What is the impact of easily available legal gambling in the US?

Good question. I don’t really know the answer. I grew up close to AC so gambling has always been a normal part of life for me.
Though I never gamble myself, I understand odds too well and don’t have the money to just hand over to casinos :P

I think the legal is better than the illegal. At least it’s somewhat regulated and there are some protections. They probably won’t kneecap you if you lose a lot.

@Adirondackwannabe nah, ya just get kneecapped when you win a lot :P

@uberbatman I hadn’t thought of that angle. You’re probably right. What’s life with a limp if you have lots of money?

There’s finally somewhere to go on the weekend. And the pool is nicer – and cheaper – than the one at the local park.

Well, for those who have no idea how to control the gambling, it can be disastrous for them, and for tax payers who have to help them after they’ve lost all their money.

Even for those who can gamble under control, the gambling is taking up time they could be using to do something that would be better for humanity. Not that anyone owes humanity anything, but still, some activities are more productive than others, and that has an impact on all of us.

I have a lot of friends and co-workers that LOVE to gamble. One guy loved it so much we sent off for the Gamblers Anonymous packet! Seriously though, it’s just for fun and Oklahoma has some great ones. And you know, my friends are winners – lol

It’s ruined some nice places in rural California, but worse it has caused a spike in urban crime in some areas – more hookers, more street drug sales, worse traffic. And some of the tribes seem to manage the money well to the benefit of all the tribe members, but some of them are using the cover of Indian Gambling to make just a few people rich.