Sports betting is everywhere, and Drew says: let’s pump the brakes and talk about what’s really going on beneath the surface.
😵 The Stats Will Astound You:
23% spike in online searches for gambling addiction in just 5 years 😳
Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. households are now doing online betting
Average yearly bet: $1,100. That’s not chump change; that’s rent money, grocery money, or your kid’s tuition 💸
Drew welcomes Les Bernal, the national director of Stop Predatory Gambling, and man… he does not hold back.
Les shares truth:
What we’re seeing isn’t grandma’s bingo night. This is predatory, for-profit, industrial-scale gambling.
These companies don’t want a friendly wager; they want to keep you in action 24/7. Literally. Like, betting on table tennis in Belarus at 2 a.m. levels of insanity. 😳🏓
Oh yeah, and guess what? Your state is probably partnering with these companies. 🏛️ + 🎰 = 😵
🎯 The Real Cost: Not Just Money
Les brings it home:
This isn’t just financial; it’s emotional, spiritual, and relational.
Teens are calling addiction hotlines with their moms. Kids are gambling before they can even legally drink. 🧒📱
Here’s the gut punch: over $1 TRILLION in personal wealth will be lost over the next 5 years. That’s $300,000 a minute. Let that marinate.
So, What Can You Do?
Talk to your reps. This stuff’s being done in our name, and it’s wrecking families.
🙏 The Catholic Angle
Drew reminds us: The Church doesn’t condemn gambling outright, but it does say it becomes morally unacceptable when it robs people of what they need to live or harms others. 💔
So yeah, your NCAA bracket? Totally fine. But DraftKings blowing up your credit card and pulling your marriage apart? That’s a no-go. 🚫💔
Gambling can be innocent… but the way it’s being shoved into our phones, our families, and our faith lives right now? It’s more like spiritual warfare disguised as a “harmless app.” 📲
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