III.

Pros and Cons of Gambling

Despite its widespread practice and long history, gambling is often considered a controversial issue with strong advocates on both sides. Proponents of legalized gambling argue that for most people it is a harmless diversion, and that individuals should be free to spend their money as they wish. Perhaps the most common arguments for legalized gambling focus on its accompanying economic benefits, especially in poorer communities that use gambling to attract investment and jobs. Cities and states can use legalized gambling to generate tax revenue that supports specific public services, such as education. Supporters also argue that gambling attracts tourism, and that restrictions simply divert the potential tax revenues to illegal gambling operations or to other regions where the practice is legal.

Opponents of gambling counter that it attracts a variety of social ills that damage society. Gambling can become a compulsive habit, ruining the lives of people who run up huge debts or gamble away their personal or family income and savings (see Gambling, Pathological). Studies suggest anywhere from 1 to 5 percent of the adult population can be considered “problem gamblers,” and society must pay at least a part of the resulting costs related to lost productivity, psychological counseling, and other services.

Research has also shown that gambling disproportionately affects the lower economic rungs of society and that problem gambling is higher in these communities. In particular, Native American gambling addiction has soared as gaming expands on reservations. Gamblers Anonymous, an organization that provides support for compulsive gamblers, has chapters across the United States and in more than 30 other countries.

Another problem is crime, which can increase in communities where gambling is legal. Problem gamblers sometimes turn to criminal activity to support their habit, and violent crime rates can also rise in some cases when gambling is legalized. Corruption of government and law enforcement officials is another issue associated with gambling. The gambling industry often contributes heavily to political campaigns in the hopes of influencing legislation and expanding operations in those areas.

In response to gambling’s economic benefits, opponents say that gambling tends to attract more money from the local community than from tourists, so the industry is simply absorbing revenue that would otherwise be spent on other forms of entertainment or on basic goods and services. They also point out that funding for local or state government services from gambling often simply replaces other sources of tax revenue. Rather than using the gambling money as an extra source of funding, state legislators cut back or eliminate other sources of tax revenue, knowing that lotteries will make up the difference. This method can backfire when gambling revenues fluctuate from year to year or experience declines.