I work in sports betting and I also am a sustainability advocate. How's that possible?

So, I work in sports betting and I also am a sustainability advocate. How's that possible?

I love sports, and I've been fortunate enough to work around it through two amazing companies so far, both with a high-integrity mindset that transpires through all operations and deals you get to know about them. I admit, there weren't many women at the beginning of my career... and more shamefully, I recently realized Bet365's CEO was one. And why do I say this? Because despite being a "minority" in my job, I rarely have "felt" it.

I've seen plenty of critics against betting and, as with other controversial industries, plenty of those criticisms are true. However, there are also other sides to the story and to the stakeholders involved that we often forget.

Sports betting has driven development and investment in research across sports, allowing leagues and athletes to track their performance and drive fan engagement through media platforms. This increased transparency and excitement enhances the overall experience for fans.

Legalization has also brought benefits. I used to recruit operators in my previous work, and one of the things I often emphasized was that thanks to the legalization of sports betting, we transitioned from unregulated activities like cockfighting and street bets to a structured, regulated industry in our country. This allows taxes to be collected for the benefit of the country, diminishing overall risk for all participants.

The relationship between sports events and food offerings is another aspect worth noting. I love agribusinesses and food, and sports events have a significant impact on the food industry, from stadium concessions to local businesses benefiting from increased foot traffic.

Why do I mention these points for the industry I work in? Because similar biases exist in many industries. We often simplify complex problems and solutions, leading to condemnation of open discussions that challenge our beliefs.

I'm not going to lobby for or against specific industries, but I hope we can ask ourselves deeper questions when we criticize. How clear are our ideas about these issues? Are we considering all facets?

I believe in the power of thought and creation. There are people in industries like Oil, Plastics, Meat, and Tobacco who are striving to develop more sustainable practices. As humans, we still have a long way to go before eliminating the demand for what some see as "mundane desires and requirements."

The people working in these industries are mostly trying to do better and fulfil current demands. Social behaviour is complex, and I'm not planning to root for fans to stop watching sports. Instead, let's think about how this demand fulfilment will evolve.