Hot Topic (5/25): Should Gambling Be Illegal?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Do you gamble?

If you do how much do you Gamble?

Should Gambling be legal everywhere or do you feel it hurts local economies?

Would you like a casino in your local neighborhood?

[rees630]

I am not a gambler, but I have seen firsthand the devastation that it brings to families to have a degenerate gambler in the family.  I think the number of gambling venues should be greatly limited.  Here where I live, OTB parlors are popping up everywhere, and I think the temptation for people with a gambling problem is just too hard to resist.

[christina0607]

Sure, I occasionally go to the casino. There are none near me, I have to drive maybe 2 hours to get to one. Which is good enough for me. I have no desire to have one closer.

I don't think casinos are to blame for people stupid decisions. So no I don't think they should be illegal.

[izzybear0217]

I go once every 4-6 months to a casino. I never spend more then $50. Its good entertainment for a couple of hours away from the kids. Its good for all of us the kids get to spend time w/ Grandma and Grandpa and mommy and daddy get time to relax and have fun. If gambling is out of control then its the persons fault not the casino. People need to be responsible.

[anxiousschk]

I think it's fine the way it is. 

It wouldn't be as fun to go to Vegas if gambling were everywhere. 

I don't gamble much...have only done it once on a cruise, in fact. 

 

[dr_m]

I don't care for it, personally, exc. maybe the lottery .. lol.. but it should not be illegal.

 

[Della529]

My daddy taught me to NEVER bet on anything I wasn't EXACTLY certain of winning.  I'm pretty good at poker (counting cards), but I have no desire to bet for anything other than match sticks.

Daddy, on the other hand, would place a $10,000 bet on one hand of poker or a high card draw, no problem.  But he, too, was good at knowing the odds (counting cards) and I don't know that he lost very often.  TO CLARIFY:  Daddy made enough through his real estate business so that it never brought harm to the family finances.

Gambling is a problem, but I don't think it should be illegal.  In fact, I think legalizing some forms of sports betting would tick off those who control illegal gambling (book making).

[lbranta]

Well we have casino's around here and I go once in a while, about once a month and spend a few hours playing the penny slots.  Spend 20 dollars, so don't see the problem there that for me is actually pretty cheap entertainment.  Gambling isn't bad in itself just that some people have a problem with it.  I don't think it should be illegal and unavailable to all just because some people have a problem with gambling.

[Friday]

 I don't gamble much at all and we are about 5 hours away from Vegas, a couple hours away from many Indian Casinos and 15 minutes away from a small casino.

I am opposed to laws against ANY consensual crimes. I simply don't believe it's the govts place to protect us from ourselves.

[EmptyNestMama]

I don't think they should be outlawed. I believe there are addictive personalitites. And if it's not gambling then it is something else.

Where I live they have Native American Casinos which is supposed to give money to the state. Then the state is supposed to use it for schools along with the state lottery money they collect. I honestly think the State should be watched with where the money goes. They are who is wasting the money! The Casinos bring in the money! The state gambles it away! LOL!

[cowgirlsr2]

If you can't control yourself than don't get near it.