1. Socialization
2. Income Generation
3. Employment
4. Support to the Gambling Industry
That it's beneficial to you doesn't mean it's good.. most people have lost hard-earned funds, commercial buildings, residential buildings, hectares of land and many more of lives & properties, ruining everything and lowering them to nothing, just for making a decision to begin gamble. Well, I mean it's not one's fault that they refuse to learn from previous experiences but, it is what it is....
If only people know how to control themselves. That is the problem with people who don't want to accept their faults and choose to point the blame on others instead of changing themselves for the better. If people are gambling responsibly, we won't have any gambling addicts or people who suffer financial ruin. The gambling industry should not be blamed for these people. These people are the ones who make themselves suffer by not moderating their gambling activities. After all, engaging in gambling is our personal choice.
I believe that almost any entertainment can lead to one problem or another if abused and it is up to our actions whether or not we get into trouble. For example, reading can have a negative impact on eyesight if read in the dark, eating delicious food can lead to obesity, professional sports can lead to injuries, promiscuous sex can lead to sexually transmitted diseases, etc. The list could go on for a long time. So don't abuse gambling and keep your finances under control and then you shouldn't have any problems.
I highly agree, but the thing is people forget the reason why things turn out bad, instead, they jump to conclusions and point the problem away from the one who made the mistake. Just like most gambling addiction problems. They failed to see that the problem was caused by the person involved and instead put the blame on the gambling industry completely.
Gambling has both good and bad aspects, but because the bad side is more reflected in the society than the good side, people identify gambling as bad.
Most people tend to stereotype and choose to believe what their seniors and elders believe without even thinking about the logic of such beliefs. I think this kind of attitude will never ceasem so gambling is doomed to be hated by most religious people and will always be reflected as bad even though it is really not.