phasize to younger children that gambling has to be done in a responsible fashion, and that there are some risks involved. These risks include financial loss, and psychological addiction. It is true that addiction can come about with almost any activity. I feel that gambling should not be singled out, and that the money spent on anti-gambling campaigns could be better spent on other issues such as drug awareness or cancer research. I also disagree with the statement that the culture of gambling undermines essential American values by making it seem like the good life is no longer earned by hard work and perseverance, but instead based on luck in games of chance. I feel that it does almost the opposite. We are constantly reminded of the astronomical odds of winning the state lottery or other games of chance. I always hear people saying, "Did you know that you are more likely to get struck by lightning than win the lottery?" This illustrates to me that people do not have a false sense of the odds. In addition, we are always listening to radio commercials reminding us to "play responsibly."So the question remains "What should be done?" I believe that the gambling industry should be allowed to continue expansion without too much regulation. I agree that the spending patterns of the American consumer are the best regulators of the industry. Along with every other industry, state lotteries and casinos should operate under the same normal consumer protections that are applied to all other industries. However, we can not deny that people can develop problems attributed to gambling. I believe for this reason it would be a good idea to expand research and treatment programs to help people who suffer from compulsive gambling disorders just as we have programs for alcohol addicts.Within the last twenty years, there has been a dramatic growth in gambling and casino development within our nation. Gambling is no longer considered an illeg...
