The debate about legalizing gambling in Texas has taken a center stage both in the senate as well as in the house of representative. It has also drawn mixed reactions from the members of the public. People who are for the gambling gaming has elicited their arguments while on the other side, proponents of gambling have also elicited for the gaming. The only falsity that has been in the debate is lack of mainstreaming the issue to the locals in terms of economic benefits or disadvantage and in terms of employment opportunities. This paper focuses mainly on the arguments for legalizing gambling in Texas. It also demonstrates this by analyzing the survey conducted by University of Texas Tribune Poll. Towards the end of the paper there will be a light discussion on the cons of legalizing gambling in Texas.
The survey
According to University of Texas Tribune Poll, majority of the voters are ready for legalizing of gambling in the state of Texas. The poll that was conducted earlier in April, 2011 indicates that there is consistency in the gambling. Most of the voters have argued that gambling is effective in raising the state’s revenue (Bill, 2011, print). According to the tribune, the support for gambling legalization has increased since the last time the poll was conducted in February, 2011. About 56% of the respondents argued that full gambling should be allowed in Texas. About 6% of the respondents agreed that gambling should be expanded in the state for the Indians while 12% of the respondents agreed that gambling should be expanded in the places where gambling gaming already exists (Bill, 2011, print). However, according to the Tribune Poll, 19% declined to give their view to whether gambling should be legalized. This percentage of individuals supporting gambling has increased up from 40% of the voters in the year 2011.
According to the survey, legislators have sorted to legalize gambling in major tourists destinations in order to shortfall the budget deficit. It is reported that the social welfare of individuals improved with advent of gambling (Ogwyn, 2011, print). For example, the survey indicated that individuals/persons living near casinos experienced a drop of 16% in payments made to the welfare. The payments rates of unemployment as well as insurance premiums of the unemployment were also reduced by the same percentage due to introduction of gambling gaming (Michalski, 2011, print).
The Tribune Poll also conducted a comprehensive survey among the employees of Texas casinos and found out that among 170 000 employees, about 16% used casino salary to replace benefits obtained from unemployment. Close to 64% of the employees were able to improve their access to the benefits of healthcare (Pressman, 79). There was also an increase in daycare benefits for the employees’ children by 42% while development of new skills improved by 65%. According to the survey, about 78% of the respondents/employees of casino indicated that their employers were able to conduct for them training in order to improve on their performance. The same survey attempted to analyze the impact of gambling into the market performance (Taggart, 75). The survey indicated that if the gambling can be placed in non saturated market then it is possible to obtain positive economic benefits. Most people surveyed associated legalization of gambling with employment opportunities, source of revenue to the state government, improvement of living standards as well as provision of various opportunities.
With the survey conducted it is imperative to have arguments of whether gambling should be legalized in Texas (Nichols et al, 90). For the legislature, this presents a gesture towards enabling the wishes of the majority who are the worst affected with the deficits experienced in the revenues as well as dramatic cuts in the budget. In such circumstances, gambling should be legalized in order to help savior the state’s economy. Through such savior Texas will also be able to fund different social programs in the region. The lotteries that are found within the gambling gaming are useful source of funds that can in turn be used to finance public schools (Nichols et al, 90).
The gambling game presents itself as appropriate way to fund state government. The senate as well as house should be able to legalize gambling in order to obtain revenue to fund the state. If appropriate bills are used, then there will be a possibility of getting a lot of money from the business that run gambling games like casino. The house or the senate should; however, take a precaution on limiting gambling to certain regions. Casino being a form of gambling is regarded immense in attracting tourist which is in turn elaborate in bringing more visitors in the country who will in turn increase the state revenue. So long as casino or any other form of gambling gaming is effective in creating the lucrative business then there is no reason to barring its legalization. ‘Saying no to gambling is by any means saying no to the country’s economic stimulus’ (Tanya, 301).
Gambling does not only play economic game in the state but will also play a major social role when legalized. Gambling is used as a pastime by most of its players. Just like baseball, gambling has also attracted very many players who make their way to casinos, horse racing grounds as well as participating in the lotteries. People meeting at the places of gambling are able to discuss and solve their social problems (McAuliffe, 369).
As much as gambling may have received supporting arguments, its opponents have cited various reasons to why gambling should not be allowed or legalized in Texas. Despite the fact that gambling amasses huge resources of money, it is viewed as the source of all problems that face the economy of Texas State. Instead of unifying the state’s economy, it only plays a role in creating diversity into the economic systems especially in terms of the projected future economy (Michalski, 2011, print). Proponents of gambling have argued that gambling is used to recover almost three quarters of the revenues of Texas through vacations that individuals undergo, and it is projected that the revenue is likely to increase by net billions if the gaming is legalized. Through this, it is possible as well as important to put into consideration that attracting national as well as international visitors through gambling would be important to the economy. If gaming is used to retain visitors for a longer period, it is no doubt that the increased expenditure in tourism areas will be used to improve the economy of the state (Joana et al, 728).
However, legalizing gambling may have some negative impact on economy as well as social impact on individuals. As the revenue of gambling is projected to increase, it is possible that revenue of other sectors related to gambling gaming may reduce drastically. For example, according to the Tribune Poll, on the negative impact of gambling, gambling such as casinos as well as horse racing has short term economic benefits. In cases where gaming has been in the place for so long, other business that are near the gambling businesses are bound to decline (Dunbar and Barret, 54). The negative effect of this will be experienced in terms of job loss as well as loss of revenues. Because gambling business is known to offer short term benefits, it is no doubt that it will be unable to offset the losses. ‘According to a survey by the University of Massachusetts, gambling does not increase the economy but merely shift the economy’ (Taggart, 91). It takes money from the established businesses such as automobile industries, clothing apparels, and sporting activities. They take the money and close the exit for the money (Taggart, 93).
Legalizing gambling for the purposes of earning revenue to the state may plunge the state into economic dilemma especially when the revenue obtained from gambling begins to decline (Bill, 2011, print). In this situation, the state might be forced to develop new mechanisms to revert the revenue back from the gamblers. This may lead to serious consequences as revenue would be obtained only from the lotteries that are expanded and promoted by the government. Legalizing gambling in Texas in that case is only important in bringing out other hidden expenditures. For example, gambling comes with addiction. This in turn means that the police will be on high alert on the consequences of addiction to gambling. Treatment to gambling will also mean additional expense to the state government. Legalizing gambling would mean increase in casinos which is embedded with negative gambling effect. The most adverse consequence is when money is siphoned from the mainstream economy (Nichols et al, 97).
Children who are addicted to gambling are increasingly getting addicted to drugs. According to the Tribune Survey, children in Texas are involved in gambling activity despite the law restricting gambling among children. The other reason for not legalizing gambling is that it might increase cases of corruption in the government. Members of the house as well as senate have always lined on the floor of legislature to receive contributions meant for campaigns against legalizing gambling. This act is in itself corruption among the government officials. These are the individuals that are supposed to uphold the morality of the constitution. Corruptible activities have also been witnessed in different attempts towards redefining gambling. Gambling industries have fuelled politicians with money in order to stop legalizing the gaming activity (McAuliffe, 379).
Gambling industry has also been associated with cases of crime. In a circumstance where gambling is allowed, it is no doubt that crime cases will be on the increase. More crime syndicates will be witnessed in the industry. It is no doubt that most of the monies channeled to the gambling industry are generated from the drug cartels. Most research indicates that such illegal cash are in the custody of casinos (Bill, 2011, print). This even makes it difficult to trace illegal cash. This translates to a form of organized crime in Texas if gambling is legalized. Legalizing gambling will also increase cases of immorality in Texas. Legalizing gambling is not in any way economic savior but a loophole that sucks financial as well as human resource that can otherwise be used in productive activities. The game of gambling may be ways of derailing economic as well as social well being of the society.
Conclusion
Proponents of gambling see a prospective development in legalizing gambling that includes employment, development in state’s economy, and increasing revenues. According to the survey taken by the University of Texas Tribune Poll, it is evident that majority are supporting legalization of gambling. It is for this reason that the constitutional amendment should be done to pave way for gambling in the state. Whether gambling should be legalized or not is a question left with the legislature. With appropriate legislation, it is possible to maximize the importance of gambling throughout Texas.
Works Cited
Bill, Beatty. Push to Expand Gambling in Texas an Uphill Battle, Newsletter, January 3, 2011.
Web. Retrived 11 April, 2012 from: http://calvinayre.com/2011/01/03/business/push-to-
expand-gambling-in-texas-uphill-battle/
Dan, Michalski. Texas Primed for Gambling Push: Casino Resort and Poker Bill on the
Legislative Agenda. Mechdawg Weekly, February 25, 2011. Web. Retrieved 12 April, 2012 from: http://www.legalizetexasgambling.com/texasgamblingarticles.htm
Joana, Saisan et al. “Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling.” Journal of Mental Health, 70,
(2001): 719-850. Print.
Mcauliffe, Winslow. “The State Sponsored Lottery: A Failure of Policy and Ethics.” Public
Integrity, 8, (2008): 367-379. Print.
Nichols, Mark et al, ‘Voting for Lottery.’ Public Finance Review, 34, (2006): 80-100. Print.
Ogwyn, John. Legalizing Gambling, Economic Boom or Social Burst? Retrieved 11 April, 2012
from http://www.legalizetexasgambling.com/texasgamblingarticles.htm, February 9,
2011.
Pressman, Steven. “Expanding the Boundaries of Economics of Crime.” International Journal of
Political Economy, 37, (2008): 78-100. Print.
Robin, Dunbar and Louise, Barret, The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.
Taggart, William. “Intergovernmental Relations and Native Americans Gaming.” The American
Review of Public Administration, 36(1), (2005): 74-93. Print.
Tanya, Settles. “Cashing In: A View of One’s State Experiences with Commercial Gaming and
Moral Hazard.” Public Integrity, 10(4), (2008): 301-316. Print.
