American Gaming Association estimates the public, including children, will pump over $3 billion dollars into betting – legal or illegal – during this year's tournament.
Les Bernal of Stop Predatory Gambling tells AFN the issue needs to become a priority for the public because it affects families, quality of life, and the economy itself.
“It's a huge wealth transfer from a whole bunch of everyday folks to the hands of some very, very super-wealthy people,” he warns, “all courtesy of state government. It's crony capitalism in its purest form."
Even professional sports betters on average lose half the time, Bernal says, and “everyday people” only win every once in a while.
“It's a mathematical certainty that you're going to lose all your cash,” he insists. “It's a big con and a form of financial fraud that has become the public voice of American government today.”
