Arguments Against Legalizing Gambling

Patrick Johnson

Professor Berkowitz

EBS-021, Research Paper

12/8/15

Gambling is a big controversy that concerns about whether or not states should allow it. The pro argument generally suggests that casinos help boost the economy. However, the other side of the argument believes that casinos lead to gambling addiction. During the early twentieth century, gambling was prohibited in the states. Nevada was the first state to legalize gambling in 1931. Forty-seven years later, people approved the construction of casinos in Atlantic City and New Jersey became the second state to legalize gambling. To this day, Hawaii and Utah are currently the only states where gambling is not legal. Since the early 1900’s, casinos have rapidly increased from suburbs to rural areas all over the country (Schwartz 1).

Where gambling and casinos originated from is unknown. Casino di Venezia was the first casino to be very well known, and was started in Italy during 1638. Gambling consists of games played for a chance of money while placing a bet. Gambling addiction is a disorder in which a someone constantly gambles from

casinos, horse races, to bookmakers, and they have no control of impulse over it. This can lead to disrupting or damaging an individual’s family and personal. Casinos on the other hand, are buildings or public rooms where gambling games are played. The term casino originated from Italian, and it means a building that is meant for pleasure. It also refers to a mess in German and Spanish (Schwartz 2).
Supports argue that gambling gives a good way to make profit without raising taxes for states that lack sufficient funds. Most americans accept gambling for what it is, supporters claim. If you look at polling, it's a solid 15 percent, and the other 85 percent are O.K. with it. But you see the contribution we make, in terms of jobs, and the taxes we pay. We're proud of that." said Frank Fahrenkopf, previous CEO of the American Gaming Association.
Advocates of gambling believe that gambling helps economies and areas that struggle. If it were not for gambling, Detroit, the biggest city in the US to declare bankruptcy, would be in an even bigger dilemma than it already is. In Biloxi and Gulfport casinos in Mississippi, about 35 percent of those employed by casinos consisted of minorities. About sixty two percent of jobs in the area were provided by these casinos since 1990. Sixty percent of women were employed at the casinos in the area in 1996. In Louisiana, the amount of people who received food stamps dropped by fifteen percent during the same year. Even retail sales in Joliet, Illinois were increased from 2.4 billion in 1992 to 3.2 billion in 1995 (Gambling 1).
It is also claimed by promoters that unemployment and economic development are boosted because of gambling. This is to be done by many casinos that will provide jobs and give money towards property tax reduction. Adherents argue that states who do not legalize gambling will only see their revenue go to the nearby states. Bans on gambling take away people’s individual freedom, according to supporters. They believe that it is an issue that involves an individual’s choice. "A free society where the government bans activities it finds immoral or unseemly is not really a free society.” (Radley Balko). Supporters ultimately deny that gambling addiction comes from more casinos (Gambling 1).
Contenders believe that instead of legalizing gambling, congress should bring their attention towards passing laws to restrict it.

People who do not support gambling believe that it holds negatively significant social costs. Individuals can create debts that prevent them from being unable to support themselves and their family. These costs go from the gambler, to family members, friends, and many others. It is said to cost areas around thirteen thousand dollars each year for every compulsive gambler. Gambling is not a drug, but very similar to drug related activity. Opponents suggest that if states are going to support gambling, they should at least use the additional gambling profit towards helping those with gambling addiction. States do use some of their gambling profit towards addiction, but it is a relatively low number (Gambling

1).
Critics also claim that wealth transfers from the poor to the rich in these casinos. This is because most casinos are populated with middle class and poor people that hope to win a lot of money. Majority of the time, these people will lose their money rather than win. Additionally, the taxes that states take from the casinos are coming from all of these people. Casino profits leave most members of the middle and lower class financially worse than they were prior to gambling (Gambling 1).
It is also argued by critics whether or not profit from casinos actually benefit the economy. Tampa Bay Times in Florida stated "Part of the reason state revenue would increase is that money residents previously spent on non-gambling enterprises such as retail or restaurants would flow to gambling, which is more heavily taxed". Critics argued that tourists around the area do not benefit the businesses in the area. Adversaries state that casinos are structured to keep people gambling their money, not to spend it anywhere else. Which is why casinos executives structure their buildings windowless and with uninteresting exteriors. Critics even argue that the design of the slot machine is meant to grab individual’s attention and keep them trapped. Opponents contest that this is very dangerous, and the government should not profit from it (Gambling 1).
Currently, gambling profit from casinos continues to positively help out the economy and our government. As it stands now, analysts expect gambling to keep spreading while states try to get more money from tourists. That being said, it is also expected for every city to become “Sin City”. Some observers think that revenue created by casinos will eventually go down as more and more open up. This would cause casinos to be less and less profitable (Gambling 1).
Analysts also question what effects internet gambling spreading will have on actual casino venues. It is expected that internet gambling will keep players from casino buildings, and casino executives are thinking of ways to keep more players coming in (Gambling 1).
Gambling disorder is one of the fastest, rapidly spreading diseases in the states. Observers predict that nearly one million people in California have gambling addiction, in addition to three million who are endangered to it. The social costs of gambling addiction is incredible. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, seven billion dollars are spent on bankruptcy, crimes, and other addictions due to gambling problems. Heavy gamblers are also about 3 to 4 times more likely to get arrested through a multitude of criminal acts that range from domestic violence to the use of illicit drugs. Gambling addiction can have consequences to almost every aspect of society, regardless of whether you gamble or not (Hodgins 1).

“Gambling. ” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 21 Jan. 2014. Web. 8 Dec. 2015. .

Hodgins, David C., Jonathan N. Stea, and Jon E. Grant. "Gambling Disorders." The Lancet 378.9806 (2011): 1874-84. ProQuest.Web. 8 Dec. 2015.

Childs, William R. "David G. Schwartz. Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling." Enterprise & Society 9.2 (2008): 366-8.ProQuest. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.