Why Gambling Should be Legal

Gambling is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it has been popular since ancient times. “Chasing the jackpot” is not exclusive to human behavior; animals also choose riskier targets rather than safe ones (Shwartz, 2006, p.5). While gambling is only legal in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, some Indian reservations, and a few other places, the debate to legalize gambling in the rest of the country has sparked quite a debate which continues to this day. Those who are against gambling believe that it is corrupt and harmful. Some even believe that gambling is a drug that causes an addiction. In actuality, gambling is an activity that should be legalized in all states because it would be a source of revenue for the government, it would boost the economy, and protect an American’s right to gamble.

Simply put, legal gambling would be a big boost for the economy. The funds from gambling could be used for a great deal of helpful things. For one, school programs such as art classes, gym classes, and tutoring and could be funded from gambling. In his March 2013 budget proposal, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn pointed out that casinos in the state “could help pay for schools and the state's nearly $100 billion in pension debt” (Riopell, 2013). This proposal included funds going to teacher’s pensions as well.

Legalized gambling would also create jobs in the casinos and surrounding restaurants, hotels, and shops. “Gaming in Atlantic City, like Las Vegas, has been a successful economic development tool. It has resulted in the building of many large facilities and over forty thousand jobs have been created,” proving that legalized gambling regulations could give every state an economy boost (Dunstan, 1997).

The economic benefits of gambling would definitely outweigh the social costs. Gambling is like any other taxed vice/addiction: food, liquor, tobacco, and marijuana in some states, to name a few. People will do what they want to do, no matter how illegal it is. If someone has an addiction to gambling, they will do whatever they can to gamble. Just like a heroin addict will get their illegal heroin however they are able to, a gambler will get their fix. So, it makes sense to simply allow the government to make money off of gambling since it will inevitably occur anyway.

Online gambling should also be included in the legalization of gambling because many online gambling sites would move their operations to the United States from overseas and new ones would be created. This would boost the employment rate here, which is very important considering how scarce jobs have been in this country for the last few years.

Legal gambling would also protect the rights of the American people. More specifically, it would protect people’s right to play a game of chance with their own hard-earned money. Gambling should be available as a choice, just as alcohol and tobacco exist for personal enjoyment. While these substances may be detrimental to a person in the long run, one should have the freedom and the American right to choose.

Some may argue that the availability of gambling would affect the rate of problem gamblers. This is also a “which-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg” debate. Will a person gamble because they are face-to-face with slots, or because they have an addictive personality already? No one may ever know the answer for each individual.

No matter what, gambling will continue to occur. People will gamble under tables, online, and behind closed doors, whether gambling is legal or not. It is time to take advantage of the economic possibilities that gambling offers in each and every state in this country.

References

Dunstan, R. (2007). Gambling in California. Retrieved from http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/97/03/crb97003.html#toc

Riopell, M. (2013, March 6). Quinn says gambling could help pay for pensions, schools. Retrieved from http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130306/news/703069642/

Schwartz, D. G. (2006). Prologue. Roll the bones: the history of gambling (p. 5). New York: Gotham Books.