Although it creates no output, gambling does nevertheless absorb time and resources. When pursued beyond the limits of recreation, where the main purpose after all is to kill time, gambling subtracts from the national income.” The casting of lots at the foot of the cross, produced no more than one thieving soldier. Play over 250 different gambling games free. Get a 350% bonus when you play for real money. One of my favorite ways to learn about a new subject is to look at the various subdivisions of that subject. For example, I’m writing a blog about gambling, so that leads me to wonder what the different types of gambling games are. If I were writing a blog about literature, I might.
Gaming
The act or practice of gambling; an agreement between two or more individuals to play collectively at a game of chance for a stake or wager, which will become the property of the winner and to which all involved make a contribution.
Since the early 1990s, gaming laws have been in a constant state of flux. Regulation of gaming is generally reserved to the states, but the U.S. Congress became involved in it in 1988 with the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (Gaming Act) (Pub. Law. No. 100-497, 102 Stat. 2467 [25 U.S.C.A. § 2701 et seq.] [Oct. 17, 1988]), which brought tribal gaming under the regulation of state and federal governments.
Before the 1990s, most gaming was illegal in a majority of states. Since the passage of the Gaming Act, many state legislatures have approved gaming in a variety of forms. Some states still outlaw all but charitable gambling, but most have expanded their definition of legal gaming operations to promote economic development.
The Legal History of gambling in the United States is marked by dramatic swings between prohibition and popularity. In colonial times, games of chance were generally illegal except for state and private lotteries. Other gaming was considered a sin and not fit for discussion in polite society. In the early nineteenth century, the popular belief changed from seeing gaming as a sin to seeing it as a vice. Gamblers were no longer considered fallen in the eyes of God but were now seen as simply victims of their own weaknesses.
Gaming came under renewed attack during the presidency of Andrew Jackson (1829– 37). Part of the 'Jacksonian morality' of the period revived the view of gambling as sinful. By 1862, gaming was illegal in all states except Missouri and Kentucky, both of which retained state lotteries.
After the Civil War, legal gaming experienced a brief renaissance, only to fall out of favor again in the 1890s. At this point, it was outlawed even in the western territories, where card games such as poker and blackjack had become a regular diversion in frontier life. By 1910, the United States was again virtually free of legalized gaming. Only Maryland and Kentucky allowed gambling, in the sole form of horse race betting.
In 1931, Nevada re-legalized casino gaming. Many states followed this lead in the 1930s by legalizing pari-mutuel betting, wherein all bets are pooled and then paid, less a management fee, to the holders of winning tickets. In 1963, New Hampshire formed the first State Lottery since the 1910s. By the 1990s, gaming was the largest and fastest growing segment of the U.S. entertainment industry. In 1992, for example, U.S. citizens spent approximately four times more on gaming than on movies. Gaming is still illegal in some states, but most states have at least one form of legal gambling, most commonly a state-run lottery. In fact, instead of prohibiting gaming, many states now actively promote it by sponsoring lotteries and other games of chance.
Gaming laws vary from state to state. Idaho, for example, declares that 'gambling is contrary to public policy and is strictly prohibited except for' pari-mutuel betting, bingo and raffle games for charity, and a state lottery (Idaho Const. art. III, § 20). Like lotteries in other states, the purpose of the one in Idaho is to generate revenue for the state. The lottery is run by the Idaho State Lottery Commission, which oversees all aspects of the game, including expenses and advertising.
In addition to lotteries, some states with direct access to major river systems or lakes expanded their venues for gaming to include riverboats. On July 1, 1989, Iowa became the first state to authorize its Racing and Gaming Commission to grant a license to qualified organizations for the purpose of conducting gambling games on excursion boats in counties where referendums have been approved. Illinois quickly followed Iowa with its Riverboat Gambling Act (230 ILCS 10), which went into effect on February 7, 1990. Four more states subsequently passed legislation permitting licensing for riverboat casinos: Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri. Some riverboat gambling vessels are permanently docked while others embark on brief cruises and return to their docks after several hours of gaming, dining, and entertainment for passengers.
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Alabama is one of the few states that prohibit all gambling except for charitable gaming. Alabama maintains no state lottery and punishes gambling through criminal statutes. Under the Code of Alabama, sections 13A-12-24 and 13A-12-25 (1975), the possession of gambling records is a class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of not more than one year in jail or a $2,000 fine, or both.
Nevada is the most permissive state for gambling. Its public policy of gaming holds that '[t]he gaming industry is vitally important to the economy of the state and the General Welfare of the inhabitants' (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 463.0129). Nevada statutes allow the broadest range of gaming activities, including pari-mutuel betting, betting on sports competitions and other events, and the full panoply of casino games. Gambling is heavily regulated by the Nevada Gaming Commission, and a wide range of criminal statutes are designed to ensure cooperation with the regulations of the commission.
New Jersey is another active promoter of gaming. In 1976, New Jersey voters passed a Referendum approving casino gaming, and that decision was codified in the Casino Control Act (N.J. Stat. Ann. § 5:12-1 et seq.). Gaming is limited to Atlantic City, and it does not include betting on sports events other than horse and dog races. However, like Nevada, New Jersey offers the full array of casino games.
The Gaming Act divides all gambling into three classes. Class I includes all traditional Indian games performed as a part of, or in connection with, tribal ceremonies or celebrations. Class II is limited to bingo, pull tabs, and card games not explicitly prohibited by the laws of the state. Class III encompasses all other forms of gambling, such as slot machines, poker, blackjack, dice games, off-track betting (where bets may be placed by persons not at the race track) and pari-mutuel betting on horses and dogs, and lotteries.
An Indian tribe may operate a class I game without restrictions. It may offer class II games with the oversight of the National Indian Gaming Commission, and class III games only if it reaches an agreement with the state in which it resides.
The Gaming Act provides that Native American tribes may operate high-stakes casinos only if they reach an agreement with the state in which they reside. Under the act, a state is required to enter into Good Faith negotiations with a federally recognized tribe to allow class III gaming that was legal in the state before the negotiations began. For example, if a state has legalized blackjack but not poker, blackjack is available for negotiations but not poker. Furthermore, when a state approves a new form of gambling, the state must make the new game available in negotiations with native tribes.
Native American groups have criticized the Gaming Act as interfering with tribal sovereignty. Indeed, a primary purpose of the act was to reconcile state interests in gaming with those of the tribe's. Before the act, some Native American tribes ran sizable gambling operations on their land without regulation by the federal or state governments.
The Gaming Act has also created opposition in some states that seeks to minimize gambling within their boundaries. Maine, for example, refused to give the Passamaquoddy tribe a license to conduct class III gaming operations on tribal land in Calais, near the Canadian border. The tribe sued the state for the right to conduct the high-stakes gaming. However, several years earlier, Maine had given the tribe land in exchange for the tribe's agreement to submit to state jurisdiction. In Passamaquoddy Tribe v. Maine, 1996 WL 44707, 75 F. 3d 784 (1st Cir. 1996), the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the tribe. The court noted that Congress had been aware of Maine's agreement with the tribe and that Congress could have added to the Gaming Act, but chose not to, language making the act applicable to the state of Maine. According to the court, the gaming statute did not erase the 1980 agreement between the tribe and the state, and Maine had the right to refuse the tribe's request.
Further readings
American Gaming Association. Available online at <www.americangaming.org> (accessed July 26, 2003).
Campion, Kristen M. 1995. 'Riverboats: Floating Our Way to a Brighter Fiscal Future?' Seton Hall Legislative Journal 19.
Rose, I. Nelson. 1993. 'Gambling and the Law—Update 1993.' Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal 15.
Cross-references
Native American Rights; State Lottery.
There are millions of people all over the world who regularly
enjoy gambling in its various forms. There are even more people
who enjoy gambling on a less frequent basis, perhaps just
visiting casinos every now and then or placing the occasional
wager on a big sporting event or a major horse race.
On the other hand, there are also a number of people who
think gambling is a complete waste of time and money. That’s
fine, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion and gambling
isn’t necessarily for everyone. If someone doesn’t want to
gamble, then they shouldn’t be encouraged otherwise.
In addition to the people that enjoy gambling and the people
that have no interest in it whatsoever, there are almost
certainly people that are intrigued by the idea but not really
sure whether it’s something they should try. If that sounds like
you, this is an article you should find useful.
We can’t actually provide a definitive answer to the question
of whether or not gambling is really worth it. We probably
wouldn’t want to either, because we firmly believe that it
depends on the individual asking. There are definitely many who
would say that gambling is worth it but also many who would say
that it isn’t.
In this article, we give you the information that will help
you decide for yourself. We list some of the main pros and cons
of gambling, and then look at some of the other factors you need
to consider.
The Pros of Gambling
- Possible to Win Money
- Entertaining & Fun
- Easy to Get Started
- Various Types
Before we get into the details here, we should mention that
people enjoy gambling for a whole host of different reasons.
It’s up for debate which of these reasons should be considered
the most important pros, but the four that we’ve chosen to
discuss here are, in our opinion, the most prominent. You should
bear in mind, though, that there are other pros too.
The possibility of winning money is clearly a very appealing
aspect of gambling, and it would be difficult to argue against
this being one of the major reasons why people choose to gamble.
After all, it’s pretty much the whole point.
It’s not just the fact that it’s possible to win money that
makes gambling so appealing either, it’s the fact that it’s
possible for anyone to win money. There are some forms of
gambling where learning certain strategies and skills can
improve your chances of winning, and maybe even turn you into a
consistent winner if you’re good enough, but even a complete
beginner has the chance to win. You don’t have to be a math
genius, a sports expert, or a card shark either, you just need
luck.
Gambling isn’t just about the money though. Many people
gamble primarily because they simply enjoy it. It’s a great form
of entertainment, and it can be a lot of fun. On the basis of
pure excitement, there are few pastimes that compare in our
opinion. It’s fair to say that it wouldn’t be as exciting if it
wasn’t for the fact that there’s real money at stake, but that
doesn’t mean that everyone views the money as the most important
factor.
Another good reason for giving gambling a try is the ease
with which you can get started. You really don’t need to know
much to play in a casino, place a sports bet, or take part in a
poker game. There are a few basic concepts you’ll have to
understand, but nothing is overly complicated. If you want to be
a more serious player, you’ll probably want to learn more about
what’s involved, but as a beginner you can easily enjoy gambling
with just a little bit of knowledge.
The final pro we’re going to mention is the various types of
gambling. Sports betting and casino games are probably what come
to mind for most people when they think about gambling, but
there are lots of other types too. There’s also poker, bingo,
scratch cards, financial betting, and the lottery to name a few
popular ones. With all of these to try, there’s a good chance
that you’ll find some form of gambling that you enjoy.
The Cons of Gambling
- Possible to Lose Money
- Hard/Impossible to Win Consistently
- People May Not Approve
- Can Be Addictive
Gambling isn’t all about the positives, because there are
definitely downsides to be made aware of too. It’s important to
consider these, as they may persuade you to not to get involved
with gambling in general.
The most obvious con of gambling is the fact that it’s
possible to lose money. With some forms of gambling, you are in
fact almost guaranteed to lose in the long run. Casino games are
the best example of this, as they have a built in house edge
which gives the casino an advantage over the players. You may
get lucky and win in the casino occasionally, or even
frequently, but the odds are against you, and you are very
likely to end up a loser over time.
Although the odds aren’t quite as badly stacked against you
in some other forms of gambling, you still need to be prepared
to lose. The reality is that most gamblers do. If you’re betting
or playing with money you don’t mind losing then this doesn’t
have to be an issue, but it’s still important to recognize that
gambling comes at a cost for most people.
Of course, it’s also possible to win money as we mentioned
earlier. Another negative of gambling is that it’s very hard to
do so consistently. Anyone can get lucky every now and then, but
regularly making money from gambling is entirely different. You
may need to put in a huge amount of time and effort, and you’ll
also need a great deal of discipline. With some forms of
gambling, winning consistently is practically impossible.
Something else to consider is that a lot of people don’t
approve of gambling. While how you spend money isn’t necessarily
anyone’s business but yours, you may not appreciate the
disapproval. This is especially likely to be the case if it
comes from someone close to you. It’s a shame that some people
associate gambling with such a bad stigma, but it’s just the way
it is unfortunately.
The fourth and final negative we’re going to mention is
perhaps the biggest reason why so many people disapprove of
gambling; it can be very addicting. It might only be a
relatively small percentage of gamblers that end up getting
addicted, but it does happen. Like any addiction, it can cause
major problems and potentially even ruin lives.
Making a Decision
- Is Gambling Really Worth It?
- Is it Right For You?
Now that you know the main pros and cons of gambling, you can
make your own decision as to whether or not it’s really worth
it. This basically comes down to whether or not it’s right for
YOU. We can’t, and won’t, advise you either way, but we can help
you make the decision.
What you need to do first is carefully consider the pros and
cons that we’ve discussed above. If the pros easily outweigh the
cons in your mind, or vice versa, then your decision should be
relatively easy to make.
If you’re still not sure, you might want to ask yourself the
following questions.
Main Purpose Of Gambling Rules
- Are you happy risking losses for the chance of winning?
- Do you really think gambling is something that you would
enjoy? - Do you have the spare money to spend on gambling?
- Would your friends and family approve of you gambling?
- Do you have the discipline to gamble responsibly?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then it’s very
possible that gambling is something you should try. If you
answered no to any of them, then you may have to consider that
it’s not really worth it for you.
As experienced gamblers ourselves, we very much believe that
gambling can be an extremely enjoyable pastime if done
responsibly. However, we are also completely aware that it isn’t
for everyone.
Main Purpose Of Bing
Our website is filled with information and advice that will
help you get the best possible experience if you do decide to
gamble, but if you have any doubts at all we would suggest that
you take the safe option and look for some other way to spend
your time.