Pari-mutuel betting has been legal in New York for decades, but now proponents are pushing for other forms of legalized gambling-slot machines and casinos that, like the tracks, would be regulated by the state. According to a recent Gallup poll, almost two-thirds of Americans support legalized gambling, and 67 percent believe opening casinos boosts local economies. Despite majority support, the gambling industry faces serious opposition that draws upon stereotypes and moral proclamations. People who oppose the expansion of legal gambling are placing ill-founded moral judgment on an industry that creates jobs that we desperately need in our declining economy.
The main argument for legalized gambling is an economic one. Common sense dictates that building a casino or a racetrack will create new jobs. Economic growth generally expands beyond the gambling institutions themselves-an influx of tourists is a major boon to the service and entertainment industries in a given area. I don't have many high school friends who work at the racetrack themselves, but almost all of them benefit from the track season each summer. My city's restaurants and shops thrive as the population almost triples in July and August. Last summer, the city opened a slot machine casino, and the area continues to grow. This growth brings other industries to the area, and as the economy improves, so does the community.
Many of gambling's opponents acknowledge the economic benefits of building casinos, but they make the claim that the ends don't justify the means. Gambling, they say, breeds crime. It's inherently immoral. It undermines the value of honesty and hard work. They point to the estimated 12 million gambling addicts in this country, and ask how we can legally promote their addictions. They rarely mention that experts have given similar numbers for American alcoholism, and we clearly aren't moving towards another prohibition. They claim the majority of gamblers are poor minorities whose addictions will put them further into debt and increase the need for social welfare programs, a drain on local economies rather than a boon.
Some of these statements may hold historical truth, but for the most part they are assumptions that have little basis in fact. The majority of gamblers are casual entertainment seekers: In my experiences as a pari-mutuel, I'd estimate that one in 10 of my customers are serious bettors. For the most part, I get vacationers and groups of senior citizens. For most people, gambling isn't a career; people go to Las Vegas to have fun.
Saying that gambling undermines the basic American values of hard work and honesty, which is ironic in light of corporate America, simply misses the point of gambling. Sure, there are professional bettors-every day, a few come to my window after spending hours handicapping the races-but the general public considers gambling an activity, not a career choice. As for the morality of gambling, I understand that many religions condemn gambling, but if you believe that it's immoral, isn't the simplest solution to avoid it? Alcohol is also considered immoral by some religions, and the U.S. has no plans to ban that, either.
The connection between gambling, crime, drugs and prostitution may be based in history, but today's gambling industry aims at a cleaner, oftentimes more family-oriented experience. Some have actually complained about Las Vegas' shift from a corrupt town to a family vacation spot, but their complaints show a true change in the legalized gambling industry. Crime, some proponents of gambling point out, may be found at casinos and racetracks, but it's also found at Disney World and Branson, Missouri, family-oriented destinations that attract petty criminals because of the large numbers of tourists.
Finally, it's true that at least a percentage of gamblers are poor and their activities push them further into debt, but gambling is not the crux of America's socio-economic problems. Like alcoholism, gambling addiction can manifest itself along with poverty, but removing casinos will not solve anything. Casinos create many unskilled jobs. Some states, New Jersey for one, require by law that a certain number of positions go to disadvantaged community members.
The majority of Americans favor legalized gambling and the accompanying economic growth. We simply can't afford to let outdated stereotypes keep us from bolstering any local economy.
Minkel can be reached at elminkel@amherst.edu