Essay, Research Paper: The Industry Of Fools

The gambling industry of the United States has grown at a spectacular rate since the 1980's. Billions of dollars are spent on various forms of gambling each year from the $1 lottery ticket at the gas station, to the roulette wheel on the strip in Las Vegas. With this enormous growth has come a debate on whether gambling is a good public policy or an addictive, dangerous sport. I feel that gambling in America creates lower productivity, disrupts family lives, creates burdensome debts, and involvement in crime on many different levels.
Gambling is defined as "anything that puts at risk something of value on events whose outcome is uncertain". According to the American Gaming Industry, on average Americans wager $48 billion dollars on the gambling industry each year. Over eighty-five percent of this wagering took place in casinos that are now legal in twenty-seven states compared to twenty years ago when if a person wanted to gamble they had to go to Nevada.
Proponents of the gambling industry feel that this growth is a good thing and that it is helping the national economy. Also, defenders of the gaming industry insist that gambling is good clean fun, and that since so many people are enjoying this form of entertainment it can not be wrong. Furthermore, proponents are quick to point out that fun is not the only issue; in addition, these new casinos have created thousands of jobs. Not only have casinos created new jobs, but there has been an increase in tax revenue for the cities that have casinos. Indeed, the increase in tax revenues has helped to rebuild some rundown inner cities and river fronts areas. These people argue there is little reason to worry about gambling as most people will only lose a small amount of money and will have a fun time losing it. While these factors are relative and important, they fail to represent the negative impact of gambling.
Too many times the people that are spending their money gambling are the same people that can least afford to lose it. For instance, the lottery is most heavily advertised in poor neighborhoods where it is portrayed as a way out of poverty. Gambling is like a tax on the poor. The indigent who make under ten thousand a year are spending more money in proportion to their income than any other group on gambling. These people are spending money on a dream. The proliferation of casinos and legalized gambling promotes the dream of "striking it rich" rather than the tried and true methods of achievement, education, and hard work.
Another area of society that is highly impacted by gambling is crime. Wherever there is a large amount of money and alcohol, there is going to be crime. If casinos move into an area, so do criminals. Also, a pro and con list about gambling on PBS's web site states that in most cases where casinos have been built, the crime rate has risen considerably. Gambling is the largest source of organized crime in the nation.
However, crime is not the only cost to society. Gambling can take a heavy toll on the family. Most people can spend a small amount of money on gambling and then quit, but there are a substantial number of people that cannot control their gambling. To these people gambling is an addiction that cannot be controlled and has been compared to alcoholism. In a survey of gamblers by the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, twenty-six percent said they had been divorced or separated because of gambling; thirty-four percent had lost or quit a job; twenty-one percent had filed for bankruptcy; sixty-six percent had contemplated suicide, and sixteen percent had attempted suicide. How can anything positive come from something that has so many negative effects?
The few people who benefit at gambling can not outweigh the greater loss to the people that waste their money and unwittingly place their hopes on a "one in a million" chance. Indeed, without a casino in every city it will be difficult for those who are susceptible to compulsive gambling to find places to gamble. Even though some inner cities have benefited and been cleaned up, the increase in crime is not worth the aesthetic improvements. When we look at gambling, we need to differ between solutions and misleading illusions. Too many time lives are ruined and even ended from the costly sport of gambling. A little fun is not worth the pain that can be caused by gambling.