Talk Elections

I'd have to say yes, though I am a bit concerned about its' impact on the poor.

I would definitely oppose the idea that gambling should be illegal based on moral reasons.

I was just wondering how much of a partisan correlation there would be.

I support people's right to make their own bad decisions.

It can also raise crime rates, though.

sNOOO

Yes---in Nevada.

Yes because if a state wants to go ahead and make that mistake then let them have it.

That's true, but I think proper zoning could help keep increases minimal.

I would want "truth-in-gambling" laws requiring the posting in a conspicuous and consistent manner of the house advantage.  I.e., "The house earns 23c of every $1 dollar bet on average." but otherwise, if people want to gamble let them, so long as it is regulated and taxed in a manner consistent with good governence.

Why?  If payout sucks at Casino A, and is good at Casino B, won't the market correct this on its own?

What he said.

Gambling is sweet...

Option 1, though anyone who gambles as a way of making money is a fool.

If you just simply enjoy gambling, that's fine, but in the long run you are guaranteed to lose money.

Wrong.

Poker and sports my man.

Well, that's true, if you wager with friends on these things, then you have, all else being equal, a 50% chance of victory. I was talking about going to a casino. Friendly gambling with another person gives you even odds.

Blackjack is the way to go to make money.  Get a good team together and let teh big numbers carry you away to profitability.

Not true. Believe it or not, there's people who gamble for a living(though they are a rarity). These people are pros too, they know how to gamble and win consistently. Also, even infrequent gamblers can make money in the long run if they know how. So, while possible to lose money in the long run, it's no gaurantee.

Well, that's true, it is possible to win. Not EVERYONE is guaranteed to lose, but obviously most people do, or else casinos would go out of business.

Don't gamble for money, it's a distraction, it's fun.  Like seeing a movie or going to an arcade.

Yes

Yes!

Football is so easy to bet on!

So far, I'm the only Dem to vote no.  

Actually, I don't really oppose gambling small amounts of money for a small potential pay-off.  I'm a fan of poker, both playing with friends and on TV.  

What I really hate are state-sponsored lotteries that are effectively regressive taxes...they encourage the poor to spend money they would be much better off saving in the hopes of a virtually non-existant million-dollar payday.  The government should not be taking advantage of people's desperation, and should not fund itself on the backs of the poor.

And even those few people who win the lottery don't in any way deserve it.  If society is going to allow a select few to become ridiculously wealthy, those people should at least have to work hard to earn their wealth.

I mean, if an elected official proposed a bill that said "let's take a couple million dollars out of our budget and give to a random single person for no reason,' who would be in favor of that?

Because a lot of people stink at math and either can't figure out the expected results or don't bother.  Truth-in-gambling would allow for people to make their own decisions and it is a lot easier for the house to calculate the odds once than having each player calculate the odds for himself.

I'm sorry, but isn't that subsidizing stupidity?
Besides, that would raise the costs to the casion, so the odds would lower even more.

But I think gambling should be legal yes. Everywhere whereit has been legalized it has largely benefited the economy. Las Vegas and Atlantic City are there for you to see for yourselves.
And yes, it it possibly to consistently win, you just have to know how to bet, and know the tricks. The reon most(I think 90%) of he people loose is because they are too stupid to bother to learn it.

Rep/yes.   Though I would place restrictions on where casinos could be located, I strongly support peoples' right to be stupid!

Go outside the casinos in A.City. That towns a dump.

It's in New Jersey, what would you expect? Still, it's way much better than it was before the legalization of gambling.

There are people who play Poker for money. If you know the best way to play and find people who don't and are willing to play you for largish sums, you'll usually gain money. There is a risk of losing, but if that qualifies as gambling then so does any business venture.

Exactly - life is all about gambling. Every time you decide to do one thing rather than another, you are taking a chance that you will make more(in money, enjoyment, or other form of gain) than you would by making a different decision. If you never take chances, you'll never get anywhere - but you can often make more by gauging the odds wisely.

The stock market is a gamble.

No it's not. That is just one of the stupid miths that have been formed around the stock market, and promoted by Wall Street so that the people think they can't make money and terefor trust the Brokers with what to do with their savings. Stock market is not gambling since you are creating wealth, as oposite to gambling, where nothing is created, and because in the long term the stocks' tendency is to go nowhere but up.

...at inflation levels.

In the last 40 years, S&P 500 medium return was arpund 10% a year. Medium inflation for that period is nothing near it.

The stock market is a gamble - but like any gamble a good gambler will profit from it. If you just willy nilly invest in random companies, you will likely fail, but if you look at companies carefully before you invest in them you will likely make a profit.

As a poker player, I support most gambling endeavors -- however, most people are too stupid to be responsible about it, unfortunatley.

Agreed.

An if you know the key and only bet on those games your system indicates, you can win a little more than you lose.

I did this for a year when I had cheap access to Vegas.

Won 56.8% of the time.  Paid for the trips to Vegas.

Carl,

You don't need to go to Vegas to place a bet on a Football game....LOL

As for the overall issue...OF COURSE Gambling should be legal everywhere in virtually every form. It's no different than Day Trading on the Stock Market or playing the Lottery.