A Different America

Not so long ago in a not so different America, a person looking for a night of gambling action had to travel a pretty good distance to either Las Vegas, Nevada or Atlantic City, New Jersey.  That is not even remotely the case.  While not every state has legalized full casinos, offering both slot machines and table games, casino gambling is legal in 38 state.   That means, now, if a person wants to spend and evening at a casino they probably do not even have to travel outside of their state.  Some people see this as a problem as they fear the spread of compulsive gambling disorders.  This is a legitimate concern, but not to the degree that it is often presented.  Compulsive gambling is not the norm.

I do think compulsive gambling is certainly a major issue which should be addressed by professionals, but since most gamblers do not succumb to the pressures of this disorders, it makes no sense to me to make the gambling industry out as some predatory industry that is feeding off of the dollars of the poor.  Slot machines appeal to the part of a human being that enjoys receiving a reward.  Whether slots manufactures mean to or not they create these noisy games that make people feel like they are being rewarded no matter that outcome of the game.  This, in my opinion makes them no different from video game manufacturers. Keeping compulsion in check is the responsibility of the individual not that government.

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