“I lost my money. I lost all my respect… I hurt my family, and I hurt my friends” (Rogers 11). These are the most frequent phrases of those people, who are fond of gambling and try to spend as much time as possible in order to win some money by means of gambling. The theme of gambling is one of the most arguable ones in America, and in Ohio in particular.
It may be regarded as entertainment, sport, or just fun; but at the same time, gambling may turn into the reason of unexpected financial ruin, loss of family or career, and even death. In Ohio, it is possible to find out such warnings on lottery tickets “Compulsive gambling can be treated” (Rogers 121). This type of entertainment is available for any person, and the Ohio government tries to control the situation in order to save human lives and not to deprive them of a chance to entertain.
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to investigate the history of gambling in Ohio, its development in the 1990s, and its impact on ordinary human lives in order to underline the significance of this process and its unexpected and mostly negative influence on people.
Gambling in Ohio leads to the development of social and economic problems among the society. People have all opportunities to govern themselves and control their interests. If one person engages into gambling, his/her relatives and close friends become involved as well. This is why it is crucially important to prevent people from such disaster and addiction and tell how tragic this gambling addiction can be.
Literature review
The history shows that “the Ohio gambling was available to the white man even though he might separated by hundreds of miles from the nearest of his fellows” (Banta 333). In 1990, racing industry as one of the possible forms of gambling became the most dangerous component of casino industry “amassing a war chest of $1 million” (McMillen 256).
Gambling in Ohio faces numerous contradictions, and almost each year, the voters cannot come to one common conclusion and to allow certain forms of casino (Grinols 35). In November, one more voting process has to take place, and the vast majority of people believe that this time, the results will not support gambling in this state.
Personal researches
Many Americans love gambling and like to bet on everything that is possible to sell. Some people play lottery and cherish the dream to win money and improve their lives. Some people like gambling just to spend their time, meet new people, and find someone to share interests.
Some people cannot imagine their lives without gambling: they become so involved into gambling that can easily forget about their families and jobs. Gambling in Ohio is a quickly developing industry, and the government has to control it thoroughly. Cincinnati hotels, Grove City hotels, and Lebanon hotels are the best representatives of the hotels with various casinos or gambling, and the government of Ohio has to pay special attention to these institutions and protect people against the possibility to become bankrupts because of own inability to cope with personal desires and passions.
Audience
People have to know about the dangers of gambling and passion to casino. In this project, we touch upon such issues like the historical development of gambling in Ohio and the current state of affairs, this is why the audience of this project may be quite spread: professionals, who deal with the development of gambling institutions in Ohio, addicted people, who want to find a way out of their passion, ordinary people, who want to know more about this industry and be able to prevent the troubles connected to gambling, and students, who still believe that gambling is harmless fun only. This information should interest any person, who wants to change and improve this world.
Workable plan for writing a project
This project will be workable and helpful only in case we will follow a certain plan and meet all the necessary deadlines. First, we should analyze current indicators of gambling in Ohio. Secondly, we should study the history of gambling and find out its roots and factors of growth. Finally, we have to refer to the reliable literature, use the ideas of sophisticated people, and prove the correctness of the chosen theme.
Counterarguments to the proposal
The weak side of this project is inability to compare gambling in other states. Ohio is not the center of gambling industry in the United States, and the attention to gambling in Ohio does not help to prevent its spreading all over the world.
In order to present a powerful paper, we should better concentrate on the causes why people start gambling, what makes them drop their habits, and what may substitute the passion to gambling. To develop this proposal properly, we have to demonstrate own abilities to investigate the matter and approve them by means of the already established facts and ideas.
Works Cited
Banta, R. E. The Ohio. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky, 1998. Print.
Grinols, Earl, L. Gambling in America: Costs and Benefits. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print.
McMillen, Jan. Gambling Cultures: Studies in History and Interpretation. New York: Routledge,1996. Print.
Rogers, Rex, M. Gambling: Don’t Best on It. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2005. Print.
Gambling refers to a pre offer, of money or any other material that has substantial value, to the occurrence or failure of an event. The subject of gambling is that the gambler losses the money offered if the outcome of the event is against him or her or gains the money offered if the event outcome favors the gambler.
The outcome of the specific event is normally determinable in a short period of time. The gambler, therefore, takes the risk of either gaining or losing the offered money or material and any other valuable subjected to gambling. This paper seeks to discuss the issue of gambling. The paper will examine the benefits as well as any negative effects of gambling with an aim of arguing for the legalization of gambling in Texas.
Origin of Gambling
The nature of gambling is closely related to ancient religious beliefs that were practiced in the pre historic times. Gambling is for this reason believed to have its origin from religious beliefs. It has been generally pointed out that gambling was developed from a religious practice in which particular religious leaders who were believed to be in communication with gods predicted what would happen to people.
It was believed that these leaders were able to learn from gods or spirits what would happen in future. The religious leaders who had the ability to predict the future used objects which would be thrown from a person’s hand.
The objects were believed to predict the future with respect to either a positive or a negative result depending on what the visitor came to seek. Anciently, an even number of the thrown objects would mean a positive outcome while an odd number of the thrown objects would mean a negative prediction. The outcomes of these religious practices were based on chance even though they were believed to be responses from either gods or some spirits.
The initial observation of the number of thrown objects was later improved to include a study of the pattern formed by the objects. Further developments of the practice led to the issuance of gifts by the person seeking counsel from the religious or spiritual leader. The gifts were meant to appease the gods or the spirits to enhance their yielding of good outcomes through the predictions.
This concept of the ancient religious leaders foretelling the future is what was modified into a game like activity in which people try to predict the outcome of an event with a monetary value attached to their prediction. A positive prediction leads to a person getting the amount put in the game. An outcome contrary to that predicted by a gambler leads to the gambler losing his or her money or commodity subjected to the gambling (Crapsdicecontrol1).
Texas Laws on Gambling
Under the Texas statutes, gambling is defined as a bet over an event that has not yet occurred. A person is therefore said to have gambled if the individual makes or participates in a bet of an activity whose final result is not yet known. The activity could be a competition,such as in games, in which a winner is desired, political contests, or results on intellectual tests. Gambling is illegal under the Texas statute and a person is liable for gambling if the person is either directly or indirectly involved in a gambling process.
Indirect involvement in gambling could include acts such as being an agent in gambling in which an individual is used asa link between gamblers, undertaking to promote or to enhance gambling, providing an avenue or place where gambling is undertaken or even having a tool that is used either for gambling or to promote gambling. Gambling is therefore a criminal offence in Texas under the statutory provisions (Texas statutes 1).
Reasons why People Gamble
There are a number of reasons why people choose to gamble. A person can choose to gamble because gambling brings a sense of “recreation and fun” (Aging 1). The process of gambling brings with itself some sense of adrenaline driven moments as people anticipate in the outcome of a gambling activity.
These moments together with suspense of who is going to be favored by the results of such gambling brings excitement that make the experience fun to some individuals. Like other games, gambling also brings the participating parties together and promotes a sense of unity among these people. It is for this reasonthat it offers an opportunity for people to socialize with one another.
Gambling which is carried out with a partial aim of raising money to support a charity event or a social activity can also yield the fulfillment of helping the unfortunate in a society. A person can therefore engage in a gamble with an understanding that part of the proceeds will be delivered to some social activity somewhere (Aging 1).
Another reason for gambling is to help people escape from the realities that they face at home. People take advantage of the time they use in gambling together with the company that they get atthe gambling places topass time in an environment that is more relaxed. In this view, gambling can be perceived as a relieving exercise that can help people control or reduce stressat least for the moment of the gambling activity and when in the company of other gamblers. Gambling is also a source of income.
When people bet, they submit to the risk of either winning or losing. When they win, the proceeds are more than what was bet. Gambling can therefore be seen as some sort of a faster and easy investment in which one just puts his or her money and wait for fate to determine his or her profit or loss (Aging 1).
Another argument in support for gambling is the fact that it is something that a person does at will. In democratic countries like the United States, in which Texas is a state, democracies are upheld and people’s fundamental rights and freedom to make choices and to look for happiness are declared in the constitution.
If the constitution allows people to choose whether or not they should drink, or the religion they want to belong to or even the type of political leaders that they want for their country, the way they want to spend their money and how they want to have fun and be happy in life, then the same constitution ought to give its citizen the freedom to choose whether or not they want to gamble.
It can be argued that when a person goes to gamble, he shall have taken the risk of either winning or losing in the gamble. If one party looses, the other party should not be liable for the loss because both parties must have consented to the terms of gambling before they put their money in the act. It should therefore be viewed as a fair act that violates no right or freedom of any loosing party. It is neither theft nor robbery.
Collins peter argued that gambling has dual effects. There are benefactors in a variety of ways. When one party loses and the other party gains.The proceeds of the gambling are of economic importance to the winning party as well as those individuals who depend on the winning party.
The effects are therefore countered. Both parties are aware of loosing orwinning and would be happy if they won. Similarly, the dependants of gamblers are most likely happy and enjoy the proceeds of gambling when their bread winner is lucky and brings the gambling money home. These same people should therefore understand when the same gambler is one day unlucky and loses his or her money in gambling.
It is the same in either way and it is in addition a source of employment to other people such as the owners of facilities or those employed in the facilities where gambling takes place. A total ban on gambling therefore has a significant effect of lost income to parties that are occasionally involved in gambling (Collins 43).
Collins further argued that gambling should be allowed as a means of fostering social justice in a society. Underthis argument, Collins claimed that people ought to be given opportunity to make their choices as regards to what they want.
A person who feels like joining either the Republican Party or the Democrats should be given the chance to choose where they want to belong, another person who wants to donate his or her income to a social activity such as supporting an orphanage or the elderly or any other disadvantaged member of a society should be given the opportunity.
A donation to a charity is money taken away from the donor’s dependents and the dependents consequently loses claim over such donations. Money lost through gambling is similarly a choice of a person risking money but with the hope of getting more. Gambling is for this reason more beneficial to the gambler’s dependants as compared to charity donations from which absolutely no reward is expected (Collins 43).
Arguments against Gambling
There are, however, arguments against gambling. According to Kasinoonnet, too much of gambling is considered unsafe more so if a person is going beyond his or her financial means in order to gamble (Kasinosonnet 1). It is also argued that gambling results in unsuccessful relationships “interfere with responsibilities at work, and leads to financial catastrophies” (Helpguide 1). Gambling is therefore perceived in this case to be an addictive exercise that can ruin a person together with his or her family (Helpguide 1).
Conclusion
There are significant arguments that gambling is not a safe activity to engage in especially due to its addicting effects. There are possibilities that it can lead to loss of money by a gambler and the side effects of lost money can ruin the gambler together with his or her dependants.
It is however evident that gambling is voluntary and a person only goes into gambling on free will and consent. Gambling also has a variety of benefits such as entertainment and income increment among others. As a voluntary exercise, the people of Texas should be given the freedom to individually make decisions as to whether or otherwise, they want to gamble since there is no difference between gambling and other activities such as charity donations which are legal. Gambling should therefore be legalized in Texas.
Casino gambling is traditionally discussed in the society as the negative phenomenon which can affect the community significantly because of influencing the crime rates and provoking the gambling addiction instead of supporting the persons’ welfare. That is why the legalization of casino gambling in Texas is considered as the first step to creating risky environments within the community.
However, there is the opposite opinion promoted by economists, businessmen, and sociologists, according to which the legalization of casino gambling can be discussed as a significant contribution to the state’s economy. As a result, the issue of legalizing casino gambling is discussed as very important to be effectively resolved.
Nevertheless, the question is controversial because there are two opposite visions of the problem which are based on the substantial evidence and examples referred to the progress of the casino industry in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
In spite of the fact that the idea of legalizing casino gambling is often discussed by opponents as the challenge to the community’s social health, Texas should approve the legalization of casino gambling because this situation can contribute to the improvement of the state’s economy with references to the question of taxation; it can contribute to overcoming the unemployment problem with the help of creating additional job positions; and it can contribute to increasing the public’s personal welfare in relation to the social and economic questions.
The legalization of casino gambling in Texas is the appropriate way to improve the economy of the state with the help of focusing on the issue of taxation and on the expected casino revenues. In his work Legalized Casino Gaming in the United States: The Economic and Social Impact, Hc Hsu notes that Nevada was the first state in the United States where casino gambling was legalized in 1931 as the governors’ response to the progress of the economic crisis.
Such a controversial approach to coping with the economic problems resulted in the significant stimulation of the state and country’s economy in the 1930s (Hc Hsu 4). The researcher also pays attention to the fact that the casino industry significantly affected the economy and tourism industry of the states where gambling became legalized during recent decades (Hc Hsu xiii).
Referring to the recent results related to the correlation between the progress of the casino industry and the economy’s development, it is important to note that according to Kearney, Professor of Economics, “gross revenues from legalized gambling reached a record-high $78.6 billion in 2003. More than 80 percent of this total is accounted for by revenues from commercial casinos, Native American casinos, and state lotteries” (Kearney 282).
While referring to the experience of the other states in developing the industry, it is important to note that the effective economic stimulation is necessary for Texas in the context of the state’s economic rates typical for the period of 2010-2013.
Furthermore, the legalization of casino gambling can be discussed as one of the effective alternatives to improve the economy of the region. Thus, discussing the idea of legalizing casino gambling in Texas, it is necessary to stress on the fact that one of the main sources of the economic impact which is related to the issue of the casino gambling legalization is the taxes.
The focus on the effective taxation policy in relation to the legalized gambling industry is necessary with references to the situation in Texas. According to Professor Thompson, the process of legalizing casinos can assist the governors to “eliminate the illegal gaming and channel all gambling activity into a properly regulated and taxed enterprise” (Thompson 75). As a result, state governors can focus on receiving more revenues from the industry while reforming the tax policy.
In their turn, Goss and Morse, Professors of Economics, note in their book Governing Fortune: Casino Gambling in America that the positive changes in the economies of the other states demonstrate that Texas can also benefit from legalizing casino gambling and proposing the effective tax policies to control the industry and to receive the balanced revenues (Goss and Morse 112).
It is important to note that in order to increase revenues for the government of Texas in relation to the casino industry, it is possible to avoid imposing high tax rates on the industry.
In order to preserve the general economic balance in Texas, the state’s governors should focus on the revision of the whole approach to the taxation policy because the taxes received from the casino industry can become the significant fundament for the state’s economic progress.
According to the results proposed by the economists and representatives of the Texas Association of Business in their report Economic Opportunities of Casino Gaming in Texas: An Economic and Fiscal Impact, “direct state gaming taxes paid to the state will be about $945 million per year when all facilities are at full operation” (“Economic Opportunities of Casino Gaming in Texas” 5).
The businessmen and economists also note that in case of Texas, the total new annual revenues for the state, “when all proposed casinos are operational”, can be more than $1.2 billion, and the “new annual revenues for local taxing jurisdictions will total $416 million” (“Economic Opportunities of Casino Gaming in Texas” 6).
That is why, it is possible to pay attention to the fact that to receive significant revenues and improve the economy of Texas, the state’s governors can gain benefits without reforming the approaches to the taxation in the state significantly.
The possible changes in the taxation policies can be proposed with references to the other states’ experiences in legalizing casino gambling. From this perspective, the legalization of the casino industry has important effects on the state’s economy, and Texas can use the potential benefits to improve the economic progress of the region.
The legalization of casino gambling in Texas is also directly connected with creating a lot of new job positions in the state. As a result, the whole process can be discussed as contributing to overcoming different social and economic problems in Texas while addressing the issue of unemployment.
According to the data presented in the report titled Economic Opportunities of Casino Gaming in Texas: An Economic and Fiscal Impact, casinos legalized in Texas can potentially “generate $11.8 billion in new economic activity across the state” (“Economic Opportunities of Casino Gaming in Texas” 1). As a result, supporting the legalization of casino gambling in Texas, the authorities can achieve a significant increase in salaries.
Furthermore, the legalization of the industry can lead to creating and promoting “more than 74,000 new jobs” (“Economic Opportunities of Casino Gaming in Texas” 1). McCleary and the group of economists state that the process of creating new job positions in order to affect the situation of unemployment in the state is associated with the particular features of the casino industry because casinos are the facilities where dining and drinking services are provided along with proposing the variety of gambling activities (McCleary et al. 210).
Large casinos are often the part of hotels and other entertainment complexes, and the process of building such complexes can contribute to creating the additional job positions and receiving the additional revenues while focusing on developing the sector of tourism in the economy of Texas.
While discussing the phenomenon of the riverboat casinos, Hunsaker, the economist, and specialist in the sphere of business, notes that many casinos are discussed as the places attractive for tourists (Hunsaker 100). As a result, the tourism industry can also contribute to expanding a range of proposed job positions. From this point, casinos should be legalized to develop the industry as an important segment within the state’s economy in order to cope with the observed economic and social problems.
Although the legalization of casino gambling is discussed as the controversial and rather provocative idea, it is possible to note that this industry is closely associated with the question of the individuals’ welfare. Legalized gambling is one of the most interesting and actively discussed ways to improve a person’s economic state and to contribute to the persons’ social status. On the one hand, this approach is rather controversial because of the possible negative impacts.
On the other hand, as it is noted by Kearney, the focus on the casino industry as the way to improve the economic state is highly beneficial for the group of responsible gamblers who can control their activities and decisions effectively (Kearney 283). There are two ways which are used to improve the persons’ welfare with the help of legalizing casino gambling. McCleary and the group of researchers state that the first way is the focus on the financial rewards received as a result of participating in the gambling activities (McCleary et al. 210-211).
The second way is the discussion of the casino industry from the point of the collective entertainment and the specific recreational subculture which can help people develop and improve their personal interactions (McCleary et al. 209-211).
Moreover, such researchers as Hc Hsu and Kearney pay attention to the fact that the legalized gambling activities can also affect the welfare of those persons who cannot be discussed as the active gamblers because of the impact of the atmosphere observed in casinos and possible successes in gambling (Hc Hsu 17; Kearney 287).
Thus, the legalization of the casino industry influences the welfare of all the citizens in such a state as Texas positively because the economic and social situation can be improved in the state in relation to many social and economic factors and criteria.
However, there is the opposite approach to the idea of legalizing the casino industry in Texas, according to which the projects and initiatives on legalization should not be followed by the state’s governors.
The opponents of legalizing casino gambling in Texas and in the other American states pay attention to the fact that this process can affect the state’s community negatively in relation to increasing the crime rates, contributing to the development of gambling addiction, and contributing to the gamblers’ psychological disability and increasing the rate of suicides. The opponents of the legalization are inclined to state that this process directly leads to increasing the crime rates within the community.
Nevertheless, the question of the link between the crime rates and casino gambling is rather controversial, and such researchers as Hc Hsu and Goss and Morse state that they cannot provide the reasonable facts and evidence to state that this link really exists (Goss and Morse 114; Hc Hsu 17-18). Moreover, Kearney states that while discussing the problem of the gambling addiction and its role in affecting the families of gamblers, it is important to note that it is rather difficult to identify “a causal link between gambling and other problems, as pathological gamblers often have other behavioral disorders” (Kearney 287). Thus, the connection between gambling and social problems is not stated clearly.
Furthermore, the statement that the legalization of casinos can lead to the increased rates of suicides is not supported by factual and credible data. Kearney pays attention to the idea that in spite of the fact that a lot of data on family problems, crime rates, and suicide rates are collected and available, “tracking systems generally do not collect data on the causes of these incidents, so they cannot be linked to gambling” (Kearney 287).
That is why, any statements about the negative role of the gambling legalization for the community in relation to legal and social aspects are not really supported with the effective and reliable evidence, numerical data, and approved statistics. As a result, the argument about the negative effects of legalization of the casino industry on the progress of the community in Texas does not sound as the convincing statement.
The legalization of casino gambling in Texas is the necessary step to overcome the critical situation in the state’s economy and to contribute to receiving the large revenues while implementing and following the effective approach to the taxation policies related to the casino industry. The next important benefit of legalizing casino gambling is the improvement of the social situation in Texas because of the focus on creating a range of new job positions related to the large and important entertainment and hospitality industry.
One more reason to approve the legalization of casinos is the focus on the public’s welfare influenced by the progress of the casino industry. Thousands of people migrate every year in the states of the country in order to visit the casinos of Atlantic City and Las Vegas because they can entertain themselves and receive significant financial rewards. Thus, the legalization of the casino industry in Texas can also result in the improvement of many Texans’ welfare.
The opponents of the idea related to legalizing casino gambling build their arguments around the opinions that the casino industry is the cause for increasing the crime rates and for destroying the families and persons’ psychological health. However, there are no persuasive research results in order to conclude that the declared statements are close to reality.
From this point, Texas should focus on legalizing casino gambling in order to create the conditions for the state’s economic progress. The possible steps toward the legalization activities can include the development of the effective regulation and taxation policies in order to predict possible negative effects of the authorities’ focus on the casino industry.
Works Cited
Economic Opportunities of Casino Gaming in Texas: An Economic and Fiscal Impact Assessment. USA: Texas Association of Business, 2013. Print.
Goss, Ernest, and Edward Morse. Governing Fortune: Casino Gambling in America. USA: University of Michigan Press, 2009. Print.
Hc Hsu, Cathy. Legalized Casino Gaming in the United States: The Economic and Social Impact. USA: Routledge, 2014. Print.
Hunsaker, Julie. “The Impact of Riverboat Casinos on the Demand for Gambling at Casino Resorts: A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation”. Managerial and Decision Economics 22.1-3 (2001): 97-111. Print.
Kearney, Melissa Schettini. “The Economic Winners and Losers of Legalized Gambling”. National Tax Journal 58.2 (2005): 281-302. Print.
McCleary, Ricard, Kenneth Chew, Vincent Merrill, and Carol Napolitano. “Does Legalized Gambling Elevate the Risk of Suicide? An Analysis of U.S. Countries and Metropolitan Areas”. Suicide & Life – Threatening Behavior 32.2 (2002): 209-221. Print.
Thompson, William Norman. Gambling in America: An Encyclopedia of History, Issues, and Society. USA: ABC-CLIO, 2001. Print.
It is seen that in the Australian context, gambling is a routine pastime or occupation, and it does not bear the social stigma that is attached to gambling in other countries of the world.
More significantly, the Australian government has so far adopted a conciliatory and indulgent attitude towards most kinds of gambling, which has been the main reason for the rampant growth and proliferation of both forms of gambling, legal and illegal, in the Australian homeland.
However, the Government has now realized that compulsive gambling, especially in its new internet avatar, is quite competent in creating conditions conducive to problem gambling which entails serious economic losses in terms of diminution of job performance, family stresses, commission of financial irregularities to pay off a gambling debt, and finally ruin and bankruptcy. (McMillen & Grabosky 1998).
Internet gambling has superseded gaming machines, poker, and casino, just as these forms of gambling had overtaken horse betting, card games, and other forms of earlier gambling.
Perceived benefits of gambling
The positive aspects of gambling seem to be in terms of generating employment, incomes, and higher spending capacity for economies that depend upon gambling as a source of revenue. Besides, there seem to be intangible benefits derived indirectly by businesses that thrive on tourist gambling businesses like airlines, hotel, and alcohol industry, transportation, and several other businesses. Gambling is one of the chief attractions for the tourist trade, there is no doubt that tourist traffic would be affected in the event gambling legislation is enforced.
However, one needs to distinguish between legal gambling and illegal gambling. Legal gambling brings revenue to the government and presents several socio-economic advantages. Illegal gambling has severe attendant risks including crime, prostitution, money laundering, drug trafficking, loan sharking, and several other social evils, besides the risk of bankruptcy and suicides.
The most significant aspect would be in terms of compulsive gambling which needs to be checked and monitored closely to avoid social costs.
Evils of gambling
The social evils that impinge upon compulsive gambling far outweigh the gains and revenues derived from it, in terms of detriment and losses accruing to individuals who indulge in it, the families who face distress and deprivation, and also to the community, who is deprived of positive channelizing of incomes and wealth into socially acceptable channels. The losses of gamblers are quite severe. “On average each loses around $12,000 a year. Each one causes problems for some five to 10 other Australian adults who know or love them.” (Martin 1999).
It needs to be seen that gambling not only needs to be banned in Australia but also in other parts of the world where it ruins human lives and wrecks havoc on the community in no uncertain terms.
Moral aspects of gambling
Gambling creates moral evils in that when the gamblers do not have money to gamble, they may need to resort to mortgaging their assets to satisfy their gambling passions. They may also borrow money at exorbitant rates of interest and have to bear the consequences of their misdeeds. The moral aspects of gambling would be in terms of broken homes, high rates of divorces, poverty, unemployment and also depression, bankruptcy, and suicides. Gamblers have poor employment records and most firms would not like to employ persons addicted to gambling.
Various connotations of gambling
In the religious context, it could be seen that gambling is more of an individual right, like freedom of speech or movement. Thus, it would not be correct to ban the choice of one’s pastime, or recreation, except when it transgresses laws. In the Australian context, it is seen that except for online gambling which falls within the ambit of “Section 51(v) of the Australian Constitution”, other forms of gambling are outside the jurisdiction of the Australian Commonwealth, and “The regulation of offline gambling, therefore, remains primarily a State and Territory responsibility.” (Online gambling- frequently asked questions 2009).
Thus, it is well within the powers of various Australian states to enforce laws and legislations according to their conventions. There are no uniform laws applicable for all states and consistency is not always maintained. It follows that laws banning certain forms of gambling in one state may be allowed in another; so all that the gamblers need to do is to conduct gambling activities from states that permit them.
Political objections
It is seen that illegal gambling is a major industry in Australia, and flouts most of the applicable rules, including taxation and movement of currency. While the Australian government has jurisdiction over internet gambling, (whether this is exercised or not is a different matter) the Federal authorities do not involve themselves in offline gambling, which is a major den of crime. Often, political and law enforcement departments are major beneficiaries of gambling criminal nexus and would thwart designs of enforcing legal machinery.
Psychological problems
The impact of large-scale gambling, especially compulsive gambling is enormous. The socio-economic impacts of problem gambling, during which the gambler is not able to control his gambling propensities are very much like drug intake, or alcohol misuse, which has different manifestations at each stage, including the introductory stages, mid-stages, withdrawal, relapse, and issues arising out of non-participation in compulsive gambling that could provoke and exacerbate psychotic disorders, including violent behavior, harm to self and others, suicidal tendencies and other manifestations of uncontrolled behavior.
Conclusions
There are several reasons why gambling in any form needs to be strictly checked, if not banned, in most countries of the world. One of the principal reasons is that not being strictly illegal, it is often criminalized without the perpetrators being punished for their misdemeanors. Again, the aspect of legality or illegality of gambling, compulsive or casual, harmful or otherwise, is a subject matter of individual assessment of Courts and judicial precedents. Thus, they may not be enforced consistently.
Australia has only recently awakened to the risk behaviors associated with gambling with the introduction of the Interactive Gaming Act 2001. Again, many offline gambling activities are allowed under this act, when even counties like the USA have categorically banned online gambling. It is necessary that robust law be enacted that could address gambling as a Federal subject and not a state issue, demarcate the legality of such gambling activities, and also delineate the extent and scope within which Australian citizens could be made responsible for gambling as compared to non-Australians who may not be held guilty under Australian laws.
While revenue generation and tourist traffic earnings are major considerations for the exchequer, which may be major sources of sustenance for countries, it should not form the framework within which legal norms could be transgressed with impunity by a small, albeit influential part of the gambling and gambling-aiding community.
Thus, it is necessary to consider the efficacy of a total ban on major harmful effects caused types of gambling, very much in the lines of the United States that has banned online gambling. Strong and decisive action must be taken to lessen the evil effects and social detriments, caused by laxity in the enforcement of regulations and a more laissez-faire approach to the entire gamut of gambling.
McMillen, J & Grabosky, P 1998, No.88: internet gambling, Australian Institute of Criminology. Web.
Online gambling- frequently asked questions: isn’t gambling a state and territory responsibility 2009, Australian Government: Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Web.
Even though a huge chunk of humankind shares sheer disapproval of gambling, no matter in what form the latter comes, no one can actually help feeling slight ambiguity concerning the notorious Jay Cohen’s case. According to what the existing records say, Jay Cohen was accused of managing a gambling company in Antigua and Barbuda by the government of the United States according to the U.S. laws on gambling. Disregarding the controversy concerning the harmful effects of gambling, one might want to ask the question concerning whether the USA had the right to question the policies of other states, even on such a dubious issue as gambling.
Therefore, Jay Cohen’s fault should be considered on the merits of its harmful effect on gamblers. From the given point of view, Cohen must be found guilty. Even taking the Antigua and Barbuda law on gambling, since the game was being held online, it should be regarded as an international event, in which case it must be in line with all existing laws on gambling. That being said, Cohen’s crime is obvious.
Do you concur with the dispute settlement decisions in the World Trade Organization in this case? The panel report? The appellate decision? The arbitration ruling?
I believe that in the case in point, the settlement decisions in the WTO seem excessively liberationist. While it is necessary to admit some freedom to private entrepreneurship, introducing ethics to their business practices is crucial as well. The Panel Report seems to fall into another extreme by supporting any initiative of private enterprises, which does not seem right either. The appellate decision concerning the USA government’s infringement of entrepreneurs’ rights seems legit in the given case, which, together with the arbitration’s ruling, made Cohen a victim of overly strict laws. The given outcome seems wrong, however. It is important to give freedom to private companies, yet it is essential to make sure that they do not abuse the freedoms.
Should Antigua And Barbuda have the right to retaliate against the United States by exporting copyrighted entertainment material? Is that a bad precedent?
The issue in question is, doubtlessly, a bad precedent, since no crime should be answered by another crime.
Should the United States have abrogated its commitment to gambling services under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)? Did it have better alternatives?
In the given case, abrogating its commitment to gambling services under the GATS would have made the U.S. admit that the policy on allowing gambling must be launched, which would be rather undesirable. The U.S. might have taken much pressure off, yet it would have lost much of its reputation.
How can the dispute between the United States and Antigua and Barbuda be resolved now?
Since in the given argument, the USA represents a more radical and much harsher point of view on the issue, while Antigua and Barbuda regulators do not see the reasons for concerns about gambling, whether it is online or offline, the two states clearly represent two extremes concerning the gambling issue. At present, there are two possible avenues for the problem in question. The first solution would be to ban gambling as an activity. Another idea that can be used to approach the issue is to search for the compromise, i.e., impose even harsher restrictions on the gambling industry, such as raising the age at which a person can enter a game from the supposed eighteen to full twenty-one, as well as creating a series of PSAs concerning gambling and its effects.
Do you Support the proposed Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act? Why or why not?
I believe that allowing gambling is a regressive step that can be viewed on par with allowing online pirating. However, since at present, there is no alternative for the provided solution, the Internet Gambling Regulation can be viewed as a temporary solution.
Are current state and federal laws on gambling optimal? Should the nation move in the direction of stricter prohibition? Or should it move to more permissive laws, including those to legalize online gambling?
Designing the gambling laws, one must take into account the reasons that make people gambling, since blindly prohibiting or allowing gambling will result only in having even more casinos and online sites open, either as a protest or as a result of being allowed statewide. Therefore, it must be admitted that the current laws on gambling leave much to be desired. While it is a wise move to allow gambling, it is still required to control it, making sure that gambling will not sweep the entire nation.
While to provide democracy, one must make the laws on gambling more permissive, it is required to spread the word concerning its harmful effects, therefore, stressing that gambling, much like smoking, is a matter of one’s own choice depending on how one view his/her own personal development.
The state of choice is Illinois. The state has several gaming alternatives. People can spend them earnings in casinos, bingo, lottery tickets, boat racing, horseracing, and online gambling among others. The state generates a lot of revenue from gaming. This income assists the state and local governments. However, the state has earmarked a large share of gaming income for education. Some analysts claim that Illinois has “reached a saturation point” (Hynes, 2000). However, the gubernatorial is under pressure from state officials to increase the number of gaming activities.
When was the legislation to earmark gambling revenue enacted?
The state of Illinois enacted PA 91-40 in 1999, which has affected the gaming industry. The decision to allow for dockside riverboat gambling resulted in high rates of tax collections. There were also changes in horseracing taxes. This mainly affected the distribution and structure by lowering the amount of cash in the General Revenue Fund.
In the US, in 1999, eight states allocated their revenues for general funds from the 37 lottery states. However, 17 states had designated their lottery revenues for education. As a result, education has become the common sector in which most states spend their lottery revenues. Lottery or gambling revenues also have other uses in areas related to “parks and recreation, tax relief, economic development, Mariners Stadium in Washington and police and fireman pensions in Indiana” (Hynes, 2000). Some of these usages are specific while others are in general areas.
In Illinois, fluctuations in gambling revenues have affected two areas of the education fund. First, the effect is in the Common School Fund that mainly supports elementary and secondary education. Second, it affects the Education Assistance Fund, which provides support in elementary, secondary, and higher education levels. In the fiscal year of 2000, the revenues for education funds increased by 8.3 percent ($65 million). However, it is difficult to note the trend from a specific game because of variations.
Do you believe that “fungibility” is present in the case you selected?
The state of Illinois legalized gambling to ensure “honesty and integrity of an activity, and to raise revenue” (Hynes, 2000). The growth in the revenue from gambling has attracted the attention of lawmakers. Illinois State has three agencies, which focus on gambling. Specifically, there is the Department of Revenue, Lottery, and the Multi-state Big Game. The Department of Revenue has noted increments in gambling incomes. Consequently, there are efforts to generate more revenue from gambling than in the previous fiscal years. At the minimum level, the state may only need a license to allow gaming and then collect taxes from the gross of the gaming receipts. However, in some cases, state agencies have taken interests in gaming with high interests like casinos and horseracing. Authorities usually take part in auditing, or they may involve the state police. In lotteries, the state may control the entire affair.
Revenues from gambling have affected Illinois State. For instance, in the fiscal year 2000, the General Funds cash balance declined by $525 million in August, whereas spending increased considerably. This scenario has led to budget fungibility because of the combined manner of spending of revenues from all sources (Miller and Pierce, 1997). Charles Spindler points out that because education expenditures constitute “a large share of state spending, they attract attention from legislative and executive decision-makers, including state agencies, who seek funds for other government activities and programs” (Spindler, 1995). Consequently, the state increased its sources of revenues during the fiscal year 2000.
References
Hynes, D. (2000). Fiscal Focus. Springfield, Illinois: The Illinois Office of the Comptroller.
Miller, D., and Pierce, P. (1997). Lotteries for Education: Windfall or Hoax? State and Local Government Review, 29, 34-42.
Spindler, C. (1995). The Lottery and Education: Robbing Peter to Pay Paul? Public Budgeting & Finance, 15, 54–61.
In the United States nowadays, individuals are playing online gambling for money. When asked about the unavoidable passing of a law decriminalizing online gambling in the US, the CEO of Sams Casino stated that the legislation would not have any impact on their trade. Nevertheless, the legislation will certainly have a tremendous effect on the dealings of the Casino. The negative outlooks of the legislation make it seem as if all computers in the US will be connected into a casino through the Internet. Legalization of online gambling would be bad for Sams Casino, the US, and the entire world at large.
The legalization threatens kids, families, and nations. Online gambling sabotages the rule of law and negatively affects the global economy. This paper addresses the CEO of Sams Casino and attempts to prove to him of the global economics, legal, socio-cultural, and technological impacts of the legislation on online gambling. This paper also discusses the threats and opportunities existing here and what strategies the CEO has to get underway to counteract the threats and get hold of the opportunities.
Global Economics Effect
Some people argue that online gambling is just a game and thus fun. However, online gambling would further weaken the economic system of the United States if the country legalizes it. The editor in chief of The United States International Gambling Report (USIGR), Kindt, wrote a compilation with many volumes, which concentrate on the business, communal, and economic effects of legalizing online gambling actions (Griffiths, 2003). He stated that gambling as well affects the end-user economy immensely by getting money out of the pockets of the consumers.
In high online gambling regions of the United States, people purchase at least ten percent less foodstuff in addition to twenty percent less attire, since they are looting their bank savings with the intention of gambling. With the legalization of online gambling, banks will continue to lose liquidity and funds, whereas, in families, children will continue facing a shortage of food and clothes while their parents lose money in online gambling.
The capacity to set online gambling or casino application on cell phones could be a technique for economic calamity. In mobile phones, online gaming would turn out to be a destroyer application since the number of individual bankruptcies and persons obsessed with gambling could escalate tremendously (Bana, 2011). If people want to decrease their deficit, they require global economic improvement, which signifies that people require purchasing goods and services. However, this case is not likely to happen when people are busy dumping their wealth into online gambling activities.
When individuals purchase more durable high-quality items, there is a generated economic multiplier impact of nearly a factor of three. On the other hand, online gambling shrivels the global economy at the rate of $5 for each dollar in gains of tax returns. As people purchase user goods like refrigerators, automobiles, and computers, the global economy grows, which interprets into new employment opportunities (Bana, 2011). Legalization of online gambling will, in fact, be similar to reverse driving the economy for it gets funds out of the hold of consumers without benefiting them.
Social-cultural effect
Some individuals warn that even though the tax collected from online gambling might be desirable to governments, the ultimate social-cultural cost of the action may not counterbalance the monetary benefits. The social effects of legalizing online gambling comprise an augment in individual and professional insolvency from eighteen to forty-two percent, in addition to an augment in crime by no less than ten percent. Every one of these social effects generates enormous demands on states.
Legalizing online gambling would fundamentally create enormous social setbacks, which never prevailed before (Porter, 2001). Social services along with law enforcement would particularly suffer greatly. Following Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and its implementation, there was increased social control means against prohibited online gambling and thus permitting the Justice Department of the United States together with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to aim at organizations established outside the United States who apply offshore servers in propagating online gambling sites.
Nevertheless, any fresh legislation to decriminalize online gambling might potentially revolve each computer that gets an Internet connection, be it in a residence, place of work, or school, into a literal casino (Yani-de-Soriano, Javed, & Yousafzai, 2012).
In addition, with the figure of Internet-permitted smart mobile phones ever-escalating in the market ever since the year 2006, legalizing of online gambling also has the prospective to make all Internet-enabled phones portable casinos. This would play a key role in disrupting good relationships at homes, in schools, and in places of work as the addicts of online gambling will be more likely to withdraw in an attempt to create time for mobile gambling and thus fail to do their duties.
Legal effect
The fanatics of online gambling argue that millions of people in the US take pleasure in gambling and do it responsibly. They state that keeping online gambling illegal for the reason that a small minority cannot control their addiction is like banning tobacco, alcohol, and junk food for the same reason (Porter, 2001). However, because online gambling is linked to unlawful effects on individuals and is controlled by an industry that several consider voracious since it promotes and earns revenue from the susceptibilities and weak points of its clients, the subject is somewhat insidious.
Conventionally, people do not steal from their employers, take their own life, or kill owing to a lost game (like tennis), but they do so owing to their gambling losses. Following three years of research, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC) suggested a cessation on the existence of gambling in the US. The NGISC felt that legal measures should be put in place and extra study to teach the nation concerning consequences of gambling should be carried out prior to allowing increased gambling (Haefeli, Lischer, & Schwarz, 2011).
The unlawful impacts of online gambling include suicides, actual crimes, and frauds on organizations and individuals. It is evident that the legal, social, economic, and technological merits of online gambling overshadow its demerits. In short, what has already been witnessed has put more weight on the unconstructive side of online gambling without putting any weight on the positive side. In this regard, Congress should not currently, and possibly not ever, decriminalize online gambling and should work towards maintaining the outlaw in place (Haefeli, Lischer, & Schwarz, 2011). The legal effects of Internet gambling far surpass the alleged benefits.
To add more weight to the negative effects, online gambling is extremely addictive and is rampant with corruption that is not managed or regulated. In reality, it is in the concerns of online casinos to conceal the degree of corruption since fewer individuals would engage in it, if they recognized the true level in which countless online criminals propagate their devious actions through online gambling. Additionally, the casinos are offshore with their software being so intricate that even if the United States were to legalize it, it is very improbable that they would be wise enough to justify the move.
Those who support online gambling are stars alongside with winners who are about one out of every one thousand people in the US (Yani-de-Soriano, Javed, & Yousafzai, 2012). An online gambler, Doyle Brunson, in some of his publications stated that every one of the professional gamblers becomes bankrupt numerous times, in his or her gambling regardless of what degree of achievement s/he enjoys.
Therefore, if every one of the online gambling players goes broke numerous times, if more people engage in gambling, the real legal effect at some point is inevitable. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has charged leaders of online gambling on accusations of money hoaxing and bank laundering. A number of the leading names in online gambling stand charged of running a complicated illegal network. Thus, this indecent conduct ought to receive no reward. The irregularity of online gambling is not stopping at that point, as any attempted legalization might reveal an enormous underground trade into view.
Technological effects
It is not shocking to note that the advantage of Internet gambling is merely the benefit of having an extra type of electronic amusement accessible amongst the already available numerous amusements (Griffiths, 2003). With regard to brain functioning, online gambling, and the actuality of pathological influences, electronic devices are the very hazardous and harmful type of gambling. With the growth of the Internet, gambling has appeared as an admired type of activity and has observed an enormous growth rate throughout the past decade.
From the year 2009, the number of online gambling sites internationally has risen tremendously because of technological advancements. On the other hand, this online gambling action might set a rising alarm for the noteworthy potential of destruction to some persons and organizations. Existing legislation might be inadequate or futile in defending gamblers and other individuals that may be vulnerable, for instance, children, teenagers, and young adults.
Consequently, owing to its technological effects, a number of scholars have demanded a complete prohibition of the application of online gambling sites, whereas others believe that online gambling ought to be put through more regulation (Porter, 2001). Nevertheless, others declare that outlawing online gambling might be unproductive taking into consideration previous endeavors carried out in the United States and China. As an alternative, they believe that online gambling must be regulated to give a safer setting and guard users against devious operators, which sequentially will proffer tax income.
Undoubtedly, the measures to illegalize online gambling recognized the technological effect of online gambling and desired to guard public concern. Internet gambling is not merely uproar; thus, given the significance of the technological effects it causes, existing directives must be improved and cessation on further growth advocated, permitting initiation of effect minimization policies. Even if the online gambling sector presents an advanced online-based consumer service with promotional actions, an array of games, and excellent interfaces, people generally perceive the sector as an international problem and a moral risk.
Alarms concerning online gambling include home-grown gambling (for instance, through the Internet, cell phones, or television) and have turned out to be progressively accepted, stimulated by emerging technologies, for example, tablets, and laptops (Griffiths, 2003). An unconstructive characteristic of online gambling is that it permits players to take part under the influence of drugs and young people that cannot be permitted in a public setting.
Therefore, there has been rising anxiety that technological advancements in online gambling might enhance the problem of gambling and that people with a prevailing gambling problem might be mainly drawn to this type of gambling. Legalizing online gambling would cause a potential to augment in the proportion of problem gamblers and addicts as the technology presents itself to extreme gambling, because of its convenience and the rate of play.
Threats
Some of the threats associated with casino businesses include the following.
The opportunity window will not prevail for long
Antitrust concerns
Global economic catastrophe
Because of global economic calamity, the user self-belief in the US has decreased. Decreased public wealth might give rise to gamblers becoming reluctant or not capable of spending on online gambling (McCormack & Griffiths, 2012).
Increase of well-informed competitors in the US. The market for casinos is rising fast with the growing attractiveness and access to the Internet. The attractiveness of online gaming to casinos is a noteworthy threat to the casino businesses going forward because of unhealthy competition.
Strict regulatory setting. Online gaming industry exists under strict regulations. The present regulations might confirm to be adverse to the gambling companies as they may limit the functions of Casinos in particular regions and might considerably increase the cost of operation.
Opportunities
Some of the opportunities associated with casino businesses include the following.
Huge user base
Large rapidly rising market
Growing public reception of online gaming
Legalization
Recently, different US states are discovering alternatives to legalize online gambling. The magnitude of the United States market and the possibility of encouraging regulatory transformation in the future might allow casinos to earn handsomely from the United States market as a target for other market opportunities (McCormack & Griffiths, 2012).
Strategies to put in place
The Internet creates a possibility for individuals to participate in online gambling everywhere and each time they want. Nevertheless, the rising opportunities for casinos do not essentially give rise to increased problem gamblers. If strategies were put in place, online gambling would present excellent opportunities for checking of personal gambling conduct and timely discovery of problem (Haefeli, Lischer, & Schwarz, 2011).
Online gamblers fundamentally require persuading the traditional gamblers operating at casinos to convert their operations to online as a replacement for their offline environment. Shifting to online operations will give gambling authorities in the US a simpler job discovering problem gamblers.
The casinos should then implement policies to persuade each state in the US to establish licensing models that create a chance for gambling businesses meeting the provisions enforced by the state authority to obtain a license. In this manner, the market will turn out to be extra-transparent making it possible for users to differentiate licensed casinos from blacklisted ones.
Casinos work towards making online gambling enjoyable and most of them are dedicated to offering a safe and pleasant online activity for their customers. Nevertheless, a few players can form harmful gambling practices and lose view of the reality that online gambling ought to be for enjoyment only. Even as problematic gambling is hard to detect, casinos must put a number of strategies in a position to assist in addressing the setback and make sure that online gambling becomes responsible gaming (Haefeli, Lischer, & Schwarz, 2011).
One of the strategies includes taking a strong standpoint against the participation of children by not permitting individuals less than eighteen years of age to play for actual money. Additionally, casinos should have thorough training programs to assist staff discover indications of uncontrollable gambling and educate the victims on ways to take suitable actions. Casinos must as well have a strategy to disallow players that distinguish themselves to be problematic gamblers by barring their continued participation through deactivating their accounts and removing their passwords.
Conclusion
Currently, people are playing online gambling for money. Upon inquiry, the CEO of Sams Casino affirmed that the decriminalization of online gambling could have no impact on their trade. However, as discussed in this paper, this legalization would be terrible for Sams Casino, the US, and the entire world at large.
Decriminalization of online gambling poses a threat to kids, families, and nations as it sabotages the existing rule of law and negatively affects the global economy. There exist global economics, legal, socio-cultural, and technological impacts of the legislation on online gambling. With effective strategies, nevertheless, casinos can counteract the threats involved in online gambling and take up the opportunities.
References
Bana, A. (2011). No more rambling in world of online gambling. Travel Law Quarterly, 3(1), 70-75.
Griffiths, M. D. (2003). Internet gambling: Issues, concerns and recommendations. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 6(6), 557–568.
Haefeli, J., Lischer, S., & Schwarz, J. (2011). Early detection items and responsible gambling features for online gambling. International Gambling Studies, 11(3), 273-288.
McCormack, A., & Griffiths, M. (2012). Motivating and Inhibiting Factors in Online Gambling Behavior: A Grounded Theory Study. International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 10(1), 39-53.
Porter, M. E. (2001). Strategy and the Internet. Harvard business review, 79(3), 62-78.
Yani-de-Soriano, M., Javed, U., & Yousafzai, S. (2012). Can an Industry Be Socially Responsible If Its Products Harm Consumers? The Case of Online Gambling. Journal of Business Ethics, 110(4), 481-497.
There are various forms of leisure activities and gambling is a form of leisure. In order to know whether gambling is an acceptable form of leisure it is important to understand what is leisure first. There are many definitions of leisure. Most people consider leisure as the free time from paid employment personal activities or domestic duties such as cooking, washing, attending to a child or sleeping. Generally the term leisure depends on ones personal perception of what term leisure means to them. Whatever the definition that one gives to the term leisure there are factors other than time defines it. For an activity to be defined as a leisure activity, it should have these three critical components. First it should have an element of freedom of choice, it must be enjoyable and one should choose it due to intrinsic motivation (Torkildsen, 2005, p.5).
In leisure one should have the freedom to choose which activity to engage in and at what time to do it. In addition the leisure activity that one engages in should be enjoyable. This means that one should get satisfaction and pleasure from the activity. Ones choice of leisure activity should be contributed by internal motives. One should not engage in a leisure activity due to the external benefits that one gets from it such as money or any form of promotion but should be from internal motives. Intrinsic motivation is the inner feeling that one gets after achieving something that one had made a choice to do. This satisfaction comes after one chooses to participate in a leisure activity because you want it and it makes you feel good (Pan, 2008, para 12). There are various leisure activities which include reading novels, swimming, climbing rocks, travelling, singing, dancing, visiting tourism sites, watching movies, sports or gambling activities such as casino, card games and bingo.
In addition, a leisure activity has many benefits to the individual, the society and economy of the country. The benefits of leisure are divided into five categories which are physical, psychological, social, and economic well as spiritual benefits. All these benefits are closely related to each other and they also influence each other. For example physical exercise is of great importance to the human well being. For example Sports helps to lower fats deposits in the body that causes heart problems and other related diseases.
Leisure activities have positive effects to the economy. These activities help to increase employment opportunities. For example in sports, coaches are employed to train players, in tourism attraction sites tour guides are needed and also people are employed to maintain the condition of these sites (R & A., 2008, para 5). Furthermore leisure supports other services such as transport because some activities involve a lot of travelling. Hotels, lounges, bars and restaurants are positively affected by leisure activities. These facilities increase in number and they also develop technologically. The government also earns more revenue from leisure activities such as from fees and other charges paid by the visitors to national parks and other tourist sites.
Besides, leisure activities help to reduce stress and improve health leading to increase in the level of production (Torkildsen, 1999, p. 78). In most leisure activities people have opportunities to interact with other people and therefore they influence people’s social lives. During leisure people have chance to challenge their lives on their knowledge, experiences and on self actualization. Some leisure activities are of important to the soul because they act as treatment to it (Us Legal Definitions, 2004, para.6). This essay describes gambling as a form of leisure activity and also it gives a conclusion of whether it is an acceptable form of leisure in the society.
According to the description of leisure and its components, gambling is a form of leisure activity. Gambling is an activity where people bet or sometimes place some value on something. This betting is done in order to obtain unpredictable results from the laid chances (R & A., 2008, para.7). There are various forms of gambling which include; casino game, video machines, poker, horse and trotting and the legal bet on lotteries. Years’ back gambling was regarded as unacceptable form of leisure activity. Many people had negative attitudes towards it because they believed that gambling ruins peoples lives, financial status and it is additive. This is because if one bets and wins, the person bets more money hoping to get more and when one loses the person hopes to win the next bet. Therefore gambling was believed to be additive.
Most of the Australian population, about eighty two percent participate in gambling activities and therefore gambling is considered as part of the Australian culture (Us Legal Definitions, 2004, para.8). Casino gambling and bingos were the most forms of gambling that were attended by many people. Gambling is considered as a form of leisure activity and one has freedom to choose it. In addition, the participants and players of these games consider them as are enjoyable and pleasurable. However legal gambling is accepted in the society because it has benefits to the participants and society at large (Explanatory Notes to Gambling Act 2005 (c19).
Benefits and costs of gambling
Social effects
Most forms of gambling involve more than one participant and therefore the participants social lives are affected positively. For example in casino gambling, card games and in bingo clubs there are many participants and therefore there is a lot of interaction between players (R & A., 2008, para 9). Most elderly people participate in gambling due to its social effects for example casino gambling. It is important for old people to engage in gambling activities because most of them can not comfortably participate in other forms of leisure activities such as athletics due to their old age. Gambling helps old people to experience social competence and independence. Young people are also involved in gambling activities such as card games, bingo gambling and casino gambling. These games help them to relate with people and also they learn how to communicate (Us Legal Definitions, 2004, para.9).
Psychological effects of gambling
Gambling as a form of leisure activity has psychological benefits to the participants. For example card games, casino gambling and bingo have a lot of fun and therefore the players are entertained (Gambling law & legal definition, n.d, para 5). These games help old people to be active and hence contribute to their well being. In casino gambling players are excited when waiting for the unpredictable outcomes and when they get the results they are entertained and they relax. This feeling of excitement helps to increase pulse rate and hence blood flows faster in the body. Therefore it helps to relieve stress and make players more productive. Games such as horse tracking and card activates the mind because the player is supposed to think fast so that they can gain and not to loss.
Gambling can be of benefit either socially or psychologically if the participants use it only for positive or beneficial purposes such as entertainment (R & A,, 2008, para 3.) Gambling activities also brings social and psychological problems and other social crimes. Social crimes occur when players become addicted and should have money to pay debts or their losses (Staff, 2009, p.14). Therefore many are forced to become robbers or to engage in illegal business that will enable them to raise large sums of money easily and quickly. Addiction also leads to family breakups because the player tempted to use all money they have or may fail to support the family economically due to lack of finances. For example, in bingo, gambling people continue playing until they loss all money and become debtors (Net industries, 2001, Para.3).
Economic effects of gambling
Charity which is also a form of gambling is widely practiced as a leisure activity and people do not consider it as gambling. Many people buy raffle tickets or the scratch cards and this is perceived as legal gambling. People buy raffle tickets with great hopes of gaining more money or winning the unpredictable commodity. Therefore people are after potential private gain (Explanatory Notes to Gambling Act 2005 (c19).National lottery is another form of gambling that is most prevalent in the society currently. According to the statistics about forty percent of the American population play national lottery. Raffle tickets are not only bought as a form of leisure activity but as a form of earning money.
Some gambling games such as casinos and national lottery are of great benefit to the economy. Most gambling activities benefit the economy of the country because the government earns revenue. For example casinos and bingo clubs are charged licenses before they start running and this money goes to the treasury. They also pay taxes because they are regarded as forms of business and these are benefits to the government (Pan, 2008, p.7). On the other hand gambling industry creates more jobs opportunities especially in casino. In addition jobs are created in casino, and bingo clubs. Gamble activities also leads to jobs creation in the hospitality industry for example in hotels, bars and restaurants. These facilities increases in number and technologically they improve and therefore more people are employed there. In addition, mostly gamble games such as card games are played in places like bars. This leads to increase in the sales volumes which contribute to increase in profits. Therefore these facilities expand economically.
Other than benefiting the economy, gambling industry also affects the economy negatively (CBC News, 2008, para 8).This negative effect is mostly contributed by losses that players make in gamble games. For example in casino gambling, card games, bingos and raffle tickets in most cases the participants do not win and therefore they make losses. Furthermore addiction lowers the participants’ level of productivity because they play even when they are supposed to be working so as to be paid. Addiction at sever cases may lead to bankruptcy which has negative effects to the economy (Staff, 2009, p.8). For example, when People engage in robbery and other criminal offence the government incurs more cost to maintain security.
Conclusion
Leisure is very important to an individual and also the entire society. According to the discussion leisure helps people to be more productive because it helps to relieve stress. Increase in an individual’s level of production is of great benefit to the economy because it leads to economic growth and development. Leisure activities such as sports help in the physical well being of the players (Net industries, 2001, Para.9). This also contributes to their health and hence health expenses are reduced. In addition leisure activities give players an opportunity to socialize. Participants learn how to communicate and also to relate with other people effectively. Furthermore leisure activities have psychological benefits such as relieving stress. Moreover the economy also is advantaged by the leisure activities that people engage in. The government’s sources of revenues are increased because it also earns foreign exchange from some these activities because foreigners come to the country and participate in leisure activities such as mountain climbing and visiting tourism sites. Employment opportunities increase because other industries such as hospitality and transport expand this is also contributed by leisure activities.
Leisure activities have negative effects to the person and the economy. Therefore people should put into consideration the leisure activities they are engaging them selves in. Gambling is an acceptable form of leisure activities. This conclusion has been arrived at after considering the benefits of various forms of gambling activities alongside their negative effects to the person, society and the economy. Therefore according to the discussion above people should get involved in gamble activities with a positive motive so that they can achieve these benefits (Net industries, 2001, para.10). This is because when people get involved in gambling with a negative motive, it will cost them as well as the society and the economy.
References
CBC News., 2008. Betting the farm: an overview of gambling addiction. [Online].
New Zealand Recreation Association., 2008.Developing Community Recreation.[Online].
The economy of The Bahamas is strongly shaped by aspects of the growth of touristic services and packages, foreign dominance of its main sectors, development of financial services, foreign capital inflows as well as a state revenue collection through indirect taxation (primarily of the import customs), while evading taxation on earnings and corporate gains (Karagiannis and Madjd-Sadjadi, 2011 p.96).
Analysts perceive the potential of high volume tourism for increasing income levels and boost employment opportunities for locals that has significant influence in foreign exchange earnings. Nevertheless, this nature of tourism services is highly susceptible to international political economy, foreign exchange, prone to global environmental problems, and external shocks (Karagiannis and Madjd-Sadjadi, 2011 p.96).
The Bahamian economy is modelled to structurally and technologically dependent due to disparities in the trend of domestic market demand and the type of good supplied (Karagiannis and Madjd-Sadjadi, 2011 p.97). A wide range of economic transactions in The Bahamas are associated with foreign trade.
Activities in the agricultural sector are less developed to the extend that a large quota of food products is sourced from outside the country in order to meet the demand. Population growth and tourism boom are the main factors contributing to food deficits. Consequently there has been an exponential growth in the food import bill as well as a decline in the balance of payments (Karagiannis and Madjd-Sadjadi, 2011 p.97). This has caused challenges in diffusing financial benefits from the tourism into other sectors of the economy.
Lottery in The Bahamas
Gambling premises particularly casinos were inconsistent and have influenced the economy of the Bahamas for over 9 decades (Boxill 2009, p.3). Lottery activities particularly in casinos are designed to favour tourism development.
Sources from the government of The Bahamas indicate that the first of gambling casinos in the name of the Bahamian Club opened for business from the capital of Nassau towards the close of the 1920s decade (Boxill 2009, p.3). Later, another gambling premises was opened by the name Cat Cay (Boxill 2009, p.4).
The two premises had a small capacity for patrons and centred on attracting tourists. They operated fully during the winter seasons. The lottery activities served as complimentary for other entertainment experiences for the tourists. In the 1960s decade, there was a boom in the casino gambling business throughout the archipelago; with the Play Boy Casino set up in 1978, but later closed in 1983 (Boxill 2009, p.4). By April 2009, there was an approximate five gambling casinos doing business in The Bahamas.
The traditional paper lottery is now challenged by the online version known as the web shop gaming. This form of virtual gambling eases the need for physical presence during the lottery activities. Participants experience a simulated experience close to the physical one.
In a bid to regulate casino gambling, The Bahamas put in-place the Lotteries and Gaming Act in 1969 (Boxill 2009, p.4). The Act was later amended for public ownership of casino premises. The amended act allowed the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas to have the monopoly license for carrying out business of gaming at any establishment (Boxill 2009, p.4). In addition, an operator was issued with a license to manage a gambling casino. Licenses were to be issued after consensus between the minister overseeing gaming and the Gaming Board.
As provided in the official government website, the Gaming Board is vested with the mandate to regulate the lottery activities (Boxill 2009, p.4). The mandate is mainstreamed within a range of stipulated activities. The Board shall update the status according to the extent, character and geographical site for gaming establishments operated by a premises as per the issued license.
The Board shall screen the lottery business as per guidelines of the act, so as to rid off any criminal elements in the industry. The Board shall offer Certificates of Approval as well as Permits to prospective employees intending to operate, supervise or manage gaming. The Board maintains close vigilance on the Certificate and Permit holders for any malpractices or contravention.
The Board shall cause the initiation of amendments to the Gaming Act as well as provide advise to the Minister in this regard. The Board liaises with the respective associations in gaming to inform on any developments as well as technological advances within the industry as a way of keeping abreast. Finally, maintain ties with the International Gaming Regulators for information exchange.
Lottery amenities have to directly pay to the government of The Bahamas four forms of gaming levies, that is application levy for casino personnel, basic taxes, levies for permits and certificates as well as winning taxes (Edwards, 2009, p.33). Based on the Casino Taxation Act rates levied are proportionate to the floor space occupied.
In addition, winnings during games are charged taxes but to some limit. The highest amount of basic taxes charged on casinos based on the business type is US$ 200 000 (Edwards, 2009, p.33). Taxes on winnings are calculated as 25 percent of the gross.
Table 1: Lottery Taxes to The Government between July 1999 and June 2000
Category of Tax
Amount
Basic taxes (for three selected casinos @ US$ 200 000)
US$ 600 000
Winning Taxes
US$ 19 369 273
Levies for approvals (permits and certificates)
US$ 35 830
Application fees for Casino personnel
US$ 46 600
Overall lottery Earnings accrued
US$ 20 051 703
Source: Edwards (2009, p.34).
The above table implies that table winning is the major source of government revenue (at US$ 19 369 273).
Table 2: Over the Time (From 1993 to 2003) Annual Expenditure Data By the Gaming Board of The Bahamas
Year
Personal Emoluments ($)
Other Charges ($)
Total ($)
1993–1994
1,372,225
458,345
1,830,570
1994–1995
1,457,490
532,111
1,989,601
1995–1996
1,456,145
589,872
2,046,017
1996–1997
1,667,543
671,142
2,338,685
1997–1998
1,708,163
622,040
2,330,203
1998–1999
1,919,654
683,238
2,602,892
1999–2000
2,031,951
765,331
2,797,282
2000–2001
2,112,540
721,582
2,834,122
2001–2002
2,353,302
706,388
3,059,690
2002–2003
2,633,182
800,185
3,433,367
Source: Edwards (2009, p.36).
Figure 1: Annual Expenditure and Taxes Patterns for the Gaming Board. Source: Edwards (2009, p.36).
Based on the Gaming Board expenditure figures and annual revenue for 2002/2003, it is evident that the government remains with a net revenue earning of 85 percent that is utilized within the Bahamian economy for other services.
Taxation of Lottery Amenities
Globally, The Bahamas provide a model of how the government ceases control and legalises gaming activities leading to positive impacts in tourism resort-based casinos as a social facility which attracts more than 4.5 million international visitors (Edwards, 2009, p.21). Lottery facilities provide jobs, government taxes, foreign exchange earnings as well as investment opportunities.
The initial efforts to raise tax revenue from lottery activities in The Bahamas was in 1964 through a legislation- the Casino Taxation Act of December 29, 1964. In addition the Act recognised the potential of the lottery activities to develop the tourism industry. With regard to income generation for the state, some quarters remained opposed to the legislation (Edwards, 2009, p.24).
Tax levy was imposed on all casino facilities. Operators (like the Grand Bahamas, New Providence and Cat Cay) enjoying tax exemption were not left out. Concurrently, the Gaming Machines Tax Act was introduced targeting slot machines used in gaming. It was argued the tax revenue generated was partly re-channeled to develop tourism activities in The Bahamas (Edwards, 2009, p.24).
Impacts of Gambling on the Social and Economic Bottom lines
Notably, the locals are legally deterred from engaging in casino gambling games, thus the social contribution has relatively been compared to other places that allow participation.
Figure 2: Direct Earnings From Lottery Amenities For The Bahamas between 1996 and 2003. Source: Edwards (2009, p.35).Figure 3: Tax Earnings Against Winnings Revenue for Selected Lottery Amenities. Source: Edwards (2009, p.35).
General Economic Contribution of Lottery
Gambling centres like Casinos have the ability to raise income from fees levied on licenses as well as taxes generated from public gross earnings.
The Government of Bahamas indicates that tourism associated activities are lead employer to most locals; thus, contribute largest tax revenue to the state. In the fiscal year of 2002/2003 revenue from winnings indicated that tax collected in 2002 alone amounted to almost US$ 22 million. In total, the American Gaming Association raised gross gambling revenue worth US$92.27 billion in 2007.
Deepwater cruise and cruises revenue accounted for 37.3 percent. The Bahamian fiscal budget for 2007/2008 targeted to raise tax revenue from gambling worth US$ 28 million. A case in point is the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Hotel which seconds the government lead employer, nationally at 5500 employees. Out of the total staff, more than 1000 employees are stationed at the premise’s casino. The casino makes annual winning revenue worth over US$134.5 million; while attracting over 5 million visitors from abroad.
Between the period of July1st 2002 and June 30th 2003, the Princess Casino Limited located at the Grand Bahama made over US$ 29 million from revenue winnings. In the same period, the Crystal Palace Casino sited on the Cable Beach raised close to US$ 34.5 million (Edwards, 2009, p.32). By 2008, gross revenue generated within the last seven years remained within the range of $US190 – US$200 million. Two thirds of the national gross domestic product is generated from tourism activities.
Thus, casino gambling has diversified the country’s tourism product. Much as the number of table games is less compared to machine slots, the greater portion of the revenue from the lottery industry comes from them. Take for instance, table games at the Atlantis Paradise Island Casino earned revenue worth US$ 0.9 million in 2002/2003 (Edwards, 2009, p.33). Communication (2012, para.22) explains that staff employed within the virtual web shop gambling contribute more than US$ 1 million to the lottery industry.
Moreover web shop businesses remit more than US$ 100 000 to the government in the form of license fees. Communication (2012, para.28) observes that government’s keenness to regulate can lead to raising of annual tax of up to US$ 20 million from the virtual web shop activities.
Figure 4: Revenue Generation (from Tables and Slot Machines Winnings) for Selected Locations in 2002/2003 Fiscal Year. Source: Edwards (2009, p.33).
Business Investment In Gambling Amenities
The Bahamas benefits widely from the investment in the casino gambling business by international corporations as well as renowned players in the resort establishments. Edwards (2009, p.21) notes international investors to include Donald Trump, the Carnival Group of Companies, the Ruffin Group, Princess Properties International, Playboy Limited, Resorts International and Sun (Kerzner) International.
Most of these investors have gained interest in The Bahamas since the mid-1960s when the premises were small scale but nowadays have expanded to large scale resorts.
In 1964, the Monte Carlo Casino located at the Lucayan Beach Hotel was the first among the big international investments to be set up in The Bahamas, followed by the El Casino based at The island of Grand Bahamas in 1966 (Edwards 2009, p.21). The Paradise Enterprises Limited under the auspices of the Mary Carter Paint Company opened the Paradise Island Casino on the Paradise Island in 1967.
Nevertheless, the ownership of the Paradise Island Casino changed hands in 1987 to Donald Trump then Merv Griffin in 1989 (Edwards 2009, p.21). Later, it was purchased by the Sun International Hotels in 1994 after which a major face lift and rebranding was one (Edwards 2009, p.21). The growth in the number of gambling amenities gives the indication that the business environment is conducive as well as the return on investment is promising. This is confirmed by the growing number of multinationals attracted to the country.
According to the Communication (2012, para.37) population dynamics and geography of the Bahamas have contributed to the challenges facing the commercialization of national lottery activities. Among geographical challenges is the proximity to the United States of America.
The level of advancement in the lottery activities makes them take advantage of the population dynamics and raise more income from the lottery activities (Communication, 2012, para.38). On these grounds, The Bahamas face stiff competition from the lottery activities in the State of Florida. Communication (2012, para.39) observes that it is common for a Bahamian to prefer to spend their lottery bids in the State of Florida than spend locally.
Table 3: Large Casino Gambling Amenities put up Between 1964 and 2009
Location
Amenity Name (Year, ground size of the amenity)
Grand Bahama
The Monte Carlo Casino (1964);
The Bahamia (1966, 1 000 sq. ft.);
The Lucayan Beach Casino (1986) &
Isle of Capri Casino (2003, 20,000 sq. ft.)
Paradise Island
Paradise Island Casino (1967, 50,000 sq. ft.);
Nassau
The Playboy Casino (1978);
The Cable Beach Casino (1983) &
The Crystal Palace Resort & Casino (1983, 35,000 sq. ft.)
San Salvador
Columbus Isle Casino (1995)
Exuma
Four Seasons Casino (2006, 5,000sq. ft.)
Source: Modified from Edwards (2009, p.22).
Branding Gambling Amenities
Swinging casino destination
Since the casino boom in the 1960s, The Bahamas has been promoted under the brand- swinging casino destination. This branding was an attraction for tourists to supplement other entertainment experiences during their stay in an island beach resort (Edwards, 2009, p.23). A baseline study in 1968 sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank agreed under some premises.
Gambling was ranked first as a prime attraction for tourists in the Bahamas, then water sport and nightlife, respectively (Edwards, 2009, p.23). Compared to other warm weather destinations, tourist entertainment packages that included beach activities, water entertainment as well as gambling were highly saleable to international tourists (Edwards, 2009, p.23).
Top casino entertainment publications have featured amenities in The Bahamas, particularly with regard to travel and recreation. The Paradise Island Casino has been rated excellent by The Travel Guard International publication which deals with provision of travel insurance (Edwards, 2009, p.23).
The publication brands the Casino as leading in the Caribbean and offers visitors 800 slot machines as well as 75 game tables, sports and race betting (Edwards, 2009, p.24). The destination boasts of incredible décor designed by renowned artists like Dale Chihuly.
The Paradise Island Casino
The Paradise Island gambling amenity is the country’s largest and over the time it has undergone multiple upgrading to give a first class status as well as rank among the prestigious similar to resorts in the Las Vegas. The amenity runs throughout (day and night) and aligns a range of gambling entertainment such as let-itride poker, craps, Caribbean stud poker, blackjacks, baccarat, roulette and big six wheels (Edwards, 2009, p.22).
Other gambling packages at the facility include parimutuel betting, sports betting as well as paigow poker (Edwards, 2009, p.22). The amenity offers more than three-quarters of the entertainment choices offered across three selected locations, as shown below.
Figure 5: Variety of Gambling Entertainment at Selected Locations in The Bahamas. Data modified from Edwards (2009, p.23).
It is evident that black jacks, roulette and craps are the popular entertainment, respectively. Edwards (2009, p.23) adds that slot machines are over 2,226 in the three locations, while the gaming tables are 190. By the end of the 2003 fiscal year, the variety of tables were 11 in the Grand Bahama, Paradise Island and Cable Beach (Edwards 2009, p.23).
This form of data can provide insights into the revenue expectations zeroed-in to the level of per table. Anecdotally, black jack tables attract more revenue and thus are popular in the selected locations. Other factors that determine the choice of the table to invest in is the return on investment.
Table 4: Trend in Percentage (between 2001 and 2007) of Lottery Entertainment Visitor Stopovers vis-a-vis the Overall
Year
% of Stopover for casino
% of Stopover for casino at NASSAU/PI
% of Stopover for casino at Grand Bahama
2001
1.1
0.7
2.2
2002
1.7
1
3.8
2003
0.8
1
0.6
2004
0.8
0.9
1.1
2005
0.6
0.7
0.6
2006
0.8
0.8
1
2007
0.8
1.1
0.4
Source: Edwards (2009, p.37).
The percentage range (0.8 to 1.1 percent) for visitor stopover for lottery entertainment vis-a-vis overall visitor stop over has experienced dismal growth.
Figure 6: Trends in Visitor Stop-over Against National Tax Earnings from Lottery Activities in the Period of 1978 to 2003. Source: Edwards (2009, p.38).
The pattern developed between the visitor stop over numbers and tax revenue from lottery shows a positive correlation. In other words, it is possibly obvious that visitors to The Bahamas are bound to spend proportionately on lottery activities during their stay.
Employment Opportunities in the Lottery Industry
Across the country, tourism activities provide employment to over 38 percent (that is close to 50 000) (Edwards, 2009, p.29). This statistic indicates that for every US$ 1 million spent by guests, there are 35 jobs sustained. According to the Communication (2012, para. 21), the annual cumulated payroll for employees under the web shop category is more than US$ 15 million.
Directly employed opportunities feature more than within the tourism sector such as working in lottery facilities, among others (Edwards, 2009, p.29). There are over 28 indirect employment opportunities in lottery facilities in 1999/2000. Edwards (2009, p.30) lists them as follows (with the percentage of expatriates in brackets).
Croupiers (3 percent)
Administrative Staff (1 percent)
Cage Employees (0 percent)
Construction
Games Supervisors (31 percent)
Credit Employees
Gaming Tables
Surveillance
Pit Bosses (27 percent)
Transportation
Change Machines
Hotels
Shift Managers (33 percent)
Junket Representative
Slot Machines
Entertainment
Playing Cards
Dealer’s School
Surveillance Equipment
Professionals
Slot Employees
Dice
Casino Furniture
Accounting & Audit
Legal Professionals
Private Investigations
Security (0 percent)
Sports-betting Staff
Source: Edwards (2009).
As shown in the table above, lottery employment opportunities are diverse. In 2002, the number of directly employed staff at lottery stations was 2,747 with expatriates accounting 12 percent. The pie-chart below illustrates this. According to Communication (2012, para.20), in The Bahamas, web shop businesses account for more than 4000 jobs. In 2002, the Atlantis Paradise Island Casino led in the number of direct jobs created at 972 employees (Edwards, 2009, p.30).
Figure 7: Job Opportunity Allocations. Source: Data modified from (Edwards 2009, p.30).
This shows that for every job opportunity going to an expatriate, an approximate nine are created for the locals. Presence of expatriates provides the Bahamas lottery experience an international feeling. These expatriates indicate that remuneration rates for staff are appealing.
Figure 8: Job Opportunities for The Bahamians in Selected Locations in July 2001–June 2002. Source: Data modified from Edwards (2009, p.30).
Drawbacks Faced by The Bahamas Lottery Sector: Religious Resistance
Even during the cradle of the Bahamian lottery business religious groupings such as the Bahamas Christian Council opposed the casino development (Edwards 2009, p.39). In opposition to the lottery development issues raised include discouraging decent tourism in The Bahamas; facilitation of social and moral decadence among the residents as well as encourage underworld immigrations and lead to complexities in security enforcement.
While, this religious uprise was high at the advent of the lottery legalization, developments in the recent times show restraint among the stakeholders in the industry leading to tolerance among the religious groupings (Edwards 2009, p.39). Arguably, prohibition of Bahamians in participating as gamblers may have ameliorated any adverse impacts resulting from the activities of gaming thus general consensus to include lottery activities among tourism products.
However, the current calm on the lottery debate may change considering the growing trend into web shop gambling which is a virtual version of the paper casino gambling. Bahamians are not exempted by law (under the Lotteries and Gaming Act) to participate as online (web shop) gamblers.
Financial constraints to secure bank accounts may be a deterrent factor for Bahamian locals to enter into web shop gambling. Regulations on anti-money laundering inflict exorbitant charges (Communication, 2012, para.31). A national legal framework for web shop gambling may be necessary, particularly to direction on Bahamians interested in investing. However, gambling money is perceived as not decent.
Conclusion
The Bahamian economy is anchored on tourism revenue. This is characterized by the dominance of foreign visitors flocking to the country. The economy benefits from financial services as well as state revenue collections generated from taxation regimes on the tourism products and packages.
This means that the influx of visitors is an indicator of the ability of the state to suppress drawbacks while maximizing the opportunities available to better the economy. The success in the Bahamian tourism industry can partly be measured in the ability to sustain mass tourism.
Lottery activities boast a long history in The Bahamas (spanning over nine decades). Flourishing of lottery activities within The Bahamas is attributed to the presence of a robust and booming tourism industry. Statistics show that for every visitor spending worth US$ 1 million in lottery entertainment activities over 35 jobs are sustained. Web shop lottery activities account for over four thousand jobs. In the lottery industry, expatriates account for 12 percent of the employee base in The Bahamas.
This gives the implication of the employment standards in the lottery industry in The Bahamas. The lottery activities survived existence during the cradle years as a supplementary package for tourism entertainment. Now the lottery industry in The Bahamas has grown to the extent of initiating the virtual version where gambles need not to be physically present.
This is known as the web shop gambling. In recognition of the contribution of lottery activities to The Bahamian economy, the Lotteries and Gaming Act was put in place in 1969. A Gaming Board institution was put in place to administer and oversee countrywide lottery activities. In addition, the Board has to advise the responsible minister on pertinent matters, be it legislation or other administrative issues.
The Bahamas government has established four means of generating revenue from the lottery activities. Taxes, licenses as well as working and business permits directly generate revenue to the government. Edwards (2009) provide the direct and gross revenue for the fiscal period July 1999 – June 2000 to be more than US$ 20 million. In the fiscal year 2002/ 2003, revenue collected was US$ 2 million higher.
In the financial year 2007/ 2008, the revenue projections pegged on the lottery was at US$ 28 million. The amount is economically attractive considering the emolument and running deductions leave behind 85 percent net income that is reverting to the economic development of the country. A pattern can be generated for the fiscal proceeds that the industry is economically growing.
It is interesting to understand how the government has been able to maintain the industry economically robust yet the law exempts the Bahamians from participating as gamblers. Over and above, Revenue from table winnings have generated more to the economy yet are even fewer than slot machines. Nevertheless, the growing invest interest in the lottery industry by renowned multinational corporations could partly explain the economic significance.
Web shop gambling alone generates annual revenue of more than US$ 1 million yet there exists no national frameworks to leverage its activities. The stop over visitor numbers engaging in lottery entertainment has undergone minimal growth compared to the overall visitor numbers. Nevertheless, tax revenue from lottery activities has had a positive association with visitor stopover numbers over the time.
Population dynamics and geography present challenge to the full commercialization of lottery activities in the Bahamas. The proximity to stiff competitors like the State of Florida in the USA explains this challenge. Actually, The Bahamas is losing lottery business opportunities to the state of Florida due to the friendly lottery spending environment even for the Bahamians.
Unless, the government takes an accelerated and forward thinking step while diversifying the lottery entertainment packages then the revenue that would likely destined into The Bahamas will end up to its competitors.
The initially perceived negative social and moral impacts of legalizing lottery activities in The Bahamas have over the time waned off. The legal exemption of the Bahamians from participating in lottery activities as gamblers may have made the significant difference. However, with the existence of the web shop gambling that does not exempt Bahamians it still remains unclear whether the moral and ethical issues are completely addressed amicably.
Regulators may have to forgo moral and ethical strictness allowing more economic liberty in order for business owners to break even particularly in the web shop gambling. Web shop gambling requires heavy capital investment that is not readily available among the Bahamians. Other business risks including security may present more barriers of entry for the Bahamians interested in investing in web shop gambling.
Having a legal framework in place to regulate lottery activities has not benefited the government, economically but also weather down any barriers of entry for international investors. Probably, this presents the likely path for the government in order to enable the Bahamians to equally benefit from the opportunities originating from the development of the gaming industry; a case in point is the web shop gambling.
References
Boxill, I. (2009). Casino Gambling in Jamaica: Lessons and Policy Options. In J Cheesman (Eds.), Jamaica’s Casino Initiative: The Policy Options (pp.1-17). Mona Campus: The University of the West Indies.
Edwards, J. (2009). Casino Gambling and The Bahamian Economy: Development, Economic Impacts and Competitiveness Issues. In J Cheesman (Eds.), Jamaica’s Casino Initiative: The Policy Options (pp.18-43). Mona Campus: The University of the West Indies.
Karagiannis, N. and Madjd-Sadjadi, Z. (2011). Framing The Bahamian Developmental State: An Alternative Policy Package To Neoliberal Failure. International Journal of Peace and Development Studies, 2(4), 96-109. Web.
In spite of the fact that gambling has always been considered a vicious way of sparing one’s time that cannot exist in the society of religious and fair people, the notorious game has taken its toll on the casinos and the people who would like to have some air of adventures and risks in their life without resorting to extreme sports. The question is whether gambling should be legalized as one of the sources of the state’s incomes or banned for good as the pastime that cannot be accepted in Kentucky.
Taking a deep look into the history of the state, one can see absolutely clearly that gambling has always been one of the ventures that bring huge sums of money into the state’s treasury. However blasphemous that might sound, gambling is something that the state has been surviving on throughout its long history.
Beginning with the very history of the state, one should presume that it is a well-known fact that gambling has been widely established in Kentucky.
It was not the main source of the state income, though. The industries that added to the well-being of the state and its GNP since the day the state was founded and throughout the past century was the coal mining, which contributed to the state’s income to the utmost. However, as the Word War II burst out, mining became extinguished and the mines were left. As the war ended, the abandoned territory of production was rather uneasy to raise.
Meanwhile, ambling, which did not need any additional help from the government and investors, was flourishing in the state. Even after the Ohio River flood which happened in 1937 and caused almost the same harm than the war that followed it did not prevent the risky venture to develop further. The business of the gamblers not only flourished, but helped the state to get enriched with the new funds that could provide the necessary helping restoring what had been damaged by the war and the cataclysms.
It must be admitted that the unlawful way of earning money has been banned not once in Kentucky, and that most strict measures were applied to those who have been caught gambling. While people tried to earn some money with help of a deck of cards, the numerous raids that challenged the gamblers in 1951 cooled the adventurers’ enthusiasm down. Taking into account that the government connected gambling to drinking alcoholic beverages in public places, the situation was more than threatening to the gamblers in 1950ies:
Fourth, I recommend that you enact into law an act providing for the mandatory suspension or revocation of the license to sell alcoholic beverages, upon conviction of the license of this agent of gambling on the premises. (Wetherby 29)
This was something to ponder over, and gambling was forsaken for a while.
Although the present economical state of Kentucky ahs sufficiently improved since 1950ies, there is still a great concern about gambling and its legalization. The reasons for the gambling industry to develop in the state must be taken into consideration together with the ones that speak in favor of its prohibition, which will be a democratic decision to make.
Then, the multiple economical reasons must be viewed to understand whether can really provide Kentucky with the money that the state needs nowadays. The income that might overlap everything that has been achieved before is definitely the reason for the further suggestions not to be refused from considering.
The specific national character must also be well understood, since the state is breathing with what can be called the spirit of risks.
The most popular argument that is driven against gambling as the resource of the state income is that it holds no water as a serious business entrepreneurship to undertake. Its unpredictability makes gambling one of the most unpredictable ways of enriching the state’s treasury.
As Nelson (134) put it, there were several reasons for the gambling proposals to fail in early 1990ies as well; according to the scientist, the most important and profound one was the diffusion of the lotteries that added to the unpopularity of gambling, defined as the gambling political decline.
Spread all around the country, they soon became the tricks that only children could fall for. Then, the internal characteristics must be kept in mind. According to the latter, gambling has become so popular that it started to threaten people’s lives, which finally drew to its prohibition.
“The hangover from Rocky Top created a seedy image of gambling in the body politic, which was reflected in the legislative view of such things,” says the veteran legislative correspondent Tom Humphrey. The scandal touched many legislations personally when friends and associates were indicted, or, in two cases, took their own lives. In the same vein, McWherter says that the pinball and bingo controversies “created a problem about any kind of gambling, including a lottery” (134)
With such reasons for gambling to stop its destructive influence on people’s lives, it was impossible to drive any possible reasons in favor of gambling and its legalization. The conflict seemed to come into a dead end.
However, there were also the activists that preferred talking aloud about the advantages of gambling legalized to keeping silence and doing nothing. They emphasized that, first, gambling might give sufficient amount of money to the state permanently, and, second, it was in the character of the people living in the South to gamble, which was the way they expressed their need to take risks.
Gambling should be legalized in Kentucky according to a number of reasons, the economical ones the first to consider. Mainly, these are the employment and the money lost due to the riverbank casinos that speak in favor of allowing gambling, but these reasons are sufficient enough.
Of course, the economical reasons are the first to take into consideration.
With all respect to the morals and the image of a true Christian, one cannot admit that the money that the government receives to sustain the decent level of the nation’s life as gambling is allowed will be tremendous.
One of the most often driven arguments of the supporters of gambling legalization argues that a grown-up person can decide on his or her own which way he or she is going to spend the money:
Supporters of legalized gambling often argue that adults should be given the freedom to spend their money on gambling and should not be presumed incompetent to make those choices. (Evans 127)
Indeed, since this is the right of an adult man to make the steps that he or she considers the most necessary at the moment, no one has the right to prevent the people from making these steps. Whatever could be said about the gambling being against morals, the things that go against the Constitution are counted for a more serious mischief.
Thus, the rules and laws that restrict gambling in the territory of Kentucky must be reconsidered and cancelled. The question of the rights and freedoms of people is something that cannot be argued, and the government has to count for that.
Moreover, the idea of gambling as one of the additional resources for the state treasury enriching sounds rather reasonable. A single idea of what these additional funds could be involved into to make the state develop further and become more advanced is already convincing enough for the governmental bodies to start acting in favor of gambling allowance.
Thompson (210) claims that Kentucky could survive on the racing bets only; such big is the input that the bets make into the well-being of the state:
Kentucky is the home of horse racing. More race-horses are born and bred in Kentucky than in any other state. The Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse race in The United States.
In addition, horse industry will allow creating the working places for the people that are unemployed now, and thus decrease the index of unemployment in the state. This might help to cope with the problems that the state is facing now.
In spite of the fact that the religious opponents are straight against gambling and its variations, they encourage the game called bingo, which is a form of gambling as well. If such game as bingo is allowed, why not letting people play the rest of the gambling games?
Thompson also claims that people were inclined to support the idea of making bets and having lotteries that were of a great entertaining element for the people who attended horse races and decent money for the governmental treasury to fill with. The money that could be won with such ease and used to improve the state of affairs in Kentucky was the manna that people were waiting for.
In 1988, 61 percent of the Kentucky voters said they wanted a lottery, and the next year one was established that offers instant games, lotto games, and number games as well as Powerball interstate lottery tickets. Charitable games also permitted. (Thompson 210)
Moreover, it should be born in minds that, due to the riverboat casinos in Indiana, people in Kentucky lose a great deal of money, which has to be stopped: “Indiana is the sixth riverboat gambling state and also the first state to permit gambling on the Great Lakes. The intent of the Indiana Riverboat Gambling Act also was to promote tourism and assist economic development” (Hsu 79). So the question is why doesn’t Kentucky follow this convincing example?
Taking everything that has been mentioned into account, it is needless to say that the gambling games are a source of income for Kentucky that should not be rejected. With all the drawbacks and challenging to the moral prejudice of the people, gambling is still a reliable source of money and a valuable venture that the state should take courage to undertake. In spite of the numerous “cons”, gambling is the integral part of the people of Kentucky. It is in their blood, as well as the urge to have some risks in their everyday life.
The legal gambling has some prospects to survive, though. The following prospects have been stated recently:
“In near future, debate will focus on whether to expand existing forms of gambling and whether to legalize new ones” (Ruschmann 120).However, the government is still uncertain of the steps that they are going to take to solve this problem.
Thus, whenever the government and the moralizing people think that gambling should be banned fro good, it is necessary to say that the government must think of the well-being of the state first and provide it with the basis for their wealth, Since gambling is one of the most useful means that the state can resort to, it must be allowed in Kentucky. And this will become the choice of a man whether to gamble or not. This is, to paraphrase a famous writer, the road that we choose.
Works Cited
Evans, Rod L., and Mark Hance. Legalized Gambling: For and Against. La Salle, IL: Open Court Publishing, 1998. Print.
Hsu, Cathy H. S. Legalized Casino Gaming in the United States: The Economic and Social Impact. New York, NY: Routledge, 1999. Peint.
Nelson, Michael, John Lyman Mason. How the South Joined the Gambling Nation: The Politics of State Policy Innovation. Baton Rouge, LA: LSU Press, 2007. Print.
Ruschmann, Paul. Legalized Gambling. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2008. Print.
Thompson, William T. Gambling in America: An Encyclopedia of History, Issues and Society. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC CLIO, 2001. Print.
Wetherby, Lawrence W., and John E. Kleber. The Public Papers of Governor Lawrence W. Wetherby, 1950-1955. Frankfort: KY: University Press of Kentucky, 1983. Print.