Реферат: Legalized Gambling Essay Research Paper Through the

jurisdiction made lotteries and all other forms of

gambling illegal by direct prohibition.4 Gambling had

become more and more a “low life” thing to do. These low

lifes, called “rowdies”, would bet or take a bet on

anything. Most tried to look different from everyone else

by wearing thick imitation gold chains, a dyed black

mustache, a velvet coat, and long hair.

New York City alone had about 30,00 people earning a

living from gambling in the 1890’s. The casino’s were

plush and usually had a buffet with alcohol. The

operation made a lot of money, most from cheating. Each

casino would hire “agents” to come in and claim winning

keno numbers, afterwards giving most of it back to the

casino. Counterfeit money was also handed out to the few

people who happened to win. Any protest from a loser and

he would end up with a black eye. Oscar Handlin said, “An

individual may sometimes take away substantial sums of

money, but in the long run the banker must win.”5

Essentially, gambling hurt society in the early years of

America. For the next 25 years, gambling became unpopular

again because of reports of cheating and changing American

values. Anything thought of to be harmful to society

became illegal. For example, alcohol became illegal by

Prohibition.

The reintroduction of gambling resulted in the return

of corruption and fraud. By the mid 1920’s, state after

state abolished its anti-gambling laws. Gambling had

become more and more accepted because of churches holding

bingo sessions and legitimate racetracks being built. In