Its part of the culture over in asia, and the fish are very well cared for, its really not that bad. Fightings bad when 2 stupid kids decide to fight their walmart veiltails to the death. But fighters bred and trained to be fighters are extremely well cared for bettas.
they dont fight to the death either, they just fight untill on is ovously domonant and then they get really good care. i still dont aprove of it though
George is in a 6 gallon tank (the only betta I currently have). I once had a 10 gallon female sorority. When I had several male bettas, they were each in 1 gallon tanks.