Opportunistic Predators

This post could be called an un-gratitude post, as what I feel moved to write about tonight is something which both disappoints, and sickens, me: the opportunistic predators a.k.a. online gambling platforms. I guess, in a sense, you could say that I am grateful for these dastardly websites, because they remind me in an unmistakable way what I don’t want to be: slick, enticing, manipulative, and preying on people’s most base emotions.

Of course, from an opportunistic point of view, there is no time like the present to trot out to the gambling public all sorts of blandishments which will coax even the marginal or non-gambler into the arena with offers of “first bet is free,” “risk-free, up to $500,” and the like. People are bored, isolated, strapped for cash, and simply seeking some sort of stimulation and release in the midst of the worldwide pandemic. Which, of course, is what has fueled the proliferation of these online outfits.

What struck me tonight, and what moved me to type up something short here, is that I saw Jerome Bettis as a spokesperson for one of these online betting platforms. As he talked smoothly (more accurately: read the script), smiled broadly, and coaxed his audience to give it a try, I felt sickened at the thought of how many people, enticed by the lure of money to be won and hardly phased by what is an only dimly perceived risk, will be snookered into an unenviable, even painful, place where hard-earned and much-needed money will be frittered away carelessly, much to the chagrin of all involved…all, that is, expect the online gambling folks. The Steelers great is, disappointingly, complicit in this enterprise.

I am not entirely sure why this matter struck such a nerve tonight, but I know that it did. For all of you out there who are tempted to heed the cajoling of spokespersons like Bettis and the all-too-predictable knock-out female spokespersons peddling online gambling, my hope for you is that you won’t get on the bus. The driver is an opportunistic predator at the core.