Is Casino Development Moral?

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Recommended: Ethical Dilemmas of gambling and why is this topic difficult to address

The legalization of gambling and casino development in communities has become a heated debate topic in recent years. As with any debate, there are two sides presenting valid arguments. The purpose of this paper is to present information from the perspectives of those both in favor of and opposed to the legalization of gambling and casino development in their communities. The paper concludes with the application of ethical theories to help determine the morality of casino development.

Positions Regarding the Legalization of Gambling and Casino Development

Debates are created out of a passion and/or concern over a particular issue. In this case, the question that needs answered is “what are the implications to society for legalizing gambling?” This section examines the supporting views as well as the opposing views for the legalization of gambling and casino development in communities.

Supporting Position

There are many reasons why a person or entity is in support of legalizing gambling. The bulk of those reasons are financial: increased tax revenues, increased tourism revenues, and increased job opportunities (Koo, Rosentraub, & Horn, 2007). Stitt, Nichols, and Giacopassi (2005) point out that many states have adopted the legalization of gambling and casino development as a way to increase tax revenues quickly and effortlessly. According to Wiley and Walker (2011), in 2007 the casino industry paid $365 million in state and local taxes to the state of Michigan. Other states struggling to balance budgets see the success Michigan has had with casinos and advocate for casino development in their states. As a result of casino development, tourism revenues increase. Increased tourism revenues in areas of business such as local ho...

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...Horn, A. (2007). Rolling the dice? Casinos, tax revenues, and the social costs of gaming. Journal of Urban Affairs, 29(4), 367-381. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9906.2007.00351.x

Quinn, F. L. (2001). First do no harm: What could be done by casinos to limit pathological gambling. Managerial and Decision Economics, 22(1-3), 133 - 142. doi:10.1002/mde.1003

Stitt, B. G., Nichols, M., & Giacopassi, D. (2005). Perception of casinos as disruptive influences in USA communities. International Journal of Tourism Research, 7(4-5), 187 - 200. doi:10.1002/jtr.530

Vaughn, L. (2010). Doing Ethics: Moral reasoning and contemporary issues (2nd Ed.).

New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company Inc.

Wiley, J. A., & Walker, D. M. (2011). Casino Revenues and Retail Property Values: The Detroit Case. The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 42(1), 99 - 114. doi:10.1007/s11146-009-9171-5

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