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Gambling has long been part of human culture and society. Over time it has taken various forms that are both harmless and sinful; respectable and corrupt; legal and illegal.
Back then, gambling would typically occur in a backroom of a saloon or behind an inn’s corner – however the modern casino has come a long way since those days.
Origins
Gambling’s history dates back millennia. People have gambled for millennia on everything from land and livestock to their own lives; even before there was currency available to bet with people would use items like astragali, small animal bones used for divination as betting chips.
Casinos have been around since the 17th century, although gambling existed prior to that. People would place bets privately in back alleys and drinking establishments before casinos came about.
Casino derives its name from Italian word for small clubhouse. Initially developed during the 17th century in Europe as more gambling houses opened up; over time however, gambling became less and less acceptable across societies.
Development
Casinos have emerged as a key driver of local economic development across America. Casinos provide three things that appeal to leaders in places like Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: revenue from taxes or payments dedicated exclusively for gambling purposes; jobs created; and the promise that comes with being part of an area’s redevelopment effort.
Initial consideration should focus on whether casino tax revenue will benefit the local community. Casino proponents claim that this revenue will reduce unemployment among original local population; however, this claims fails to take into account that casino taxes simply transfer income between groups; creating no new money in the economy but rather just shifting existing money between gamblers and state/local governments – leaving unemployment rates unaffected.
Regulations
Gambling has long been part of human civilization. Evidence can be found as far back as 2300 BC when wooden blocks were used for games of chance; dice first appeared around 500 BC; playing cards became popular around 800 AD. While gambling may be widely practiced today, many governments prohibit it for moral reasons.
At the turn of the twentieth century, moral conservatism spread throughout the US and casino gambling was made illegal in most places. Nonetheless, gamblers found ways to bypass laws, creating underground casinos.
In the 1980s, some states started offering programs designed to assist those suffering from compulsive gambling. The American Psychiatric Association officially acknowledged pathological gambling as a mental health condition in 1980; as part of this new emphasis on responsible gaming practices across the country, many problem gamblers received help.
Legality
Gambling has long been part of American life, dating back to its first European colonies in the early 1600s. Although gambling was discouraged by churches and governments alike, popular forms of entertainment like cockfights, foot races and lotteries arose as forms of betting to help fund universities and schools.
By the 1900s, church doctrine had taken on a more moralistic and conservative tone, leading many state governments to restrict gambling activities. Casinos continued their flourishing presence across Europe and North America despite these restrictions; Las Vegas emerged as a casino destination after Nevada legalized gambling officially in 1931 allowing more luxurious establishments with priority customer service provided by mobster leaders like Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel playing key roles in its development.
Social impact
Gambling is a widespread pastime throughout many cultures and is sometimes seen as harmless and acceptable, while at other times seen as corrupt and potentially hazardous to society. Attitudes towards gambling depend heavily on customs, traditions and religion.
Casinos are a major source of income for their local communities. Tourists who visit and spend money at casinos subsequently boost the businesses around them such as grocery stores and clothing shops, leading to additional business growth for local grocery stores, clothing shops etc. Additionally, casinos employ employees which has a positive economic effect in their region.
Gambling does have social costs. These costs include crime and bad debts. Furthermore, pathological gambling imposes its own costs; so much so that in 1980 the American Psychiatric Association recognized it as an official disorder; thus prompting efforts to help compulsive gamblers.
