Part 8: Greed and Gambling
The vice of greed is one we are all familiar with. The obsessive desire for more wealth and possessions is a constant theme in the lives of many people. Though greed manifests itself through a variety of actions, one common display is gambling.
There are many reasons why someone might gamble, including for charity or entertainment, but greed is one of the most common. Gambling is seen by many people as an easy way to obtain more than they can earn on their own. This may be especially true in games where the jackpots far exceed the lifetime earnings of the ordinary worker. Gambling is symptomatic of the vice-related activities we will examine in this course that have been criminalized, legalized, supported, and opposed throughout the history of our society.
Even today there are battles over when gambling should be allowed and when it should be criminalized. What sets gambling apart from most of the other issues we will look at is that the same gambling which would be a vice and a crime for you to do is a government-sanctioned activity when run and promoted by the state. For you to run a "numbers" game would be a crime which many would declare was motivated by greed. Yet, when the state runs a numbers game (called a lotto), it is a legally protected activity. Yet, is not your game motivated by greed just as much as the state's? If gambling is a vice, should the state be promoting it by enticing people to gamble?
In considering these questions there are two sources of information to consult. First, an edited version of "Gambling in California " which offers a history of gambling in the United States (legal and illegal) as well as the economic and criminal impact of gambling. Second, a video entitled "The Numbers Racket" offers a more personal account of America 's illegal gambling rackets and the rise of state-sponsored gambling.
WEBLINK: "Gambling in California " Click here to view the article.
VIDEO: Watch the DCL Evidence Channel video "The Numbers Racket" below.
Should gambling be a crime? There are at least three reasons why we might think so.
- Allowing and promoting gambling is to allow and promote vice. This is especially problematic when the state endorses and encourages gambling.
- Legalized gambling increases poverty because the poor are the most likely to gamble away what little money they have. The impact of increased poverty affects both the gamblers and their children.
- Legalized gambling attracts crime in two ways. First, the lure of big money attracts various criminal schemes to cheat or steal it. Second, gambling addicts commit crimes in order to pay debts or continue gambling.
In addition, there are at least three reasons why we might allow gambling.
- Gambling creates jobs and lowers taxes. Lotteries raise money for governments which keeps taxes down. Casinos and other gambling businesses employ tens of thousands of people each year.
- Criminalizing gambling does not stop gambling. As history has shown us, criminalizing gambling does not stop it. The illegal game and lotto have thrived despite legal crackdowns or even legal competition. Criminalization does not work. Legalization allows some control and profit from an activity which people are going to do anyhow.
- Criminalizing gambling is another assault upon our freedom. For most people gambling is not harmful to themselves or others. People should be allowed the choice to gamble or not gamble.