Introduction:
We have heard stories of a pilot winning the lottery twice in a row. We have also heard of greenhorn gamblers winning a thousand U.S. dollars in one night at a casino. There are many advantages and disadvantages to setting up a gambling joint. The following paragraphs discuss in detail the advantages and disadvantages of setting up a gambling joint.
Body:
The article Gambling Industry Wins Big – Social Impact of Gambling” (Price, 1999).
It has been shown that the gigantic growth of the gambling industry in our nation has resulted in a dominant and segregating force in American politics. Even as the arguments on both sides of the gambling issue strengthen about how legitimized gambling influences and even changes the pervading culture and society. Evidently, only two states permitted similar gambling activities twenty years ago. But today, there are only three states that disallow gambling in their community. As proof, two GOP governors named David Beasley in South Carolina and Fob James Jr. in Alabama were booted out of their jobs last November because they rallied against lotteries and other kinds of wagering.
Many people think that gambling is an incurable disease that requires utmost care and attention, while others believe that it is a legitimate business that deserves full support or an uncontrollable cancer. Gambling has divided Republicans and Democrats in half. Research shows that Americans put more than $600 billion annually into legal gambling operations. This represents an amount estimated to be $100 billion more than the average American budget for food, according to industry figures and data from the Department of Commerce. In fact, the gambling industry’s gross revenues totaled nearly $51 billion, up from $10.4 billion only 15 years ago. Furthermore, the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey projects that betting on Super Bowl XXXIII last month may have reached $4 billion, not counting side bets and office pools.
Furthermore, social conservative James Dobson, head of the Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family ministry, argues, The epidemic that is sweeping the nation reflects the enormous power and influence that is held by the gambling kingpins. Because of their unlimited financial resources, they can influence elections dramatically and entice political leaders to obey many of their wishes.”
Gambling makes money. It will make a big dent in terms of impacting Texas needs, such as education, shortfall, and health insurance for the uninsured. Many people want to set up gambling joints because they believe there is money in gambling. Statistically, there is a higher probability that a person will lose money than win money. If gambling were allowed, then gambling money could be used to set up schools, contribute to the improvement of the state’s roads and infrastructure, pay for shortfalls, and insure some of the citizens. Gambling would also help provide employment for showgirls/boys, waiters, card dealers, gambling employees, and others. There are many studies of gambling in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and the Mississippi River where River Boats park. Gambling is legal on boats on the water but not on the land, so gambling is on party boats that float in the river but don’t move. Also, many states around Texas, such as OK, NM, and LA, gladly take Texas money and gambling efforts. Gambling cities do make dollars in terms of taxes generated. These additional taxes will be used to build roads, bridges, and public facilities. They will also be used to build school buildings and other facilities.
It is also correct to assume that many people prefer to set up a gambling establishment because there is money in gambling that can help fund the needs of Texas, such as education, shortfalls, and health insurance.
Many people are opposed to the setting up of gambling establishments due to their negative influence. It costs money to establish a gambling joint, and crime rates tend to increase. Additionally, welfare transients often flock to gambling towns. Social crimes, such as robbery, prostitution, alcoholism, illegal drug use, and indebtedness, also tend to increase. In an article titled If the government wants to stimulate the economy, it should outlaw gambling,” a legal policy expert told a gathering of antigambling activists in the Christian Century Journal that the government should forbid gambling, according to the expert opinion of a legal consultant who spoke at the gathering. John Kindt, a professor of commerce and legal policy at the University of Illinois, reiterated that “gambling is a catalyst for economic downturn.”
John Kindt proposed that gambling be made a criminal offense in order for the 401(k) to return. This ban will then divert the gambling investments into consumer spending. He further stated this in his speech at the annual meeting of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling and National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion.
September 27-29 in Arlington, Texas. As proof, John Kindt cited a 1999 report of the U.S. Gambling Commission connecting the increase of legalized gambling with the increase in addiction, bankruptcies, and criminality. Consequently, the commission further advocated a suspension on gambling expansion and also the prohibition of convenience gambling” such as video-gambling machines in stores. These persons are right in opposing the setting up of gambling joints as there are more net losses than net gains in gambling.
There are many variables to consider when deciding whether to allow gambling establishments in Texas State. The opportunity cost of gambling is that the funds used to set up these centers could have been used to create infrastructure and roads that would be conducive to opening new and larger businesses. Crime may increase as many gambling losers may resort to criminal activity in order to obtain money to buy more casino tokens. Additionally, drinking may double as many of the gambling losers would drink while gambling. Many of the losers will have to undergo proper drug addiction treatment. Property values may rise as many people will visit the gambling establishments. Gambling may also increase sales at restaurants and night spots near the gambling areas. Many new hotels may be built to serve the overnight sleeping needs of gamblers. Gasoline prices may rise due to the increase in cars visiting the Texas area, and car rentals may increase due to the influx of gambling customers.
Based on the study of gambling in Las Vegas, there will be a precipitation of more net losses than net gains in the next five, ten, or fifteen years.
Many people come to Vegas and Atlantic City at first, but then they go all the way.
In the article No Candidate Opposes Gambling” from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, John Moritz stated that in the 2006 governor’s race, the principal sponsors of legalizing more gambling opportunities felt like they had been dealt a pretty strong hand. Republican incumbent Rick Perry had previously proposed allowing Texas’ racetracks and Indian reservations to operate Las Vegas-style slot machines. Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who is also running as an independent, has also proposed this. Democrat Chris Bell stated that he is “open” to casinos because the tax revenue could help pay for education and social services. Kinky Friedman, the entertainer and novelist who is also running as an independent, makes no bones about his enthusiasm for legalized casinos. He boasts that on his “fact-finding missions to Las Vegas,” he often meets more Texans than he would at a suburban shopping center. “We invented Texas Hold ’em, and we can’t even play it here,” he has said repeatedly on the campaign trail. The tax revenue, he said, would be plowed into public education.
Conclusion:
Many people think that gambling is an incurable disease that requires utmost care and attention. Additionally, some believe that gambling is a legitimate business that deserves full support, while others view it as an uncontrollable cancer. Furthermore, gambling has created a divide within the political parties, with Republicans and Democrats taking different stances on the issue.
There are many variables to consider when deciding whether to allow a gambling establishment to be set up in the state of Texas. The opportunity cost of gambling is that the funds used to set up gambling centers could have been used to create infrastructure and roads that would be conducive to opening new and larger businesses. Crime may also increase, as many gambling losers may resort to crime in order to obtain money to buy another casino token. Additionally, drinking may double, as many of the gambling losers would drink while gambling. Many of the losers will have to undergo proper drug addiction treatment.
In conclusion, there are more disadvantages than advantages of setting up a gambling joint in a peaceful community. It would be preferable for a major city like Texas with a population of over 320,000 to allow only one casino, and for no slot machines to be operated. As a result, the excess money will go to Nevada and Louisiana, which can be successfully budgeted for good use in Texas. This will make both sides of the argument very happy.
References:
Price, J. Gambling Industry Wins Big – Social Impact of Gambling.” Insight on the News, March 15, 1999.
No author. If the government wants to stimulate the economy, it should outlaw gambling, a legal policy expert told a gathering of anti-gambling activists. Christian Century, Oct 9, 2002.
Moritz, J. reported in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in October 2006 that no candidate opposes gambling. The article was written by John Moritz.
