Gambling

Gambling, while it lowers taxes and creates jobs, it also causes addicts to lose money and therefore creates a higher crime rate.A Quick History of Gambling.Gambling was a popular pastime in North America long before there was ever a United States. Playing cards and dice were brought over by both the British and the Dutch. By the end of the 17th century, just about every countryseat in colonial America had a lottery wheel. Cockfighting flourished thoughout the countries, especially in the South. Bear Baiting was also a popular sport, but the Puritans banned it.(Ortiz 4)Almost 100 years later gambling in the West gave gambling a second life. Early church leader struck down all forms of gambling and so in the East gambling for the most part died completely.

Far from both government controls and moral interference of reform groups in the East, gambling became so popular in the West that Monte tables were often setup in the middle of the town.(Donovon 13)Organized CrimeDuring the Prohibition Era (1920-1933), illegal gambling was organized into an authoritarian regional and national system. Responsibility for the syndication of gambling is usually attributed to Arnold Rothstein, who invented the inner-city layoff. He is also known for master minding the "Black Sox" scandal in which the White Sox threw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds to assure gambling profits.Gambling legally, once again, becomes acceptable.Since the 1970s, the United States has turned full circle in its attitude toward gambling. Three hundred years ago, the "sport", mostly in the form of lottery, was seen as a perfectly acceptable way to raise money for public purposes.(Savage 12) Over the past several years, slow economic growth, cuts in federal funding to states, and growing public needs have forced many desperate state and even local government to seek additional sources of revenue.

Most states have turned to lotteries, horse and dog racing, and, most recently, a growing number of states have resorted to casino gambling as a way to raise money and keep taxes low.(James B5)Sports gamblingDuring the late 1980s, and early 1990s, several states have tried to introduce sports betting, either as part of lottery, like sports pool, or as sports bookmaking. Never the less, the leader of the nation's sports integrity, including the National Basketball Association (...

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... spend money gambling," and 59 percent thought that "gambling can erode young people's work ethics." The respondents were evenly split on whether "gambling teaches children that one can get something for nothing" with 49 percent agreeing and 48 percent disagreeing.(Siebel 82)ConclusionIn conclusion gambling is alright as long as its is done in moderation. Also if you know that you have a problem with gambling you should call the gamblers hotline so that you can get the help that you need before it's to late. I would also like to say I learned a lot from this research paper. I hope whomever reads this research paper does so to.

Works CitedDonovan, Hedley. The Gamblers. Alexandria: Time-Life Books, 1978.Goddu, Jenn. "Blue Chip lives up too most of its goals." Hammond Post-Tribune 24 Feb. 1999: E1+James, Rich. "All five casinos show January revenue drop." Hammond Post-Tribune 23 Feb. 1999: B5+Ortiz, Darwin. Gambling Scams. New York: Dodd, Mead + Company, 1984.Savage, Jeff. A Sure Thing?. Minnesota: Lerner Publications Company, 1997.Siebel, Mark A, Nancy Jaids, and Alison Lanes. Gambling Crime or Recreation. Texas: Information Plus, 1996.