NCJ Number
43818
Date Published
1974
Length
95 pages
Annotation
AN INQUIRY INTO LEGALIZED GAMBLING IS PRESENTED, EXAMINING THE GAMES, GAMBLING AND PUBLIC REVENUE, GAMBLING CRIME AND CORRUPTION, SOCIAL COSTS OF LEGAL GAMBLING, AND THE FEDERAL GAMBLING LAW.
Abstract
WITH REGARD TO LEGALIZED GAMBLING, THIS STUDY SEPARATES FACT FROM FICTION IN SOME OF THE FINDINGS. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PUBLICIZED EXPECTATION THAT THE LEGALIZATION OF GAMBLING WILL PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR STATE TREASURIES, SINCE THE AMOUNTS WOULD NOT BE LARGE ENOUGH. ALTHOUGH LEGALIZED GAMBLING MAY BE VIEWED AS A USEFUL WEAPON IN COMBATING ILLEGAL GAMBLING ACTIVITY IN SOME INSTANCES, IT DOES NOT SERVE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR A BROAD AND SUSTAINED ASSAULT ON ALL ASPECTS OF ORGANIZED CRIME. LEGALIZED GAMBLING PROBABLY CANNOT SERVE THE DUAL OBJECTIVE OF REVENUE PRODUCTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE STUDY INDICATES THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BENEFITS OF LEGALIZATION ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE REVENUE POTENTIAL. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT ENGAGE DIRECTLY IN THE GAMBLING BUSINESS, SINCE ANY GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF SUCH ACTIVITIES. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT SOME STATE OR LOCAL GAMBLING WILL BE LEGALIZED FOR REVENUE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES, FEDERAL AND STATE TAX LAWS SHOULD BE REFORMULATED SO THAT TAXATION DOES NOT PENALIZE LEGAL GAMBLING IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CANNOT COMPETE AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.