by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

Dec 6, 2006

Articles on legalized gambling

Legalized gambling is done in forty-seven states as well as the District of Columbia. It is not a good social policy. A survey shows that there are 12 million compulsive gamblers. So, it is not appropriate that the state is supporting gambling. The State sponsorship makes it more difficult for the gambler to improve. About 96% of gamblers start before their age is 14. Legalization sends a wrong message to these people. The compulsive gambler has an average debt of $80,000. The poor people from the society spend a large part of their income in gambling. The government should not attract the people to spend money in a state sponsored grip. It should be noted that if the government seduces the citizens to participate in activities like taking drugs, there would be indignation. But the same citizens do not find anything wrong if gambling is legalized. This legalization weakens the government. Society drifts away from good social characteristics like economy and honesty towards bad ones like avarice.

Assumptions

The state assumes that those who want to gamble would do it using some way or other. So let the situation be amended, such that the state gets some revenue. Also, in case of choice gamblers would choose a state sponsored place. Due to this, the state can overthrow illegal gambling. These 3 assumptions lead the state to legalize gambling. However, the practical situation is different. Due to legalization, those people who do not gamble are attracted towards it. Legal gambling provides stimulation for illegal one. This is proved by the fact that the rate of illegal gambling in the states, where it is legalized, is three times where it is not. This happens because crime organizations utilize the free advertisement of state gambling to promote their own. Also the money won need not be reported to the government, when won in illegal gambling. Further there have been trends of increasing corruption and scams in state lotteries.

Economic aspect

Supporters of legalized gambling state that the state government raises millions of dollars by legalized gambling. But it must be noted that the cost of advertising and management is nearly 60%. Thus, out of one dollar only 40 cents reach the state. On the other hand, in taxation out of one dollar 99 cents reach the state. Secondly, business gets a negative push. Money spent in gambling cannot promote economy. Money, which could be invested or given as loan, is risked in a legalized gambling process. 

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