petersmths

I think the influence of lobbying is definitely worth discussing, but I would separate that from the question of whether gambling itself should be legal. Organizations like the AGA obviously have an interest in keeping the industry healthy, so their advice about responsible gambling should still be viewed with some skepticism. At the same time, regulation can be useful when it focuses on transparency, consumer protection and keeping operators accountable. The bigger issue for me is whether politicians are actually making decisions based on public interest or simply responding to whichever industry has the strongest lobbying presence. That is where things can get complicated.

I agree with this. Looking back, a lot of the predictions from 2022 didn't really play out the way people expected. Instead of one company pulling far ahead, we've ended up with three very different approaches to gaming. Microsoft has leaned heavily into services and expanding beyond the console itself, Sony continues to focus on high-quality exclusives, and Nintendo is still proving that great games matter more than having the most powerful hardware. I also think players are much less tied to a single platform than they were a few years ago. Cross-play, PC releases, cloud gaming, and subscription services have changed how a lot of people decide what and where to play. It'll be interesting to see how things look again in another three or four years.

I'm not that experienced in politics, but so much is happening right now. And we know only those things we are let to know. I just can imagine how more things are happening behind "closed curtains". I just wonder how it all end after all.

I agree with you. Sometimes, a desire can lead to such consequences. And yes, money can be the reason pretty often

Finally started reading The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois.