The Long Way Home 3.6.26
When I was coming of age, gambling was a "back-alley vice." My mother, raised during the Depression, pinched pennies her whole life and admonished me throughout my youth to stay away from the sins of gambling. Today, gambling is literally everywhere—a striking contrast to my earlier experiences. A majority of ads during sporting event broadcasts, from the NHL and NFL to MLB and Curling, are from online gambling sites. Ads for casinos fill the remaining spots not taken by ads for expensive cars and high-end drugs. Reflecting on my own journey, my attitude toward gambling changed as I grew up. I became a pretty avid gambler in business and on games of chance, not unusual for someone with an addictive personality. One or two trips to Las Vegas every year usually satisfied my craving for Blackjack, Craps, and even Roulette. This personal experience with gambling expanded after Minnesota legalized parimutuel betting on horse racing. A friend of ours seduced the Bohunk into ...