1. The states also have differing legal gambling ages, with some states requiring the same minimum age for all types of gambling, while for others, it depends on the activity. For example, in New Jersey, an 18-year-old can buy a lottery ticket or bet on a horse race, but cannot enter a casino until age 21.
2. Legality of different types of gambling in states and territories. Take a look at the table and you might be a little overwhelmed at first, but don’t worry, a second, slightly longer one will serve you well and keep you on the straight and narrow when attempting to gamble throughout the US.

The main difference between legal and illegal gambling is that legal gambling is monitored by government inspections agencies. But more people gamble because it is legal, and although the government collects taxes on jackpots, Indian casinos and lotteries, the system is highly subject to fraud.

Gambling online is illegal (federally), but this doesn’t stop people from doing it. And even though the Organized Crime Section of the Department of Justice found that “the rate of illegal gambling in those states which have some legalized form of gambling was three times as high as those states where there was not a legalized form of gambling,” we still believe that gambling is a drain to society. Here are our Top 5 reasons why.

As you can see, gambling is a part of human life, and we as a species have invented a way to place a wager on the outcome of just about anything. Just as with drinks, sports, travel, or anything else people do for fun, there are different “strains” or “types” of gambling to suit different tastes and types of players.

Reasons why gambling should be illegal

1. Gambling is subject to fraud.

Legalized gambling, specifically Indian gaming, is the fastest growing industry in the world, and can have a corrupting influence on state government. The governments are addicted to the revenue received from Indian gaming and lotteries. Recently there have been numerous news reports of corruption and fraud in state lotteries.

2. Availability of gambling facilities increases risk of problem gambling.

Legalized gambling makes this activity available to too many people. Governments and casinos portray this as a harmless form of entertainment. Because of the availability of legalized gambling, it is more addictive and destructive than most other addictions.

Furthermore, most citizens would not gamble illegally. Legalized gambling, therefore, entices people to gamble, who normally would not gamble at all. In states with different numbers of games, participation rates increase steadily and sharply as the number of legal types of gambling increases. In fact, legalized gambling in various states has not been a competitor to, but rather has become a stimulator of illegal gambling.

The public is assured they have the potential to win a huge jackpot. All that is required is to drive to the casino or purchase a lottery ticket. Because of the availability of gambling, many gamblers become addicted and compulsive. Interested in how to quit gambling? Read more here.

3. Problem gambling costs society billions annually.

The social costs of gambling addictions will eventually impact careers, physical and mental health issues, bankruptcy, divorce, crimes, and treatment. The gamblers will eventually rely on welfare or unemployment benefits, impacting the government, and the costs could reach several billions of dollars per year.

4. Gambling exploits the poor.

Evidence shows that legalized gambling often hurts and even destroys, especially those who are poor and disadvantaged. If gambling were illegal, the gambling venues would not be able to promote their lotteries, casinos, or other forms of betting and exploit people who are most vulnerable.

5. Gambling sets a double standard for governments.

State lotteries are argueably an effective way to raise taxes. Legalized gambling is a disturbing governmental policy. Governments should promote desirable qualities in the citizens and not seduce them to gamble in state-sponsored vice. When this occurs, the government contributes to the corruption of society.

Legalized gambling is a bad social policy. At a time when independent organizations estimate that there are at least 12 million compulsive gamblers, it does not make a lot of sense to have the state promoting gambling. State sponsorship of gambling makes it harder, for the compulsive gambler to reform.

Compulsive gambling costs

In addition to the above reasons for making gambling illegals, are the economic costs that gamblers themselves incur. The average compulsive gambler has debts exceeding $80,000. Additionally, compulsive gamblers affect the lives of family, friends, and business associates. Some of the consequences of gambling include marital disharmony, divorce, child abuse, substance abuse, and suicide attempts. Other social costs surface because of family neglect, embezzlement, theft, and involvement in organized crime.

Crossing our fingers or wishing on a star will not guarantee a win. The only guarantee is, if a person is a compulsive gambler and continues to gamble, the end result is prison, insanity, or death. Whether gambling is legal or illegal, there will always be gamblers. Wanna bet?

Reference sources: Probe [dot] org

Dr. Robert L. Custer was the psychiatrist and medical doctor who first identified 6 categories of gambling ‘types’. These types vary from low to moderate and high risk habits. He also advocated for gambling addiction to be treated in the same way as a disease.

Custer believed that the basis of gambling addiction stemmed from a sense of rooted sorrow and the fear of death; he asserted that addictive gambling was a method of escaping pain, rather than a method of seeking monetary gain or recreational/social pleasure.

It’s important to state that not all of the forms of ‘gambler’ listed here are of an addictive nature. Most gamblers are actually ‘casual social gamblers’ who have a very small chance of developing a serious gambling problem.

According to a previous Gambling Commission report, 51% of Britons aged 18 to 24 take part in some form of gambling activity, with an ever increasing number of young people gambling. Yet, studies suggest that only 3-5% of those who do gamble have a serious problem with it.

The Six Types of Gambler

1. Professional Gamblers consider gambling to be an occupation. They do not consider themselves to have an addiction. These type of gamblers rely on calculations and statistics; they pick bets or games that they believe will win more frequently. However, even those who consider themselves to be professionals understand the inevitable risks and losses that come with gambling and eventually, they often progress into a more casual or social category of gambling – which carries less risk.
2. Antisocial Personality Gamblers are persons who may have an antisocial personality disorder. They are more likely to illegally fix bets, and they are occupied with the illegal side of gambling. This type of gambler may have a history of unlawful behaviour and is characterised by deceitfulness, manipulation, lack of remorse, glib charm, impulsivity, irritability and aggressiveness.
3. Casual Social Gamblers bet infrequently. For this category, gambling is just one of many forms of recreational activities. This type of gambler will have a variety of other hobbies and interests and will rarely develop problematic gambling habits. Often, if this type of gambler develops an addictive relationship to gambling, it is due to a traumatic event or big win.
4. Serious Social Gamblers consider gambling to be a primary source of entertainment. This kind of gambler can control their gambling habits, however they have an increased chance of developing more detrimental gambling habits following a traumatic event, a big win or from raised levels of stress and anxiety at work or in relationships. You could liken this type of gambler to a ‘football fanatic’.
5. Relief and Escape Gamblers bet to escape feelings of anxiety, depression, boredom, anger or loneliness in their personal or professional life. Often this kind of gambler displays more control than the compulsive gambler. Gambling acts for them as an emotional relief from the underlying feelings of trauma that they cannot verbalise. This type of gambler tends to be highly vulnerable, and the negative elements of their social or work life may lead to ‘chasing’ – an indicator and attribute of compulsive gambling.
6. Compulsive-Pathological Gamblers have lost any element of control over their gambling habits. These persons are classified as having a pathological disorder. When gambling becomes an addiction the individual is highly likely to develop other substance abuse habits such as drug and alcohol abuse. They will experience altered moods, feel guilt and remorse about their habits, and often they will tie their self-worth to losses and wins.

What States Is Gambling Illegal

Despite the negative consequences that arise from compulsive gambling, it is highly unlikely that the individual will be able to break the cycle of addiction without treatment.

All gambling providers must offer the ability to ‘self-exclude’. This is a voluntary act of barring which usually lasts between six months and two years. This scheme aids those who are worried about their gambling habits and it can even be done with online gambling sites.

In the period of October 2013 to September 2014, the Gambling Commission reported that 28,844 people in Great Britain were seeking ‘self-exclusion’ to quit cold turkey on dangerous gambling habits. 21,002 of these breached their own self-exclusion and 5,802 of these cancelled their self-exclusion after the minimum period.

Problem gambling occurs when the effects of gambling begin to interfere with your life.

Common signs of a problem are: money worries, stress at work and at home, arguments with friends and family, unhappiness and lethargy.

This list is not exhaustive though; for more information on identifying compulsive gambling addiction, symptoms and how to help a loved one, our very own Louise Petty wrote an informative article on how to provide help for someone with a gambling problem.

Further Resources:

Illegal Gambling Types Crossword Clue