Changing the age of gambling Essay Example for Free

Changing the age of gambling Essay Everyone has gambled something in their life; it could be betting your baseball cards to see who can eat the most slices of pizza, or who is paying for soft drinks as each races to the nearest QuikTrip when you were kids. But why at the age eighteen, when we are considered adult citizens, do they restrict our rights to gamble in most casinos? If they restricted our rights to gamble, what would be next on their agenda? We need to put a stop to it now, by taking that step to re-evaluate the gambling age at twenty-one. The legalization of gambling at the age of eighteen would bring unity throughout the states, state revenue, and job opportunities. If the United States legalizes the age of gambling to eighteen it would unify all the states and discard all confusion about the age of gambling. Our neighbor from the north, Canada, has legalized gambling to the age of eighteen and prospered vastly from it. Currently, there are casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, etc. that are for the ages of twenty-one. But on the contrary, there are currently casinos on cruises and Indian reservations that are for the ages of eighteen (United 22). If America wanted to set an example for all the countries around the world, they must show more consistency with their own policies. Changing the age of gambling uniformly throughout the states has more benefits than disadvantages. The main argument against changing the gambling age was the addiction that it would bring to the people. The addiction of gambling would ruin lives and bring separation between their families (Morris 14). But why all of sudden does the government care about ruining peoples lives and separation between families? Take for instance, all the lives the government ruined through wrongfully accusing victims that are sitting in prison for no apparent reason. Also, look at how unjust that as an eighteen year old adult can serve for our country and risk their lives by being separated from our family but are still not allowed to gamble. The government does not need to put so much restriction on the minor problems, with this resolution it would allow them to focus on the major issues in the United States today. The unification of the gambling age like Canada has vastly increased the economy with casinos. Gambling in Canada has a net economic benefit that was equivalent to $3. 044 billion in 1995, up from $526 million in the 1990 economy (Council 3). Casinos in Las Vegas made $6. 1 billion in revenue since the first one opened (Council 5). Las Vegas revenue would easily triple if the legal gambling age was changed to eighteen. There tends to be casinos on Indian reservation that was for eighteen year olds and seemed very busy. Not only do they make money, but a large amount of the money was made from eighteen year olds who are attracted from surrounding cities according to one of the blackjack dealers. When the Aztar Casino opened up in Evansville, Indiana, gambling opponents feared that it would increase crime rates and encourage prostitution in the state. One would almost say that they were disappointed when their prophecies didnt prove true (Morris 19). The statistics have failed to support either the claim that the casino has caused a crime increase or any other negative expectations. As more states allowed gambling casinos in the past decade, the consensus was that casinos lowered the crime rate in the communities in which they were located. Lobbyists, developers and management pointed to studies showing dips in the crime rate after a flurry of casino construction in the 1990s (Morris 19). Casinos would become busier with the change of age to legally gamble and in return hire more positions. The gambling industry has become a major employer in most provinces in Canada, employment in the gaming industry increased from 11,900 to 39,200, an increase of 330% (Earl 7), and in Las Vegas every casino has at least 4000 employees (Earl 8). According to the 2000 census, there are about 1. 1 million eighteen year olds in the United States. Casinos would gain more business and hire more employees because of the increased business. People gambled for a variety of reasons, whether for a break from their daily lives, the thrills of the chase, or the challenge of beating the odds. Gambling should not be restricted to a certain age or to a certain area. If we legalized the age of gambling to eighteen we would bring unity throughout the states. Changing the gambling age to eighteen could maximize the states revenues through people being employed and people constantly visiting. There should be a change of the gambling age to eighteen because this policy would restrict and violate our rights as citizens within the United States. Works Cited Council of State Governments, Gambling; A Source of State Revenue Lexington: RM, 1973. Earl L. Grinols, Gambling in America: Cost and Benefits New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Morris Ploscowe and Edwin J. Lukas, Gambling: American Academy of Political and Social Science Philadelphia: Annals, 1950. United States Congress: Senate- Select Committee on Indian Affairs, Gambling on Indian Reservations and Lands Washington D. C. : G. P. O. , 1985.