How Gambling Influences Politics and the Economy

Gambling doesn't just affect those you do it but it also has an effect on politics and on the economy. When gambling became legalized, the sport began to grow especially in the later part of the 20th century. Most of the growth in the industry comes from the state legislation as well as the relaxing some of the regulation that used to restrict gambling. Gambling is seen as some as a sin and within most religions it is considered evil to gamble. It can do nothing more than set of harmful activity, financial ruination and harm to communities.

With these concerns in mind but not affecting any political decisions, gambling does come in two forms the legal and the illegal. There are three forms of gambling and they are classified as Lotteries, Casinos and Horse Racing. Legal Lotteries reappeared in the United States around 1965; the states of New York and New Jersey were the first two to hold them. By 2000, 38 states had joined into the lottery game and basically the revenue from the lottery tickets being purchased were earmarked for education in most states. Politicians allow lotteries since they do place monies into state level departments like education.

Lotteries are on different level than casino, New Jersey is a well known state for gambling and New York is not. Every state has a representative that is a part of Congress. Any new laws that are made regarding gambling are done on a state level. Any state that wants to become a legalized gambling state has to go through wheels of politics and once passed they must be regulated by a Gaming Commission, these departments will over see that the casinos are following the rules and regulations that have already been set up and a casino can be audited at any time, taxes must be paid and insurance must be carried.

As far as how gambling effects the economy, in the states that do not have legalized gambling it doesn't help at all. In the states that do have casinos like Montana, Nevada and New Jersey, casinos help the economy by employing hundreds of people. Everything from dealers, to waitresses and most casinos are hotels so think of the hotel staff and consider tourism to the state that has casinos, think Las Vegas, they are a real economic lift to the state. With the economy and politic influences from gambling, major cities that have casinos have a low tax burden as well as public and private investments.

Las Vegas is the exception and there may never be another gambling city as popular or as regulated when it comes to gambling as Vegas but in the meantime, as long as tourists and gamblers keep going to the casino, the more revenue the state has which is turn helps spark the economy. Gambling is here to stay and whether more politicians use this as a way to increase money into their state's revenue remains to be seen.