It is difficult to forget the glittering lights, non-stop speed of Las Vegas’ strip when you think about gambling. Every day of the week, there are thousands of people waiting to win big at the blackjack and roulette tables. Gambling has been a subject that has provoked heated debates for a while. The history of gambling in the United States goes back far before Las Vegas.
Gambling dates back as far as the 17th century, when it was first introduced by settlers. As each settlement was founded by different British colonies members, the attitudes regarding gambling were different. The Puritans outlawed all forms of gambling, even dice, cards, and even private tables. It was frowned upon that anyone would make gambling their profession. The English, on the other side, saw gambling as a fun and harmless distraction from their daily lives and considered it a common pastime. The problem of the new colonies was eventually attributed to gambling. Acceptance of gambling declined.
Gambling was still very popular in the United States even though it had changed a lot since the 19th century. Lotteries were a popular method to increase revenue for the US. Lottery revenues were used to construct public buildings such as schools, churches, and other public facilities. Horse racing was another form that became popular in the 19th-century. Although not as big or organized as horseracing today, this was the first time we have seen gambling take on new forms.
Gambling was a part of American settlements as they moved west. It took on a more formal form in the shape of casinos. The goal of these establishments wasn’t to raise money for the community but rather to benefit those who made the long trek west. The 1800s saw a rise in moral criticism for gambling. Social reform led to the prohibition of most forms of gambling across the country. This was due to scandals at lottery houses and other permanent gambling casinos.
California was hit by the gold rush in mid 1800s. People wanted to spend their wealth, and gambling became their new favorite pastime. The state saw gambling flourish like wildfire and both the public and private sectors were dependent on the revenues. The anti-gambling sentiment spread to California eventually, and gambling was prohibited. While most forms gambling were illegal by the turn of the 19th Century, it didn’t stop people. This simply drove them away from the authorities.
Limits on gambling started to recede in the 20th Century. The public’s attitude toward gambling improved significantly after the Great Depression of 1930. The government began to view gambling as a way of stimulating the economy, and not as a criminal offense. These were the years that saw huge returns to gambling forms such as horse racing or bingo. Gambling as an industry was สมัครบาคาร่า created in Nevada by organized crime specialists during the 1930’s. When it comes to gambling, there is still a fine line that must be crossed between the legal political and the criminal world. Gambling other than government-regulated lotteries is illegal in most of the states. This country will see gambling differently, although there won’t ever be an agreement regarding the moral consequences of this practice. However, gambling will continue its evolution.