Count me among the few that would prefer that gambling disappear from the game, although I am only considering the matter from the standpoint of American pool.
I'm the idealist, and my dreams for the game we love is that American kids will, one day, flock to the poolrooms and be fascinated by the game the way I am. Unfortunately, far too many kids won't be allowed to flock to the poolroom until parents view the poolroom as a safe place in which kids won't have negative role models and won't be taken advantage of.
To me, the presence of gamblers who try to prey on anyone that walks through the door (in most poolrooms I've ever frequented) ensures that American parents will never have the comfort level with the pool scene to encourage their kids to spend a lot of time in poolrooms. Further damage is done by the the gambler, who is, far too often, dressed in a slovenly manner and is too inclined to be rude and profane, which diminshes the dignity of the poolroom. It is easy to overlook that this tends to scare away many adults, too, and particularly the financially well off, who will choose other leisure-time pursuits such as golf. Yes, gambling is scaring away the demographic that pool needs most to thrive, and will continue to do so as long as the predators continue to frequent and be welcomed in the poolrooms of America.
Having said all this, I'll freely admit that I have some reservations about taking this view, as the scenario may be unattainable. If pool, as I fear, can only exist below the level of dignity that I feel is within the game's grasp, I accept that gambling can bring some extra flavor to the pool scene.
Yes, we'd lose something colorful if gambling disappeared from the pool scene, but we'd have a chance to raise the game's image and profile, which would make pool more suitable for both children and adults, and which would extend the game's reach to the demographic that can make it more prominent and profitable.
OK, I've had my say.