated the purpose of gambling.

[ajiz138]

Gambling targets all people because they want to bet their money on their casino but the poor are somewhat more likely to gamble because they are hoping that they will be lucky and rise out of poverty.

Well, that's right, casino owners will target everyone, because from the beginning their goal is business, and in business the main thing is to gain profit from anyone. They don't force, but they provide with promotional strategies and the like.

Poor people will be more hopeful that there will be a miracle that comes to them from gambling. This is what ultimately drives someone to continue gambling beyond their means.

[Rruchi man]

What do you think? Do you believe the poor are more prone to gambling?

Both the rich and the poor are in danger of gambling becoming a problem because, just as some people may have the argument that the poor may want to gamble because of the ability to get money from it, the rich may also want to gamble because they have the money, and then will consider gambling more for fun. Some of the rich even gamble just as a show of wealth.

@OP, I agree with you that gambling does not specifically target the poor, but some gambling companies and owners may have the poor as their particular target, making them site their casinos or gambling houses in poor neighborhoods, but that still does not mean that the rich are restricted from visiting to gamble or that there are no gambling houses and casinos in rich neighborhoods.

[Findingnemo]

Poor people might be more tempted to gamble than the rich could be the right statement. Anyone who can take the bet is welcome to the table and they need to realize that they can bear the loss if they lost the bet and for rich it's possible while for poor they gamble with their salary that should have been paid as rent or anything that is necessary instead of hoping that I can double or triple the money without understanding the negative consequences.

[Cantsay]

What do you think? Do you believe the poor are more prone to gambling?

Well for me I believe it’s all the same - whether rich or poor they are all prone to gambling all that matters is the person that is involved. Someone can be rich and still be an addict while someone who has nothing in their account might not even know how to gamble.

Although, the percentage might be higher for poor people than that of high but when the amount spent is considered then those of the rich becomes more significant than that of poor people. So if anything the casino would want to target those rich people even if they are few than those that are poor because the profit they’ll get will be much greater than that of the poor.

[electronicash]

for the poor you can always tell the motivation is always money but for the rich sometimes they just gamble because friends invite friends over a poker table. but they wouldn't invite someone who also don't gamble. if you have money just like the rich men, they always like showing off for earning friends.

Floyd gambles with the Arab guys because he was invited in a friendly poker table. and Micheal Jordan gambles with friends who are also into sports. so much to lose when the gambler is a family man whether him being poor or rich.

[Zed0X]

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What do you think? Do you believe the poor are more prone to gambling?

Compared to those who are earning more, the poor are more desperate but would look for an easier way out. Most of the poor would likely to resort to gambling to get rich and, in terms of effort, it's easier to buy a lottery ticket than work your butt off for hours.

[SamReomo]

I think I agree, gambling doesn't target poor or rich it most probably targets everyone like the social media platforms but it's on the ones who choose to gamble or not. Sometimes poor people like to gamble and that's why they gamble and similarly sometimes rich want to gamble and they gamble. It's true that rich people surely spend more money in gambling then the poor people but casinos don't really have any such specific targets whatsoever.

[bitterguy28]

What do you think? Do you believe the poor are more prone to gambling?

no but they are more prone to getting poorer

this argument is really interesting because like you said gambling is for everyone but it seems like it is more taboo or discouraged when you are poor of course because it is almost certain that you will end up in deeper poverty meanwhile the rich can spend as much as the poor in gambling yet it will barely make a dent in their earnings so is it still okay for them to gamble excessively?

of course not because the only difference between the poor and the rich when gambling is that the poor loses their money faster but the rich can have a longer time gambling before they even reach the bottom of the bag

[Cryptsafe]

Gambling is just a game that we play to derive pleasure from but the narrative changed as people see it as a means of getting rich quick. Gambling does not target the poor but otherwise, it is for the general masses as long as you derive pleasure in playing the game. As a result of the benefits attached to some game after victory, some people would just keep gambling and gambling with the mindset of  winning. This I believe was the reason why some gamblers saw it as a means to make profit hence their approach of making money while they gamble.

Peoples perspective towards gambling varies based on the level of their understanding be it the poor or the rich but I still believe as humans, it is natural that we want profit from most engagements we do. Although the percentage of the poor and rich who gambles varies because most rich men already have the money and the probability of them gambling for profit is minimal and this makes a very little percentage of the rich who gamble while the poor always want to breakthrough via any means they seems to be legit and majority of the poor who gambles likely do it with the mentality of getting profit. So the possibility of the majority of poor who gambles to make profit is high.

[robelneo]

What do you think? Do you believe the poor are more prone to gambling?

Based on my experience and on what I saw in people around me, the poor are more susceptible to gambling; there's a long line of people mostly poor or of of medium income in a lottery and on horse racing, and every time there's a feast where organizers are setting up gambling tent.
They want to change their lives for the better or at least add more money in their small income, and they find gambling can do this for them.
Out of necessity, because of lack of more opportunity, they allocate money, and sometimes the allocation is more than what they can lose.