Gambling Issues

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

February 17, 2006

Legalized gambling is one of the fastest expanding enterprises in the United States and in 2003, the gross revenues from gambling were $72.9 billion that is more money than Americans spend on movie tickets, theme parks, spectator sports and videogames combined. Gambling has attained unprecedented levels of acceptance, glamorization, and popularity in the United States and also gambling, once confined to the remote desert region of Nevada, in one form or another, is now legal in 48 of the 50 states while Utah and Hawaii are the only exceptions. But unfortunately, the public rarely sees the trail of devastation gambling leaves in its wake.

Issues on gambling:

Some issues on gambling are ‘National Council on Problem Gambling’ where problem gambling is gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life such as psychological, physical, social or vocational. While the mission of the National Council on Problem Gambling is to increase public awareness of pathological gambling, ensure the widespread availability of treatment for problem gamblers and their families, and to encourage research and programs for prevention and education.

National Gambling:

Some national issues on gambling are like NASPL Advertising Standards where the producers and marketers of lottery products encourage responsible decision-making regarding lottery play by adults, and discourage abusive use of their products as well as the lottery industry urges that adults who choose to play the lottery, do so responsibly. Signatory NASPL members will conduct their advertising and marketing practices in accordance with the provisions of these Standards also their advertising should be consistent with principles of dignity, integrity, mission and values of the industry and jurisdictions. Another national issue on gambling is ‘Gamblers anonymous’ which is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem. Also Gamblers Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution and does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause in fact their primary purpose is to stop gambling and to help other compulsive gamblers do the same.

The Electronic Journal of Gambling Issues offers an Internet-based forum for developments in gambling-related research, policy and treatment as well as personal accounts about gambling and gambling behaviors. And through publishing peer-reviewed articles about gambling as a social phenomenon and the prevention and treatment of gambling problems, they have aimed to help people make sense of how gambling affects us all.

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