Stupidity

Ever notice that government bureaucrats are dumb as rocks? It's pretty much a worldwide phenomenon, as proved by the U.K.'s latest ridiculous "investigation" into Deal or No Deal.

Some idiot decided there's no skill involved in the show and it's purely gambling, even though contestants never stake a penny of their own money. Of course, there's plenty of skill involved in estimating odds and next offers, based on the expected values of the board. But nobody can expect guv'mint cretins to understand that.

I really doubt this farce will go anywhere. Deal or No Deal has run versions all over the world with no problems. As I recall, there was some minor legal rumpus about a play-at-home game offered by Deal or No Deal here in the U.S. But nothing much came of it.

The only people dumber than government functionaries are academics. Some doofus prof in Britain insists: "For some years, there’s been a blurring between gambling and gaming." Well, gee, let's abolish Final Jeopardy, too. Not to mention those lottery game shows run by, you guessed it, governments.