The Rise of Casino Gaming: A Historical and Ethical Perspective

Four waves of state-sponsored gambling categorize the history of gambling in America: state sanctioned lotteries; national lotteries; state-operated lotteries; and casino gaming, which is the most controversial (and extremely so). This article, made available by The World & I, explores how the four waves are categorized, as well as the ethical implications of gambling in the U.S.—both the ethics of sacrifice and the ethics of tolerance.