Why do you think the US is so anti-gambling?

[MoneyLineDawg]

I have strong views on this subject, as I imagine most people on this forum do....but I've never actually found a real reason(s) as to why the US is so against online gambling, sports betting in general, ect.

So why do you think it is? Most of our civilized friends from other countries are a lot more lax on gambling and it seems to work out well.

Im not going to rant about my views in this post, I simply just want to understand the reasons behind this.

[onacloud]

gambling is correlated with crime

[MoneyLineDawg]

gambling is correlated with crime

Explain this more....

[jgray]

IMO, there's a small percentage of elected officials that actually care. The rest jump on because it gives the illusion of action, i.e. they are doing something. Our problem is that not enough people gamble on sports so they don't care about laws that make it harder. Now if they banned the lottery...

[onacloud]

http://www.terry.uga.edu/~mustard/casinos.pdf

Using data from every U.S. county from 1977 to 1996 and controlling for over 50 variables to examine the impact of casinos on the seven FBI Index I crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and auto theft), we concluded that casinos increased all crimes except murder.

[FindTheLock]

the lottery is just a 250,000 team parlay

[MoneyLineDawg]

IMO, there's a small percentage of elected officials that actually care. The rest jump on because it gives the illusion of action, i.e. they are doing something. Our problem is that not enough people gamble on sports so they don't care about laws that make it harder. Now if they banned the lottery...

This seems like it makes sense.....it's really a shame if this is the case

[MoneyLineDawg]

http://www.terry.uga.edu/~mustard/casinos.pdf

Seems like a big stretch......I'd imagine things like fast food, alcohol, etc can all be correlated with crime in some way

[MoneyLineDawg]

the lottery is just a 250,000 team parlay

[tb1984]

The U.S is not anti-gambling. It's only anti-online gambling, because owners of brick and mortar casinos only want people to spend money at their casinos. That's why these owners spend tons of money to lobby government officials to not allow online gambling.

[tb1984]

Also, if the U.S legalize sportsbetting, you'll see a lot of game fixing, especially at the college level.

[MoneyLineDawg]

The U.S is not anti-gambling. It's only anti-online gambling, because owners of brick and mortar casinos only want people to spend money at their casinos. That's why these owners spend tons of money to lobby government officials to not allow online gambling.

Other countries like Canada and England have brick and mortar casinos and allow online gambling as well

Why not us?

[onacloud]

Seems like a big stretch......I'd imagine things like fast food, alcohol, etc can all be correlated with crime in some way

Study was done by a man who has a PhD from MIT, and taught at Cornell it wasn't some bullshit. A large majority of gamblers are not people we would associate with I would assume.

[MoneyLineDawg]

Also, if the U.S legalize sportsbetting, you'll see a lot of game fixing, especially at the college level.

Dont see how legalizing will add much more fixing than what already goes on......Tons of sports betting already goes on in this country, just on the black market as well as in Las Vegas

If you want to fix a game and make big bucks off of it, you can easily do that now as is

[MoneyLineDawg]

Study was done by a man who has a PhD from MIT, and taught at Cornell it wasn't some bullshit. A large majority of gamblers are not people we would associate with I would assume.

Then why are new casinos opening up every year in the US if your reason is correct?

[jjaycuny]

Also, if the U.S legalize sportsbetting, you'll see a lot of game fixing, especially at the college level.

Eh, don't buy it. Betting on college sports is already EVERYWHERE (literally), so how would legalizing it really change anything (besides having a massive tax revenue for the state that legalizes it)?

[durito]

There is legalized gambling in most every state. So the real question is why is the US gov't so ******* stupid.

The thing about online gambling is, the UIGEA was snuck into law by a few idiots. The prosecutors going after sites are doing so because they can and they can grab some cash for their states. I'm sure they don't personally give a shit.

[milwaukee mike]

crime is down in every major city in the last 20 years, just as casinos popped up in every one of them. so that argument is completely wrong.

the u.s. government has always liked to tell people what to do. even though they claim we have all this freedom, it is really quite the contrary when you compare to other major countries.

[FuzzyDunlop]

Also, if the U.S legalize sportsbetting, you'll see a lot of game fixing, especially at the college level.

You can bet on anything in Europe and fixes are few and far between and the action is detectable before the opening whistle.

[antifoil]

because the bible is against it.

[RudyRuetigger]

http://www.terry.uga.edu/~mustard/casinos.pdf

there are multiple studies out there and basically have the same conclusion as this. not sure how anyone can dispute that with opinions.

however, i would say the percentages of gambling/crimes are decreasing each year (but thats my opinion and will change if anyone shows facts differing).

[mighty maron]

1. Christian right is against it.
2. USA is anti-gambling if they cant get their cut.

Horse racing is kosher. Lotteries only pay out 50 percent...its that the USA cant get their cut is the rub.

[Mikail]

2. USA is anti-gambling if they cant get their cut.

This is the main reason. It comes down to money. Also certain individuals who stand to lose a lot of money are constantly lobbying against legalizing it in the U.S

[The Kraken]

The religious right wing nuts think it's a sin. They are very loud and feel strong about their convictions.

[RudyRuetigger]

there are multiple studies out there and basically have the same conclusion as this. not sure how anyone can dispute that with opinions.

however, i would say the percentages of gambling/crimes are decreasing each year (but thats my opinion and will change if anyone shows facts differing).

by the way, im not arguing this is the reason usa is so against gambling, im just saying you cant disagree with the studies

This is the main reason. It comes down to money. Also certain individuals who stand to lose a lot of money are constantly lobbying against legalizing it in the U.S

not true

[probettor1]

USA is not anti-gambling. You can gamble in a coin machine, dog races, horse races, lottery, scratch cards, pocker, texas holdthem, roulette, bingo, there are thousands of casinos all over the country.
The beef is with sports betting. Why?
theories:
Avoid money laundering: Not true, you can do money laundering in any of the above.
Ethical reasons: Above mentioned would also be illegal.
To avoid people to stop working and living out of betting: Horses, pocker, jai alai and dog races would be illegal too
So why?
To avoid the corruption of the athletes, coaches, referees and team owners.

[probettor1]

Does is work. of course not. You can bet illegally, go to vegas or go to costa rica and still fix a game but they want to make it socially unaceptable by making betting illegal. how I know this?. I have read debates among politicians discussing this matter and most of them agreed on the basis I just mentioned.

[MoneyLineDawg]

^^^Lame as hell, and not a good reason at all.......Corruption can easily still happen now, as is.......Again, other countries like England and Canada are doing just fine with live sports and LEGAL wagering, so WTF

[probettor1]

I know it makes no sense for us but it makes sense for some people. They are not trying to avoid athletes from being corrupted at all cost. If so then las vegas would be shut down as well, and it would be illegal for americans to bet at all, even outside USA. They are betting on the social acceptability of sports betting. Make it Socially unacceptable is the key.

[JohnGalt2341]

I think a lot of it has to do with that the Government has decided that it is ILLEGAL. Many people in the US are terrified of things that Government says are ILLEGAL. I would say around 50% of the U.S. population will agree with whatever the Government decides regardless of what it is. Example... lets say a handful of people in the US had a heart attack and died this year while doing Push-Ups. The Government then decides that Push-Ups are dangerous and has decided to make them ILLEGAL. Around half the idiots I've met in my lifetime would likely agree with the Government that Push-Ups are dangerous and should never be attempted by anyone.

I'll be shocked if Big Mac's and Whoppers aren't illegal within 20 years.

[probettor1]

The question is why it is legal in las vegas? Prostitution is also legal in las vegas. why? I dont fking know. But equal rights my ass.

[MoneyLineDawg]

^^^ That is true, but my question is more, well than "Why is it illegal?" when almost all of the other "similar countries" have been laughing at our stance on gambling for years now

[mikejamm]

Study was done by a man who has a PhD from MIT, and taught at Cornell it wasn't some bullshit. A large majority of gamblers are not people we would associate with I would assume.

Well I'm calling it bullshit! So you have a problem associating with retirees and little old ladies who like to spend their time playing slots? Or the average gambler, who's in his mid to late 50's? Yeah, real big crime syndicate there! lol! And just to bust more holes in your "study" from Cornell, which sucks by the way, real studies have shown you're actually safer in a modern casino, because of all the cameras and increased security. Not to mention, with all the additional revenue gambling brings in, cities are able to hire and equip more police officers, EMTs, as well as a host of other services otherwise unavailable because of budget restraints.

[RudyRuetigger]

Well I'm calling it bullshit! So you have a problem associating with retirees and little old ladies who like to spend their time playing slots? Or the average gambler, who's in his mid to late 50's? Yeah, real big crime syndicate there! lol! And just to bust more holes in your "study" from Cornell, which sucks by the way, real studies have shown you're actually safer in a modern casino, because of all the cameras and increased security. Not to mention, with all the additional revenue gambling brings in, cities are able to hire and equip more police officers, EMTs, as well as a host of other services otherwise unavailable because of budget restraints.

unreal

not worthy of a real response

[mikejamm]

The religious right wing nuts think it's a sin. They are very loud and feel strong about their convictions.

Exactly bro! Religious zealots get their rocks off telling you how to live your life in the way "they" fuk'in decide you should. That's why you have crazy fuk heads like the right wing tea party and jesus freak brain washed lunatics like Rick Santorium running for president!

Want to keep having your freedoms taken away. Want to keep the rich, power hungry conservative bible thumpers in office? Then by all means, keep voting republican, because it's these assholes who want to control every aspect of you life....by their ignorant beliefs! And legalized gambling will never be a part of it, if it's left up to them.

Every state I've ever lived in or visited, that had gambling, was way better off financially and community wise, than it's neighboring state that didn't.