Whether or not to legalize gambling is a tough decision. The pros and cons of the question are almost equal, and while some say it will boost economy others say it can destroy it. No one argues that gambling is a big, profitable business, they only question whether it is a business doing good, or the opposite. Arguments both ways are very compelling and both sides have many examples that demonstrate their point. However, if I were in the position of deciding if gambling should become fully legal in my country I would side with gambling.
In many areas of the world gambling has proven an economic success. The growth in jobs, revenue and government money is too large to ignore. Although critics point out areas that have not grown since gambling started, this is mainly because of bad deals with the government or the community and not because of gambling itself. If we look at gambling as a gamble and be careful we can avoid many mistakes that have already been made. Opponents also tout the objectionable moral standards which gambling supposedly encourages.
While this may be true, that does not give people the right to stop others from gambling. Many find premarital sex and homosexuality to be morally wrong, but that does not give them the right to stop the behavior. If they find it wrong, then they choose not to participate in the practice. Similarly, people can choose not to gamble but they cannot take that right away from people who do. The economic growth in cities that support gambling has been astou! nding.
Billions of dollars a day come in through the casinos, and some of this money is then given to the government helping the economy even more. With the casinos also comes a huge amount of jobs. Construction, management, and many other jobs inside the casino boost local economy even more. Not only the casino benefits from the influx of more tourists but many other businesses will thrive, too. Hotels, restaurants, and others offering services will inevitably be boosted by the gambling business.
Some people fear that other, illegal businesses will thrive because of the influx of money in addition to the legitimate ones. This may be true if we kept the same amount of law enforcement, however this will not be the case. With the additional revenue created by the casinos themselves the local authorities can now afford to keep more policemen and deceives on the street and investigating the gambling businesses. Corruption will be effectively held in check and scandal hel! d down. The shadowy background of gambling will slowly disappear as citizens realize that it is a legitimate business.
In many areas of the United States gambling is already practiced with lottery and others of the same type. The stock market is also a form of gambling that no one objects about. The missed opportunity that not going with gambling is too large to be ignored and therefore the best choice is institute gambling. Economic gains by gambling are not the only consideration in this choice, one has to remember that many people want casinos near them. If the government is truly of the people and for the people it must follow the public’s wish to introduce legalized gambling.