NationStates Jolt Archive

With the shortlist of candidate cities now complete for the UK's first 'super casino', is it right for the Government to restrict access to gambling? Anti gambling organisations believe that it should be banned as it causes all kinds of social problems; pro-gambling groups say that it is not the responsibility of the State to tell people what they can and can't do, and if people don't want a casino then they simply won't go to it.

Is restricting gambling a step too far by the Nanny State or a sign of responsible Government?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/5010504.stm

Humans have certain tendencies that can be counter productive in modern society. Possibly because humans evolved in an environment where even for young people there was at least a 3% chance you would die each year. This made risky behaviour more worthwhile back then than it does now. Whatever the causes, many humans have a tendency to gamble more than is good for them and to not save enough for their old age. I say solve both problems with one stroke. Either tax gambling to pay for old age pensions or require a quater of winnings to go into personal retirement accounts. That way people can still gamble if they want while solving social problems that may result.

I think that the main problem with gambeling is that the peopls who do it all too easily get addicted to it. Many gambelling addicts lose the money that would otherwise have been spent on their families. small amusement arcades aren't too bad because its harder to lose so much, but the big casinos are where people go to gambel large sums of money.

I rekon they should be banned.

I think that the main problem with gambeling is that the peopls who do it all too easily get addicted to it. Many gambelling addicts lose the money that would otherwise have been spent on their families. small amusement arcades aren't too bad because its harder to lose so much, but the big casinos are where people go to gambel large sums of money.

I rekon they should be banned.

10 EUR/day in a small gaming parlour or going to a bigger casino with 1000 EUR twice a year?? Whats really a larger sum?? Will people be more satisfied with a small 'vacation' to a big casino or another dull evening pulling the lever at Joys Spielotek?

It isn't that these people are planning for the future because they can gamble, its because they simply aren't planning for the future. If there wasn't a casino they'd spend it on some other diversion.

How many people will have money to save for the future from getting a job at a new casino?

There is no need to add an extra tax, or mandate what they do with the winnings. If they spend the winnings then they pay a general tax on whatever they buy, they also help pay the salaries of other people who pay taxes into the social welfare systems.