What if gambling was legal all over the United States? Neal Peirce reviews Sam Skolnik’s new book, "High Stakes: The Rising Cost of America’s Gambling Addiction" and looks at what might be the result of bills pending in CA and MA.
With state governments "...desperate for any new form of revenue", and chants of "No new taxes!" sweeping the land, Peirce says it is no surprise that states are considering gambling as a possible new income source:
"Already, government-countenanced (or directly run) gambling is at an historic high water mark. All but seven states have lotteries. Casino gambling, both state-countenanced and run by Indian tribes, is spreading like wildfire, especially in the Northeast. Each year at least half of America's states consider new gambling outlets," writes Peirce.
Skolnik's book warns of the deleterious effects legalized gambling can have on states and municipalities, looking at Nevada as an obvious example.
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