~snip~
Though unusual, your taxi driver experience reveals a larger issue: personal hobbies and professional responsibilities. Since I've seen both perspectives, I understand. Professional duty and personal freedom are delicately balanced.
Another perspective: mindfulness and boundaries. Gambling is something I do when Im bored. I keep it out of my work and others' comfort. This discipline matters. I get the temptation. Sometimes its a mistake, not contempt.
However, I believe "fun gambling" can be positive. It can boost worker morale if managed well. Imagine a future where a brief, innocuous bet is a pleasant, team-building exercise. Its about shifting attitudes while remaining responsible. A little fun at the correct place and time never hurts anyone.
We should be able to differentiate between what requires us to be professional and have a balance of personal freedom. So we can behave correctly when doing something and not mix it up with things outside of it. However, most people don't understand this and often do things they shouldn't, and gambling while working is a clear example of what some workers still do. They are at work, so they shouldn't do things that have nothing to do with their work.
If they can still do it now, they're lucky that no one complains. But they can't expect that it will still give them the opportunity to bet. The situation will not allow them to gamble anymore because later, there will be those who don't like seeing them working but also gambling. We, who are just employees, must be able to understand the situation and must not force our will to continue gambling.
~snip~
You did the right thing in not giving a tip to this taxi driver, because the moment he talks on a cell phone, your safety as a passenger decreases. I also thought that the driver might not place a bet, but check it while driving. And if there is a loss, he may be enraged by this and begin to behave aggressively on the road, which can lead to dire consequences or an accident.
As for me, I also played through a smartphone before, but I did it not at my workplace, but after I left it. I had to go on the bus as a passenger for about 1 hour. This time was enough for me to place all the bets I wanted.
We, as passengers, will also feel uncomfortable with his attitude, as if he cannot work professionally even though the company demands him to be professional towards his passengers. I could have reported him to the company where he worked, but I didn't because I remembered he must have had a family waiting for him to come home with money. I hope that one day, he can realize that it's something he shouldn't do.
Playing gambling outside office hours is okay because we are outside work. There is no prohibition on gambling after work. And you have done what you should, and it is true, one hour is enough to place all the bets you want. When we are working, we should always focus on our work so that we can complete it without any distractions.