Sports betting was fun at first, says LDS journalist McKay Coppins, then it became a downer
LDS journalist McKay Coppins describes how a $10,000 sports betting assignment for The Atlantic turned from fun into a stressful addiction.Summary
This article from The Salt Lake Tribune features an interview with McKay Coppins, a Latter-day Saint staff writer for The Atlantic, who was given $10,000 by his magazine to gamble on sports while investigating the online sports betting industry. Coppins consulted his bishop, who warned him to 'be careful.' Initially, he found betting thrilling and engaging, but over five to six weeks it began to consume his life: he listened to gambling podcasts in the shower, watched multiple NFL games simultaneously, and even checked DraftKings during church. He ultimately lost nearly all the money, ending with less than $200. He describes how gambling shifts from chasing an emotional high to avoiding negative emotions, and notes that many young Latter-day Saint men distinguish between gambling and sports betting, not viewing the latter as immoral. Coppins calls for more church guidance on the issue, and his article was later quoted by Apostle D. Todd Christofferson in General Conference, who reaffirmed the church's opposition to gambling.
(Source：Salt Lake Tribune)