It just ruins the game cash flow/balance..
How? I don't really understand.
The reasons to have money: car modifications for races, weapons, properties, and that's about it
Ways to get money: Races, Challanges, Minigames, Gambling, Rampages, Properties.
If somebody really sucks at fighting, then they race for cash. If they suck at racing, then perhaps they gamble for cash. You can't really expect everyone to be pro, and forced into winning 1st ,2nd or even 3rd place at every race, gambling is always there just as a means for cash, and the experience i've had with it tells me it's very hard.. Especially for noobs, which is what you guys are worried about? The good gamblers are probably pro, and if they didn't make that money gambling they probably could have made it just as easy doing something else.