How much will gambling be integrated into American society?
I saw yesterday that Delaware is thinking of legalizing betting on pro and college sports. There’s a little trick—you can’t just bet on the outcome of the game, but, because they require every bet to contain an element of chance, you also have to bet on the outcome of a coin toss. Gimme the celts and heads, straight up. I don’t know if people really say that, since I don’t gamble, but it sounds cool.
This gave me the vision of a future where politicians are even more spineless than they are now (I know, hard to believe), and taxes are outlawed completely, and government is funded entirely through gambling. In fact, it becomes your citizenly duty to gamble, and every gamble must include a coin toss, and there is a master coin tosser, who is demonstrably incorruptible who tosses the magic coin once a year. This is the toss on which so many futures ride.
But seriously, how far can it go? How far do you think it will go? Would you rather see politician raise taxes than to rely more on gambling? Or are you happy to let your government be financed on the backs of those poor slobs who are addicted to the flop?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
7 Answers
Gaaah, reading this makes me think of The Lottery. Scary.
Gambling is already pretty well-integrated. The poor buy their scratch-off and Lotto tickets, there are casinos on Indian reservations and in some big cities like Detroit, there’s a horseracing cable channel that is designed for betting from the comfort of home, there are football and basketball pools in workplaces, and even the little old church ladies play their Bingo cards like pros. Needless to say, there’s Las Vegas and Atlantic City, whose fame is all about the slots, cards, and dice.
Perhaps we should wonder why Delaware is lagging behind the times.
That said, I can’t say that gambling will take the place in society that you’re afraid of. Taxes on things like income and capital gains are pretty secure sources of revenue, and although the government does grab a chunk out of gambling intake, I doubt they’d bet the whole enchilada on that kind of money. Too risky. ;)
Our government already is based on gambling. Its called the stock market, and apparently it is our duty as citizens to play into it, or the economy takes a tumble. Granted, no coins are tossed, but it is sufficiently incomprehensible to even the best of economists that its fortunes might as well be determined by the roll of a die.
Kentucky is fighting over gambling at the horse tracks. We already have paramutual wagering on horses, riverboat casinos, and the lottery. Maybe we need to integrate organ donation in a morbid game of spare parts roulette.
Louisiana has it’s fair share of gambling. Harrahs in New Orleans, Indian casinos, Lotto and horseracing just to name a few.
Any of you ever have an 83 year old woman look at you then loudly tell her 81 year old friend, “You see him? If I were 50 years younger I’d ride him off into the sunset like a horse.”? Then she looks back at you and says, “Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll definitely be back to see you again.” When that happens you realize that all “little old ladies” don’t just punch a bingo card. And if you thought the blue hairs and cue tips were aggressive with shopping carts in the store you should see ‘em when free money is offered up. Oh God… RUUUUUUN!!!
Sometimes I miss working in the casino.
My point is… bah, who cares about my point? You got a funny story out of it.
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
