The Effects Of Gambling And The Gaming Industry

Gambling is a National Pastime

Gambling has existed for centuries, entertaining and creating opportunities to win big for millions despite their social class. The lottery since colonial times has been used both for entertainment and public needs and its forms vary greatly from simple competition to large scale events. The state’s economy profits from both the tax revenue and the boost to the local economies through the gaming industry. Tourism profits largely from the gambling industry, especially in areas known for their casinos. The gambling industry creates hundreds of thousands of jobs ranging from the casinos themselves to the surrounding communities. Although most gamble for entertainment, gambling can quickly turn into an addiction. The lottery is often called a regressive tax. Gambling and the prevalence of the lottery have a substantial history dating back to the formation of this country; the effects of the gaming industry on the economy, tourism, and employment make gambling a national pastime with no equals.

The use of the lottery dates back to colonial times where they were used to finance a number of public and private projects. The use of lotteries varied greatly such as road projects, the construction of major institutions

Commercial casinos created about 570 thousand jobs according to the American Gaming Association in 2006 (Wells). Those numbers continued to grow by 2014. The AGA estimated some 734,000 jobs in 2014 and predicted to grow by another 62 thousand by 2022. The tribal casinos have created about 300 thousand jobs according to the National Indian Gaming Commission as of 2003 (Jost 2003). The horse racing industry employs about 119,000 (NGISC 1999) and those of the lottery for each state nearly 200 thousand (Wells). The jobs associated with these facilities benefits the local economy which in turn fuels small business opportunities and local business as