Every time a new story of gambling’s corrosive effects on sports breaks, there is a gambling defender out there saying it’s not that big of a deal. Players suspended for placing bets on themselves? Hey, he got caught; that’s the system working. Coach starting off a news conference talking about how he and his family are regularly harassed by gamblers? Hey, there are always some bad apples out there. A surge in gambling addiction among young people, including teenagers? Hey, most adults can handle this stuff just fine and can make their own decisions.

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