Betting on the dole queue

[CamKawa]

Centrebet offers odds on unemployment rate

Who's up for a punt?

 

[Nyden]

Lord, gamblers really will bet on anything, won't they.

That's simply far too insensitive for my liking, what next - bets on how long the terminally ill have? I'll have $50 on June 8th

 

[Mr J]

HEARTLESS punters can now bet on how long the dole queue will get.

Heartless?

Lord, gamblers really will bet on anything, won't they.

Yes, even things like stocks, gold, and oil.

That's simply far too insensitive for my liking, what next

What's the difference between doing it in the financial markets or with a bookmaker?

 

[Nyden]

Heartless?



Yes, even things like stocks, gold, and oil.



What's the difference between doing it in the financial markets or with a bookmaker?

Are you saying that investment vehicles should be devoid of any sort of ethics?

Gold ... well, there's a reason I believe perma bear gold bugs to be mad off their heads mate. End of the world, don't you know. I just love how they state it as fact too!

Oh, and I don't invest in oil because I believe we're headed for financial Armageddon, that would be quite silly - wouldn't it? I invest in oil based on supply/demand fundamentals, and my continual belief of far higher prices. How does this place me on morally shaky ground?

In essence, my problem with this - is that it's essentially profiting from the suffering of others.

 

[overit]

At least betting on the dole queue doesnt increase unemployment. How much heartache has the "morally correct" speculation on commodities and housing markets caused.

 

[Mr J]

Are you saying that investment vehicles should be devoid of any sort of ethics?

No.

In essence, my problem with this - is that it's essentially profiting from the suffering of others.

It's standard business practice (casinos, bookmakers, banks, brokers, insurance companies, tobacco, many divorce lawyers etc), and it's not necessarily profiting of the suffering of others at all. What if you bet unemployment would fall? While you could say it's unethical to bet either side of this kind of issue, it's done all the time in the markets. Why not ban shorting or even trading altogether? God forbid that we lower the share price, hurting some person's super.

Much of the disagreement that comes from this will stem from the fact that people think gambling is a game, and therefore those who bet on this aren't taking it seriously. You don't know that is true, and I'm sure many would take this bet are doing so because they have some sort of interest.

 

[GumbyLearner]

Yes, Nyden there definitely are people out there suffering. But I had to laugh at the glaring irony of this photo and who are really losing out.

 

[xyzedarteerf]

don't forget the biggest useless tool of them ALL.

 

[GumbyLearner]

don't forget the biggest useless tool of them ALL.

View attachment 30428

Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Nice one xyz! That's funny!

 

[Largesse]

don't forget the biggest useless tool of them ALL.

View attachment 30428

probably the funniest thing i have seen on this board!

hahahahahahahahahahahahah