Niko Thanopoulos

College Composition

Keeley/Rhoney

14 April 2023

Gambling

Gambling is when people take a chance and risk money in the hopes that they win.

People are surprised and some don’t realize that gambling also includes state-run lotteries, bingo,

and even investing in the stock market. Not all states allow gambling, but in the ones that do

allow it, casinos, riverboats, bingo halls, and racetracks are the types of locations you can find

people gambling in. In more recent years, there has been a big boom in video lottery terminals

and electronic gaming devices, which allow people to play games like video poker, blackjack,

and video slots at places like restaurants, bars and racetracks. Betting on sports matches or horse

racing is something different called pari-mutuel wagering, which means that they rank the

finishers in an order with calculated payoff odds based on the potential outcomes. Online

gambling is usually done on a computer or mobile device and includes traditional casino-style

games and fantasy sports betting.

Based on data from The National Council on Problem Gambling, about 85% of US adults

have gambled at least once in their lives, with 60% having done so in the last year. Since the

ruling in 2018 that overturned the ban on sports gambling, data from Pew Research Center

showed that 19% of US adults bet on sports competitions in the last year. The economic growth

since the ruling has been huge in the industry and its revenue.

Most states heavily restricted gambling throughout the years, however as time went by

they have allowed certain gaming activities such as lottery, bingo and sports betting. Gambling
has created thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue, but there are many who oppose

gambling stating the reasons of mental health risks, criminal activity and economic downfall.

There are some gaming regulations in place when it comes to where and what type of

gambling can occur. It seems that there are always new acts being established that allow or

prohibit certain aspects of gambling and in certain areas. One example of this is the Indian

Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 where tribes have the right to regulate gaming on their lands

independent of state regulations unless a specific gaming activity is prohibited by the state,

Other than tribal gaming, the state and counties have authority to regulate or limit gambling.

The economic impact of gambling has been more beneficial than not. According to the

Bureau of Labor Statistics, the gaming industry employed over 181,000 people across the US as

of May 2021 and that does not include the hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs that are

created. Jobs in casino hotels across the country have grown tremendously, as well as that of

cleaning services and construction workers. States also receive billions of dollars in property

taxes, licensing fees, employee income taxes and tourism. Some of the drawbacks mentioned are

inconsistent income and budget gaps, and that there is no clear evidence that expanding legal

gambling operations would lead to economic development.

It is interesting to see how gambling has evolved through the years, especially from the

original most basic game of dice to the most current trends of online sports gambling and poker.

Gambling has been going on for many centuries so the fact that people oppose it has not really

changed its existence or slowed down it. The gaming industry seems to have gotten stronger than

ever with its convenience and technology advances.

Based on the information from the National Council on Problem Gambling, it seems that

the majority of people gamble and gamble often. There are many types of gambling and it seems
hypocritical that people only get concerned or view gambling negatively when losses occur, but

when people win or something positive comes out of it, they don’t complain as much. People are

of legal age when gambling and have a right to spend their money any way they choose.

Everyone has the same opportunity of common sense and self control, so it should not be up to

someone else to tell them what to do with their money.

I believe the benefits are greater than the risks when it comes to the gaming industry. The

amount of jobs that have been created due to the gaming industry and its indirect industries has

helped so many people and their families live more affordable and comfortable lives. In addition

the money the states bring in has helped them get out of billions of dollars more debt that they

would have been in. All state funded institutions and communities have benefited from the added

revenue. The states seem to keep their communities cleaner and more updated to be attractive to

tourists and compete with other states that have similar attractions such as casinos and who host

big athletic events. Even though there are some people that are skeptical about the inconsistent

income and budget gaps that gambling may cause, gambling has always created income in so

many areas, therefore something is better than nothing in this case.

Gambling apps seem to be targeting mostly white young males who watch sports. What

can start out as innocent wagers in high school because of low funds to earn some lunch money,

can turn into a long term, high risk gambling addiction as an adult. There seems to be some

connection between the legalization of gambling and the increase in young male gamblers. It is

definitely more convenient to gamble now that it is legal and more automated than ever through

mobile apps and online websites.

The easy access of gambling apps on phones has probably been one of the reasons

gambling has become so popular. With new technology and the movement toward people living
cash free, just wiring money to a gambling app barely seems real. It is causing problems where

people do not realize the amount of money they are losing until it is too late. Within minutes an

app can be downloaded and money can be sent to get things rolling. A $20 bet can turn into

thousands and a $1,000 bet can disappear in minutes. Historically, billions of dollars are bet on

the Super Bowl every year along with college and NFL games. People have always bet on sports

and will continue to do that no matter what.

The truth is that whether gambling is legal or illegal, young males will still bet on the

Super Bowl, college football and other NFL games. The ratio of men to women in the United

States is almost equal, so there is hope that the majority of people in the US are not gambling or

gambling in a way that is addictive and destructive. The amount of advertising that is poured into

commercials for gambling apps is incredible, and they do a great job at convincing people that

gambling is a fun, productive way to spend their money. If gambling is such a serious problem,

why is there barely any federal oversight of the advertising? The bottom line is that many

companies are profiting from today’s young gamblers because that is how the economy grows.

Generations of family members have experienced gambling in different ways by

collecting sports cards, playing bingo at the local high school, investing in aggressive stocks, and

of course, betting on sporting events. With changing technology, the methods of gambling

change as well. People cannot avoid changing with the times. Gambling has been viewed both as

being a type of responsible investment and also associated with weakness, embarrassment and

failure. The majority of people are still participating in the various types of gambling despite the

negatives, so that speaks for itself. How can something promoted as a hobby, school fundraiser,

or investment be so bad? Clubs have been created for people with common interests, game

nights, and sports traditions like tailgating which have given people a sense of belonging and
brought them together with their common interests. Companies have noticed this trend and once

they find a market to target, they do their job marketing to them in order to increase profits and

rise above the competition.

Increased crime, bankruptcies, divorce, and suicides are a few effects and the social costs

of sports betting and gambling in general. When people spend money on something such as

gambling, that means that they do not have money to spend on other necessities such as

groceries, gas, healthcare, rent and savings. It has been said that in the first three years of

widespread legalization, gamblers lost approximately $87 billion at casinos and through online

sports betting. The average debt of a male gambling addict is between $55,000-$90,000.

Gambling has become so popular that, nowadays, even the news talks more about the odds and

spread of a game more than the game itself or its athletes.

The Mayo Clinic warns that gambling has the same stimulating effect on the brain as

drugs and alcohol, and has been connected to other mental health disorders such as depression,

anxiety, ADHD, and substance abuse. Gambling can cause problems including work

performance issues, financial struggles, legal problems, and suicidal thoughts.

In 2018 the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection

Act which allowed states to legalize sports gambling. Since that happened, 30 states have

allowed the sports-betting market to grow. They have allowed gambling advertising to flood

radio and television stations as well as social media platforms. Gambling activity shifted to

becoming legal versus the illegal methods people were using in the past. The legalization of

gambling created jobs and reduced criminal activity. State and local governments greatly benefit

from greater tax revenue from legal gambling, specifically $861 million in gambling taxes since

2018. There was a poll showing that 80% of Americans approve of sports betting or are
comfortable with allowing the states to decide whether it should be legal or not.

There seems to be a big gap between regulation of gambling and treatment. Some states

put aside gambling-tax revenue to help with counseling and crisis hotlines, but it's only about

2%. The people who regulate sports betting are supposed to have protections in place for things

like underage gambling, compulsive gambling, money laundering, sports integrity and fraud. It

seems that even though many apps or online sites can detect issues among the gamblers, they

seem to be overlooking them. In addition, there seems to be an increase in sports of unethical

practices like bribery and score-fixing due to legalized gambling.

I agree with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur

Sports Protection Act which allowed states to legitimize sports gambling. By allowing sports

gambling to become legal, it reduced the amount of criminal activity. Everyone who was

gambling illegally previously through bookies, loan sharks or mobsters, now are able to gamble

without committing a crime. If people were going to gamble anyway, why not allow the money

brought in from gambling to contribute to creating new companies, increasing jobs and income

for people and the state? One beneficial action by the state is that a good amount of lottery

revenue goes toward K-12 public education, which is something that is of great importance to

ensure future generations get quality education and educational facilities.

As far as social costs of gambling goes, it is unfortunate that even people who do not

gamble at all are at risk for crime, bankruptcies, divorce and suicide. Mental health is a serious

problem in the United States, however, it is not fair to say that gambling is the cause of it. There

are many gamblers who are able to control their spendings and use gambling as a supplemental

income for their family to be able to afford and pay for unaffordable expenses such as health

care, tuition, and other household and emergency expenses.

be addicting or not be addicting at all. People have all types of hobbies that include investing in

the stock market and watching sports to name a few. Friendly “squares'' wagers on Super Bowl

Sunday is a tradition that dates back decades. Just because people contribute to hobbies such as

these, it does not mean devastation lies ahead in their lives and in their relationships. People are

capable of self control and setting limits, therefore it is not fair to allow the bad reputation of

gambling to be negative in every situation.

As far as regulating sporting events to try to avoid unethical practices like bribery and

score fixing, unfortunately, these things happen in all areas, not only sports. Politicians, law

enforcement, and business owners have proven that money can buy anything, and when someone

wants something bad enough, they find a way to get it. Gambling should not be the only activity

that falls in that category.

In the article Gambling by Gale, part of Cengage Group, the overall article gives general

information about gambling and equally states the pros and cons when discussing the economic

impact of gambling. But when it comes to community and individual health, the article clearly

focuses on the negatives of gambling and the compulsive addiction that can be caused by

gambling. One of the strategies used in the article is citing polls or statistics. The article

consistently referenced statistics such as the National Council on Problem Gambling reports that

85% of US adults gambled at least once in their life and that in 2022, four years after the

Supreme Court’s ruling, Pew Research Center’s survey data showed 19% of US adults bet on

sports competitions during the previous year. Another strategy used in making a historical

reference when the article mentions periods of time dating back to 1910-1930 when gambling

was almost entirely prohibited and in 1988 when the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was created
which gave tribes the right to regulate gaming on their land. And finally, the article supplied

refutable evidence when the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the gambling industry employed

over 181,000 people across the US as of May 2021. These uses of strategies seemed to give

equal balance of pros and cons for this article. I did not feel there was an argument swaying

either way in this article. It was more informative than anything else.

In the article The Legalized Gambling Free-For-All by Jay Caspian Kang, there is a

definite negative feeling given by the author. As a previous gambling addict, he seems to be

warning people about the negative effects of gambling. One of the strategies used was sharing a

personal anecdote when he mentioned in high school that he and his friends did not have much

money and they gambled with their classmates for taco funds. He also used the strategy making a

comparison between gambling in the 1980’s and 1990’s by collecting rookie cards and hoping

one of the players becomes famous and a $50 gain back then was a huge win, and now kids

spend thousands of dollars on digital packs where one lucky person could win millions and

everyone else loses their entire investment. I feel the author does a good job showing everything

he went through as a child gambler and how it escalated to something severe and troubling as an

adult. The techniques he used stating his experiences seemed to scare away the reader from

following in those same footsteps and making the same mistakes. He continually showed how

the gaming industry takes advantage of young people.

In the article The Social Costs of Sports Betting Remain High by Tom Copeland, he also

tries to convince the reader how bad gambling affects society. The author does a good job in

using strategies to convince everyone. His argument is strengthened by Copeland using facts or

studies from credible sources such as the Mayo Clinic where they state that gambling has the

same stimulating effect on the brain as drugs and alcohol, and that side effects from gambling
addiction include relationship and financial problems, legal problems, poor work performance,

and suicidal thoughts. In addition, Copeland used the strategy of citing polls and statistics like

Baylor University’s research findings that the social costs of one gambling addict were roughly

$10,000 and the average debt of a male gambling addict is between $55,000-$90,000. His

strategies were effective because he showed how the community and common individuals are

affected by gambling.

I think this topic is important since there are many types of gambling that people don’t

even relate to gambling or consider to be gambling like investing, bingo, lottery, etc. There are

also a lot of assumptions about gambling that are out of people’s control and that may or may not

occur, such as people losing everything or becoming depressed and having suicidal thoughts.

Overall gambling seems to have a negative image and people look down upon people

who participate. Even though this happens, the majority of people gamble anyway. Therefore, I

still believe that the benefits from gambling are greater than the risks. Jobs are created, extra

revenue is generated that helps the states, communities and schools, and there is extra money

families can earn if they set limits and use self control.

The articles gave me more details into the world of gambling and that this has been going

on for centuries even when it was illegal. I feel that gambling being legalized will help reduce

criminal activity and take away the negative reputation that it has had all these years. Gambling

can become a harmless pastime, hobby or valuable investment if people are educated on the

history of gambling and how people and communities can be affected. There is a saying

“everything in moderation”, and I believe the same can be said for gambling in today’s society.
 Works Cited

Copeland, Tom. "The Social Costs of Sports Betting Remain High." Gale Opposing Viewpoints

Online Collection, Gale, 2023. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/CBRYUH054317163/OVIC?u=dist214&sid=bookmar

k-OVIC&xid=c55e2c1. Accessed 12 Apr. 2023. Originally published as

"Betting on Betting: States Gamble with

Their Citizens' Futures," National Review, 24 Jan. 2022.

"Gambling." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2023. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/PC3021900067/OVIC?u=dist214&sid=bookmark-OV

C&xid=e31bbff8. Accessed 12 Apr. 2023. Originally published in 24 Apr.

2021.

Kang, Jay Caspian. "The Legalized Gambling Free-for-All." New York Times, 13 Feb.

2022, p. 3(L). Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A693220313/OVIC?u=dist214&sid=bookmark-OVIC

&xid=09db145d. Accessed 12 Apr. 2023.