Abstract
Casino gambling is legal in Nevada and Atlantic City, New Jersey. Should other states follow their example? States seem to express slight moral concern about legalizing gambling, as witness the proliferation of lotteries and legal betting on horse races. Casino gambling is scarcely less moral than lotteries and horse racing, but it does have distinctive problems, notably a history of organized crime involvement and general shadiness. Neither Nevada nor Atlantic City offers a desirable model for other states considering legalization. Nevada's economy is thoroughly dependent upon the casino gambling industry, which dominates politics at every level. Atlantic City has enjoyed considerable prosperity as a result of casino legalization, but it has also experienced major problems, such as increased crime, higher housing costs, few jobs to local residents, and displacement of the elderly and poor. States considering legalization should not adopt Nevada's, New Jersey's, or England's qualification models. Instead, states should consider a resort-merit approach limiting number and location of casinos. Casino applicants would be selected on merit, after submitting proposals that include substantial information on corporate background and social and economic impact.
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