Americans are gambling more than ever, poll says

[NVMojo]

wonder how this ties in with the current economic forecasts?

March 17, 2006

Americans are gambling more than ever and generally say they support state licensing of lotteries, casinos, horse and dog tracks and charitable bingo parlors, according to a new Scripps Howard/Ohio University poll.

For the first time, a majority of adults say they've placed at least one wager in a casino, while a third said they've gone to these betting parlors three times or more.

"The American public has accepted legalized gambling as a means to spend their money for entertainment," concluded Frank Fahrenkopf, American Gaming Association president and the Republican Party chairman during the Reagan administration. "People no longer have any problem with organized gambling."

Gambling opponents agreed.

"America is on a gambling binge. The more available and accessible it becomes, the more gambling is acceptable to people," said Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling. "But shouldn't government be encouraging people to save their money instead of encouraging them to gamble?"

more...

http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_national/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19860_4549492,00.html

[DJ MEW]

1. working hard isn't paying off

so people turn to gambling to find the pay off they deserve. the middle and lower class keeps struggling and the concept of easy money is too strong of a pull.

[MADem]

3. Yep, and since the feds aren't subsidizing at historical levels

states and municipalities are feeling more kindly towards anything save legalized drugs and prostitution to grab a few more tax dollars. Gotta pay the bills somehow....

[Warpy]

2. Let me say, I just don't "get" gambling

Sitting around feeding coins or bills into some machine and pushing its buttons seems like WORK to me, and I can't look at a roomful of slots being played by overweight old folks without thinking of BF Skinner and his pigeons.

However, I think gambling is increasing because people realize their only hope for any retirement at all lies in pure dumb luck. Yeah, they intellectually know the advantage is with the house and it probably won't happen, but that's all the hope that those of us over 50 still have. Luck.

Hard work sure didn't do it, nor did trying to save pennies from our declining wages. We know social security is under attack and those pensions we contributed to have long gone to fatten executives and cover the losses from their stupid decisions.

Gambling is the only retirement plan a lot of us have.

[ThoughtCriminal]

4. I'm not surprised - and there is a connection to *'s rise

Sometimes my friends will ask why I NEVER gamble. My answer:

Because I'm good at math.

Why would anyone think GOP economic policy makes any sense?

Because they are bad at math and believe in miracles.

[long_green]

5. Wow! Bill Bennett really is the Conscience of America.

who knew?

[NVMojo]

6. heh heh!!

[soothsayer]

7. Gambling increases when the economy is bad.