NCJ Number
43189
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 58-59
Date Published
1977
Length
2 pages
Annotation
THE OCTOBER 15, 1976 FINAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON THE REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL POLICY TOWARD GAMBLING MAINTAINED THAT, AS IT IS A SOCIAL ISSUE, GAMBLING POLICY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STATE GOVERNMENTS.
Abstract
A COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1974 AS THE BASIS FOR THE COMMISSION'S REPORT FOUND THAT 61 PERCENT OF THE ADULT POPULATION HAD PARTICIPATED IN SOME FORM OF GAMBLING, EITHER SOCIAL, LEGAL, OR ILLEGAL, DURING THAT YEAR. NEVADA LEAD THE NATION IN AMOUNT AND FREQUENCY OF GAMBLING, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT WIDESPREAD AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL GAMBLING INCREASES THE GAMBLING POPULATION AND RATE OF PARTICIPATION. NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED FAVORED LEGALIZATION OF SOME FORM OF GAMBLING,AND FINDINGS SHOWED THAT PARTICIPATION IN ILLEGAL GAMBLING IS GREATER IN STATES WHERE LIMITED GAMBLING IS AVAILABLE THAN IN STATES WHERE ALL GAMBLING IS ILLEGAL. THE COMMISSION IDENTIFIED AND EXPANDED UPON SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF GAMBLING WHICH AFFECT THE JUDGMENT OF STATES IN SETTING GAMBLING POLICY; NUMBERED AMONG THESE SOCIAL ISSUES WERE GAMBLING AND THE WORK ETHIC, GOVERNMENT AS GAMBLING ENTREPRENEUR, REVENUE VERSUS CRIME CONTROL, PRACTIBILITY OF REGULATION, AND CREATION OF NEW GAMBLERS. HIGHLIGHTS OF 21 OF THE COMMISSION'S MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LISTED, INCLUDING: (1) ENACTMENT BY CONGRESS OF A STATUTE ENSURING THE STATE'S CONTINUED POWER TO REGULATE GAMBLING; (2) GREATER USE OF CIVIL REMEDIES AGAINST GAMBLING OFFENDERS ON THE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; (3) CREATION OF SPECIALIZED GAMBLING UNITS IN STATE AND CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS; AND (4) REMOVAL OF STATE STATUTORY PROHIBITIONS AGAINST PUBLIC SOCIAL GAMBLING.