The Europeans brought to America two distinct attitudes towards gambling; the relaxed attitude to gaming as a harmless diversion, and the Puritan stance that outlawed the possession of dice, cards and gaming tables even in private homes. Something of the same division survives today in American society, although most states now have some sort of legalized gaming. Even before the influx of Europeans into America the Native Indians already used forms of gambling at their ceremonies.

From the times of the earliest settlers gambling was seen as both the cause of social ills and a solution. Idleness and vice were blamed on gambling, and the English financiers of the colonies saw it as the cause of the settlers’ inability to support themselves. In the 16th century the financier of Jamestown in Virginia was permitted by King James I to hold a lottery to raise funds for the venture. All 13 original colonies had lotteries and playing even became a civic responsibility, the proceeds helping to establish the universities of Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, Princeton and William and Mary. Churches and libraries were built with lottery funding, as were other public works.

The first racetrack in America was built in 1665 on Long Island and casinos with card and dice games gradually developed in taverns and roadhouses along the routes west. Gambling and the frontier spirit have often been likened as expressing a spirit of adventure, opportunism and risk taking. New Orleans, with the South’s French, Spanish and Virginian relaxed attitudes towards gaming, became the gambling capital in the 1800s. Professional gamblers, who were frequently dishonest, caused a backlash against gaming, which was blamed for limiting economic growth, interfering with business, endangering the streets, a growth in crime and debasing the morality of society.

When lynching proved a successful way to discourage professional gamblers, most had moved onto the riverboats by the mid 19th century. With the arrival of the railways riverboat gambling became less profitable, and the next step was California where the gold rush was attracting large numbers of people. The gambling boom in that state was open to all, with no sex discrimination or colour bar. As society progressed towards a desire for respectability statutes to outlaw gambling were enacted and in 1891 the penalty for playing was made equal to the penalty for running a game.

Prohibition drove gambling underground while Nevada fluctuated between legalizing and banning gaming. After the Civil War the South reintroduced lotteries to fund rebuilding in the region, but by 1910 virtually all forms of gambling were prohibited in the United States. The Depression years caused another change in the attitudes of society towards gambling and Massachusetts permitted bingo to help churches and charities raise money for the many poor. Nevada legalized most forms of gambling in 1931.

State lotteries started to proliferate once again in the 1960s when tax increases were making administrations unpopular. In 1978 New Jersey licensed casinos in Atlantic City to regenerate the resort. Around the same time several Indian tribes in Florida and California began raising revenues by running bingo games. In 1988 Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and tribal casinos started to provide economic benefits for Native Americans. Gambling revenues have given the tribes better educational facilities, housing and much needed self-esteem.

The gaming industry in the United States continues to grow and change. It also continues to cause constant controversy between anti-gambling lobbies who only see the social ills, and the pro-gambling lobby who recognize the social benefits. Arguments and court cases still persist between the Indian tribes and the states that now want a bigger share of the gambling revenues. At any local, regional or federal election there is sure to be a gambling issue on the ballot. New technology makes gaming innovation a continuing process.

The gaming industry in 2005 is wide ranging – casinos, state-run lotteries, pari-mutuel betting, sports betting, Internet gambling, electronic gaming devices, charitable gambling, etc. From being a nation where legalized gambling was relatively rare, gaming activity is expanding fast and has become mainstream. Gaming companies have outgrown the mob-money slur and are respectable public companies. The future for the gaming industry looks to be a good bet. (E-01.12.05)

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