Gambling Fascination
March 15, 2006
For many people around the
globe share a viewpoint that gambling is a relatively
harmless form of entertainment. Two thirds of Americans
approved of gambling at a 1999 Gallup poll. American
gamblers spent about $50 billion on legalized gambling
in 1998. This amount is more than the money spent on
movie tickets, recorded music, spectator sports, theme
parks, and video games combined. Buying lottery tickets
to betting on racehorses and gambling at casinos are
almost daily schedule for most of the people. Some
people end up gambling nearly every day. They sometimes
gambled away their whole bank balance and had nothing
left with which to pay the loans or feed the family.
They continue to gamble even when they won a lot of
money. It might be the thrill of winning which hooks
them. Earlier gambling was regarded as a moral and
social evil. But today it is a socially acceptable
fascination and pastime.
Gambling-a global fascination
More than 80 percent of Australia's population gambled
at least once during a one-year period. 40 percent
Australians gambled each week according to a recent
study. People in that country spend more than $400
(U.S.) annually on gambling on average. This is twice
the amount spent by Europeans or Americans, which makes
Australians among the most avid gamblers in the world.
Japanese spend billions a year betting on the game
pachinko. Most of them are addicted to this pinball-like
game. At least $4 billion is spent each year on gambling
in Brazil. Much of the amount goes on lottery tickets.
This lottery fascination is worldwide. According to a
recent survey by an international reputed magazine there
are 306 lotteries in 102 countries. Gambling is like a
great global fascination to people who say it brings
benefits to them. The gambling industry is a tremendous
employer.
Conclusion
According to the Public Gaming Research Institute the
lottery precedes account for about $125 billion of state
budget dollars, with the greatest part of this revenue
coming in since 1993. A big share of this amount is
earmarked for public education programs, state parks,
and the development of public sports facilities. As a
result according to the advocates of gambling that in
addition to providing entertainment, legalized gambling
creates jobs, provides tax revenue, and improves
depressed local economies. But there is a flip side also
to this fascination
or addiction. There are a lot of evidence of illicit
gambling among young people is increasing at a rate at
least proportional to the opportunity to gamble legally.
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