Gambling: A win-win situation
...ontrol since almost half of them gamble less than one hundred dollars per year, on average only attend a casino two days out of the whole year, and when they do gamble their play usually only last a little over two hours (Hoffman 9). As for gambling the claim that gambling is the cause of family breakups, only an average of 3.8 percent of gamblers state that their gambling may have caused a breakup in the past (Dickerson 1). This number seems so minute compared to the large rate of divorce our country has seen in the last years. This evidence proves that gambling is harmless to individuals the majority of the time. Aside from all of this evidence, our leaders should also make a distinct separation between church and state and not base laws on their own religious beliefs because many people view gambling as a healthy habit that brings families and friends together. Also, while people gamble and play for money, they socialize with other people that enjoy gambling just like them and view it as their hobby (Fritz 1). Most gambling is done at safe levels with only a few bucks on the line, but a great deal of emotion behind it. As human beings we are definitely competitive creatures, and gambling makes a person feel like they are part of something bigger and greater. Gambling fills our personal need for wanting to be accepted and a part of a larger group, and whether a person wins or loses a bet, either way they know that they will have their friends and family there to enjoy the moment with them and that it was never about winning or losing but more about cherishing this time with others. Our government has stated that gambling increases crime rates because compulsive gamblers will steal, cheat, and lie just to get enough money to make their next bet, or put in to simpler words: gamblers are criminals. Our government tries to portray gambling as a hobby for crooks and unethical individuals who have no common sense, command of their own life and behaviors, or morals, when this past-time in actuality is practiced by just about every kind of person there is out there. People who enjoy gambling come from all over the world and are as diverse as could possibly be; It can be said that people who enjoy gambling come from “every walk of life” (Fritz 2). Another reason for why it is supposed that gambling increases crime rates is because it is said to be a "major dependency-forming consumption legally supported in most Western-style democracies" along with tobacco and alcohol (Adams 2). Tobacco and alcohol have both been time and time again correlated to contributing to deteriorating of a person’s physical and psychological well-being, relationships, and overall social impact in a vast majority of scientific and psychological exams. There is no evidence to date to show that gambling causes any one of these symptoms. Our government begs to differ, however, and insists on the continuation of controlling gambling. If our government truly believed that gambling is just as much of a harmful habit as these two addictions are, then why are tobacco and alcohol completely legal in all fifty states but gambling isn't? There is even evidence to contradict their hypothesis that gambling causes these terrible dependencies because it has been found that gambling itself is not the problem, but rather a symptom of a person's underlying conflicts (Porter 12). Loneliness and overall dissatisfaction with life have been proven to be two very crucial motivating risk factors when developing a gambling addiction (Porter 2). People who develop an addiction to gambling, which is in the vast minority of all people who gamble, see gambling as a form of a relationship that takes the place of forming a more social and emotional bond with another individual in a more significant, committed, and fulfilling manner (Porter 1). If a person does develops an addiction to gambling, there are many programs and meetings available that they can attend to help them cope and eventually get rid of this disease. Such groups include Gamblers Anonymous meetings in Arizona, which consists of a twelve step program to recovery (Hulen 1). Also, more than eighty percent of all casinos post warning signs about gambling addictions and signs of such problems, and include information and usually telephone numbers about where people can get help and treatment for gambling addictions (Hoffmann i). As the motto of the Gamblers Anonymous meetings in Arizona states, "Compulsive gambling is a diagnosable and treatable disease, not a disgrace" (Hulen 2). It is important for everyone to truly understand that gambling is just like any other disease that a person may develop such as cancer or diabetes; it is not the person’s fault and they should not try to blame someone for it but instead find ways to cope with it and hopefully cure it. Our national economy has always been an issue of great controversy, especially in the last couple of years. Many argue that legalizing gambling all over the United States will affect our economy greatly because individuals will become addicted, lose all their money, and have to depend on the government for financial reasons. This pessimistic way of looking at gambling does not even come close to the reality of it. Most people who gamble know how to control themselves and do not get into such drastic situations. Gambling can be used to our advantage and help our economy in a positive way. Certain forms of legalized gambling, such as lottery tickets or bingo games, have been proven to be totally harmless and can actually help boost the economy of the state. Even state lotteries are used to help in the states' education fund (Ricci 3), while at the same time providing gaming relief for millions. Although forty-eight out of our fifty states have legalized gambling in some shape or form, the levels of legalized gaming in each state differs significantly (Ricci 1). Our government has managed gambling by keeping conditions of managed expansion (Adams 5). This management includes states needing to have agreements with the government, called regulatory compacts, in order to practice dif...