NationStates Jolt Archive

Nevada, with its tax base largely set on the idea that people will come to Nevada and give us their money for no reason, has been hit very, very hard by the economic downturn. With money tight, less folks are willing to come to Vegas or Reno to give us their money. The rise of Indian gaming has also had a large effect as most slot feeders would rather drive just down the road to an Indian casino than come in to Reno to feed the hungry slot machines.

The solution to this problem, according to some of the casino execs and the Nevada Gaming Commission, would be to lower the age in Nevada for gaming from the current 21 to 18. The hope is that enough 18-year-olds would make up for the declining revenue from everyone else.

Ignoring the income issue right now, what's everyone's opinion on lowering the age to gamble? Personally... I don't see it as being a very good idea. It's very, very easy to lose yourself to the game and a lot of the slots are built to mimic video games now. I can see some targeted games for the 18-year-old crowd that would quickly separate them from their money. This of course happens to everyone, but I'm worried about the segment of that population that won't stop or won't know when to stop.

In Finland, the age limit to gamble is 18.

They need to drop the drinking age too.

I don't reallt see a big problem with this, and it has always struck me as odd that in the USA you can vote, drive, marry and serve in the armed forces when you are 18 but can't drink or gamble till your are 21

In Finland, the age limit to gamble is 18.
Is Finland covered in casinos with slot machines in supermarkets and convenience stores?

Is Finland covered in casinos with slot machines in supermarkets and convenience stores?

Well, no. But still the gambling, drinking etc ages are 18

If Las Vegas is not sustainable then let it die. At some point it will have to face up to internet gambling whatever its legal status in the US.

Nevada, with its tax base largely set on the idea that people will come to Nevada and give us their money for no reason, has been hit very, very hard by the economic downturn. With money tight, less folks are willing to come to Vegas or Reno to give us their money. The rise of Indian gaming has also had a large effect as most slot feeders would rather drive just down the road to an Indian casino than come in to Reno to feed the hungry slot machines.

The solution to this problem, according to some of the casino execs and the Nevada Gaming Commission, would be to lower the age in Nevada for gaming from the current 21 to 18. The hope is that enough 18-year-olds would make up for the declining revenue from everyone else.

Ignoring the income issue right now, what's everyone's opinion on lowering the age to gamble? Personally... I don't see it as being a very good idea. It's very, very easy to lose yourself to the game and a lot of the slots are built to mimic video games now. I can see some targeted games for the 18-year-old crowd that would quickly separate them from their money. This of course happens to everyone, but I'm worried about the segment of that population that won't stop or won't know when to stop.

Shit man no that's a bad idea.

I don't know really. My opinion might be too biased to really have a sound opinion on the issue, as anti-gambling as I am.

I don't really care about Nevada. I don't understand people's love of Las Vegas. To me, it's the capital city of tacky.

Shit man no that's a bad idea.

Why?

That's a bad idea. I live in Nevada, yes the gambling machines are built like video games, but...

but I'm worried about the segment of that population that won't stop or won't know when to stop.

Heh. We're talking about a group that may not know when to stop either. I remember when I was 18. The maturity level is....well it leaves something to be desired, then throw video game like gambling. Big mistake.

Why?

You mean you can't see it?

How many 18 year olds have an adult grasp on their personal finances, now throw in gambling, which you know can be a little adictive.

Nevada, with its tax base largely set on the idea that people will come to Nevada and give us their money for no reason, has been hit very, very hard by the economic downturn.

At least your downturn started recently, not in 2001...

As for gambling ages, it's 18 in Michigan. In my hometown it's traditional for kids to go to the tribal casino when they hit 18, much in the same way it's traditional to go to Windsor for boozing on one's 19th birthday.

At least your downturn started recently, not in 2001...

As for gambling ages, it's 18 in Michigan. In my hometown it's traditional for kids to go to the tribal casino when they hit 18, much in the same way it's traditional to go to Windsor for boozing on one's 19th birthday.

Seriously though, you're talking about a Tribal casino. It's diffrent in Nevada though. Gambling machines are in almost every store, every filling station, and every bar/resturant. It's an ever pervasive industry.

You mean you can't see it?

How many 18 year olds have an adult grasp on their personal finances, now throw in gambling, which you know can be a little adictive.

Well maybe if 18 year olds were treated a bit more like adults they would be able to act a bit more like adults.

However, what are the rates of addiction for young people?

And, no I can't really see it when I live in a country that allows it from 18 and while there is some problem gamblers it isn't that high.

Seriously though, you're talking about a Tribal casino. It's diffrent in Nevada though. Gambling machines are in almost every store, every filling station, and every bar/resturant. It's an ever pervasive industry.

All of our casinos are tribal casinos. Of course, Nevada is quite different in the pervasiveness of their gambling industry. In Michigan I don't mind the gambling age being 18. In Nevada I may be a bit more cautious about it.

Well maybe if 18 year olds were treated a bit more like adults they would be able to act a bit more like adults.

However, what are the rates of addiction for young people?

And, no I can't really see it when I live in a country that allows it from 18 and while there is some problem gamblers it isn't that high.

Another factor needs to be considered

Maturity level of 18 year olds in Finland compared to maturity level of 18 year olds in the states. Maybe a diffrence. *shrugs* I don't know that many 18 year olds in Europe though.

Well maybe if 18 year olds were treated a bit more like adults they would be able to act a bit more like adults.

However, what are the rates of addiction for young people?

And, no I can't really see it when I live in a country that allows it from 18 and while there is some problem gamblers it isn't that high.

Yeah gambling is allowed in the UK from 18, but we don't have the USA type massive casinoes over here.

As to addiction rates of young people, well I wonder which age group buys more MJ, or E?

Yeah gambling is allowed in the UK from 18, but we don't have the USA type massive casinoes over here.

As to addiction rates of young people, well I wonder which age group buys more MJ, or E?

What's MJ and E? And if they are drugs, that is different if we are talking about gambling addiction. When drugs are easier to get and more of your peers are using it and are able to access it from a much younger age that surely says something aboue it.

Nevada, with its tax base largely set on the idea that people will come to Nevada and give us their money for no reason, has been hit very, very hard by the economic downturn. With money tight, less folks are willing to come to Vegas or Reno to give us their money. The rise of Indian gaming has also had a large effect as most slot feeders would rather drive just down the road to an Indian casino than come in to Reno to feed the hungry slot machines.

The solution to this problem, according to some of the casino execs and the Nevada Gaming Commission, would be to lower the age in Nevada for gaming from the current 21 to 18. The hope is that enough 18-year-olds would make up for the declining revenue from everyone else.

Ignoring the income issue right now, what's everyone's opinion on lowering the age to gamble? Personally... I don't see it as being a very good idea. It's very, very easy to lose yourself to the game and a lot of the slots are built to mimic video games now. I can see some targeted games for the 18-year-old crowd that would quickly separate them from their money. This of course happens to everyone, but I'm worried about the segment of that population that won't stop or won't know when to stop.

I love the bolded section..."we didn't plan for anything bad to ever happen, so let's exploit young people to make up for our own shortsightedness"

As much as I don't like the idea, however, I don't have any objections. 81 year olds tend to be just as dumb, if not dumber, than 21 year olds when it comes to gambling, so I see no reason to deny 18 year olds the chance to be just as stupid.

All of our casinos are tribal casinos. Of course, Nevada is quite different in the pervasiveness of their gambling industry. In Michigan I don't mind the gambling age being 18. In Nevada I may be a bit more cautious about it.

Well I consider the gambling industry in Nevada being really pervasive a bit like Pavlo's salvating dog, the industry really knows where to target people to drop money. Of course they nag people with kids, that they need to keep their kids away from the machines. But seriously, a young kid seeing the blinking lights and thinking it's like a video game when it's not. Not sure what the lowest addiction age is, but I am willing to bet the purvasiveness of the industry doesn't help. I agree about the pervasiveness of the industry would make me very leery in lowering the gambling age in Nevada.

What's MJ and E? And if they are drugs, that is different if we are talking about gambling addiction. When drugs are easier to get and more of your peers are using it and are able to access it from a much younger age that surely says something aboue it.

Hah and you can't see the same being true for gambling?

Hah and you can't see the same being true for gambling?

Not to the same extent no.

So what is MJ? I know what E is.

3% of Nevada's population has a gambling addiction, this is opposed to the 1% that is within the general population of the US as a whole.

When I read about this, my first thought was the credit card companies who came on campus to target the incoming freshmen. 18-year-olds who just had become legal adults and able to sign as an adult. They promised gifts and free money, what they didn't tell you was how badly you could screw up your life for a very long time. I found THAT part out the hard way.

The credit card companies have NOTHING on the casinos of Nevada.

What's MJ and E? And if they are drugs, that is different if we are talking about gambling addiction.
I presume Peepelonia is referring to marijuana and ecstasy. If so, given that those two substances in particular are regularly named as potentially leading to a psychological dependency in their users, the comparison with gambling is reasonably apt (since gambling addiction is also a psychological dependency).

The question here seems -- yet again -- to be one of the legal definition for a threshold age for 'adulthood', just like the well-worn "old enough to die in the armed forces, old enough to vote" argument. In my most simplistic moments I don't care whether we're talking about age of consent, age to marry, age to drink, age of majority, age to drive, age to gamble or any other arbitrary restriction... if there are practices that are to be restricted to adults only, then a single 'coming of age' should be put in place. Doing so would render little debates like this one unnecessary.

The credit card companies have NOTHING on the casinos of Nevada.
Can't argue with this.

You mean you can't see it?

How many 18 year olds have an adult grasp on their personal finances, now throw in gambling, which you know can be a little adictive.

18 year olds already have total control over their personal finances. They get paid as as adults, they can get loans and mortgages. They can waste their money on any number of other things, how is gambling really that different?

18 year olds already have total control over their personal finances. They get paid as as adults, they can get loans and mortgages. They can waste their money on any number of other things, how is gambling really that different?Sure, but gambling can be addicting. Mortgages less so.

Not to the same extent no.

So what is MJ? I know what E is.

The Municipal Journal - a highly addictive mix of local government news and public sector jobs. Maybe not....

Nevada, with its tax base largely set on the idea that people will come to Nevada and give us their money for no reason, has been hit very, very hard by the economic downturn. With money tight, less folks are willing to come to Vegas or Reno to give us their money. The rise of Indian gaming has also had a large effect as most slot feeders would rather drive just down the road to an Indian casino than come in to Reno to feed the hungry slot machines.

The solution to this problem, according to some of the casino execs and the Nevada Gaming Commission, would be to lower the age in Nevada for gaming from the current 21 to 18. The hope is that enough 18-year-olds would make up for the declining revenue from everyone else.

Ignoring the income issue right now, what's everyone's opinion on lowering the age to gamble? Personally... I don't see it as being a very good idea. It's very, very easy to lose yourself to the game and a lot of the slots are built to mimic video games now. I can see some targeted games for the 18-year-old crowd that would quickly separate them from their money. This of course happens to everyone, but I'm worried about the segment of that population that won't stop or won't know when to stop.

I'm not sure what the problem is... being 18 means being an adult. Full rights, full responsibilities.
I'm finding it rather puzzling that gambling is allowed only so selectively in the US, and that the age limit is above 18.

Sure, but gambling can be addicting. Mortgages less so.

Lots of things that can be addictive are legal at 18 (or even below). Work, for example.

Sure, but gambling can be addicting. Mortgages less so.

I haven't seen that many 18 year olds getting a mortgage.

that the age limit is above 18.

In some states it's 18, some it's 21.

Sure, but gambling can be addicting. Mortgages less so.

And 21 year olds are more able to deal with addictions than 18 year olds? Since when?

When I read about this, my first thought was the credit card companies who came on campus to target the incoming freshmen. 18-year-olds who just had become legal adults and able to sign as an adult. They promised gifts and free money, what they didn't tell you was how badly you could screw up your life for a very long time. I found THAT part out the hard way.

The credit card companies have NOTHING on the casinos of Nevada.

LoL those were great. I think I got a free towel once and a personal pan pizza from credit card companies. But I never acted on the cards and they evetually expired after I refused to use them, and I called the credit card companies once and told them I wanted off their lists. I have one credit card and it's enough for my needs.

Lol, but really you can gamble since 18. You can gamble on papers, or you can gamble with your life by joining the military.


If Las Vegas is not sustainable then let it die. At some point it will have to face up to internet gambling whatever its legal status in the US.
No way. Online gambling is just not that. The fun of gambling in Lost Wages is not just trying to win, it's being in an entire city built just for fun.

It's 18 here in the UK, countrywide. Though, Bookies seem to be the only thing that's really really popular gambling wise. I've not seen many casinos.

Lots of things that can be addictive are legal at 18 (or even below). Work, for example.I'm really stuck in a dilemma here. On the one hand, I can see the insane propensity for abuse of youths entering adulthood. On the other hand I can't think of any good argument against it that doesn't run afoul of the "but they're allowed to do this at 18" argument.

It's 18 here in the UK, countrywide. Though, Bookies seem to be the only thing that's really really popular gambling wise. I've not seen many casinos.

Tony Blair did allow for more to be built, and of course we have online gambling - Sun bingo anyone.

And 21 year olds are more able to deal with addictions than 18 year olds? Since when?You stop "maturing" somewhere near 24, if I remember correctly. A 21 year old is more likely to be able to resist the urges to gamble uncontrollably.

Now, this is largely undisputed. The question I'm fighting with is whether that's reason enough to avoid the "legal age" argument.

You stop "maturing" somewhere near 24, if I remember correctly. A 21 year old is more likely to be able to resist the urges to gamble uncontrollably.

Now, this is largely undisputed. The question I'm fighting with is whether that's reason enough to avoid the "legal age" argument.

Well if what you are saying is true the age of majority should be raised to 24 not lowered to 18.

I'm really stuck in a dilemma here. On the one hand, I can see the insane propensity for abuse of youths entering adulthood. On the other hand I can't think of any good argument against it that doesn't run afoul of the "but they're allowed to do this at 18" argument.

Well, I would say the motives for proposing this change of law are far from philanthropic.
However, the change itself would make real legal sense, in my eyes. The age of 18 marks adulthood, with full freedom and full responsibility. Partial adulthood is an antiquated legal concept, denying some of the liberties while still pushing full responsibility onto the individual.

Well if what you are saying is true the age of majority should be raised to 24 not lowered to 18.See, I'm not saying that at all. Hence the dilemma.

See, I'm not saying that at all. Hence the dilemma.

We cannot ban all things that are addictive - think of World of Warcraft - but it is about harm and a gambling addiction can certainly have as devastating an effect as heroin addiction. Question is does lowering the age to 18 significantly increase the amount of people with a gambling problem or just delay it for three years.

We cannot ban all things that are addictive - think of World of Warcraft - but it is about harm and a gambling addiction can certainly have as devastating an effect as heroin addiction. Question is does lowering the age to 18 significantly increase the amount of people with a gambling problem or just delay it for three years.Most likely the former.

I'm really stuck in a dilemma here. On the one hand, I can see the insane propensity for abuse of youths entering adulthood. On the other hand I can't think of any good argument against it that doesn't run afoul of the "but they're allowed to do this at 18" argument.

Aside from the factor of maturity. I know the voting age was the whole factor of well if you can sere and die for your country. I think the whole 21 gambling in Vegas is due to an ever pervasive industry. It's all over the place. But even that's a flimsy argument. Who ever made the law probably thought 18 year olds weren't ready for the factor of losing money on a larger and grander scale. And that might be a valid consideration. It really wasn't a big deal for me growing up.

The other factor that might need to be considered is the curfew age, although ironcially the curfew age is for anyone under 18. It might be that the casinos on Vegas don't want a bunch of young 18 year olds on the strip. They might see it as harmful to business. The industry was probably for a more 'older' set rather than a younger set.

Most likely the former.

Even if thats the case, frankly it doesn't matter, at least in my view. 18 year olds have all the responsibilities of adults, and ought to have the same freedoms. The government shouldn't protect people from themselves when it has negative effects on someone else's freedom.

...at least in my view.
I don't care.

I don't care.

I'm very and truly crushed :rolleyes:

Oh dear , it's the Meh Generation

Not to the same extent no.

So what is MJ? I know what E is.

Mary Jane.

Ignoring the income issue right now, what's everyone's opinion on lowering the age to gamble?

It is an excellent idea; if one can join the armed forces at sixteen, one should certainly be able to gamble at eighteen. It is no concern of the government what a grown woman does with her own money, provided it hurts none but herself.

It is an excellent idea; if one can join the armed forces at sixteen, one should certainly be able to gamble at eighteen. It is no concern of the government what a grown woman does with her own money, provided it hurts none but herself.

Cept of course 18 is hardly grown.

If it was up to me to decide the age of which all things become legal, I would say 25, for everything!
No-one has any common sense (ok so some folk have) and self restraint is also very thin on the ground before then.

We can drink at 18, and we can gamble at any age as long as the winnings are less that £5, over that and you have to be 18. This is unique in Europe; don’t know about the rest of the world.

I think the limits we have in the UK are good, apart from when they raised the smoking age to 18 from 16 that had little effect after it was implemented.

They need to drop the drinking age too.

I don't reallt see a big problem with this, and it has always struck me as odd that in the USA you can vote, drive, marry and serve in the armed forces when you are 18 but can't drink or gamble till your are 21

You can gamble just fine in most cases as long as you aren't in a casino (casinos serve alcohol you see). I could, for example, legally go to the track and bet on a horse race when I was 18 (in fact that's how I celebrated). You can also gamble on the lottery.

All of our casinos are tribal casinos. Of course, Nevada is quite different in the pervasiveness of their gambling industry. In Michigan I don't mind the gambling age being 18. In Nevada I may be a bit more cautious about it.

I'm from Michigan as well and all the Tribal Casinos I've been to require you to be 21 due to the alcohol issue.

Mary Jane.

Everyone knows how addictive hot redheads are.

http://www.geocities.com/spideys_girl20002002/MaryJaneMovie1/maryjane3.jpg

Cept of course 18 is hardly grown.

It is legally fully an adult.

Here some of the local tribal casinos are 18+ and others are 21+. The ones that are 18+ have no alcohol anywhere on the premises, not even in the restaurant. They could do something like that in Nevada. Maybe one or two would do that, but the majority of casinos wouldn't.

Well, no. But still the gambling, drinking etc ages are 18

Well, actually every shop has a slot machine and the age limit for their use is 15 not 18.

For gambling the age limit is indeed 18 (or more, depending on the place).

I'm not sure about the morality of gambling, let alone for those so young. I'll toss a coin. Anyone want to bet heads or tails? :p

I prefer two up.

Two heads. *Places $5 down*

Nevada, with its tax base largely set on the idea that people will come to Nevada and give us their money for no reason, has been hit very, very hard by the economic downturn. With money tight, less folks are willing to come to Vegas or Reno to give us their money. The rise of Indian gaming has also had a large effect as most slot feeders would rather drive just down the road to an Indian casino than come in to Reno to feed the hungry slot machines.

The solution to this problem, according to some of the casino execs and the Nevada Gaming Commission, would be to lower the age in Nevada for gaming from the current 21 to 18. The hope is that enough 18-year-olds would make up for the declining revenue from everyone else.

Ignoring the income issue right now, what's everyone's opinion on lowering the age to gamble? Personally... I don't see it as being a very good idea. It's very, very easy to lose yourself to the game and a lot of the slots are built to mimic video games now. I can see some targeted games for the 18-year-old crowd that would quickly separate them from their money. This of course happens to everyone, but I'm worried about the segment of that population that won't stop or won't know when to stop.
Holy FUCK no. The amount of teenagers being taken advantage of with credit cards and loans and such is far bad enough. The last thing we need is to give our nation's future a free ticket to bankruptcy.

Hopw come when there is a discussion about lowering the drinking age, most people are in afvour and seem to think that doing so encourages responsible drinking, but when someone suggests we lower the gambling age the argument becomes that doing so will lead to irresponsible gambling? Is it because more people drink than gamble?

Having worked at a betting shop, I can tell you that the people who were addicted were the older ones, not the younger folk. Hardly a scientific study, but that's the way it was. Young people tended to gamble a few pounds on the roulette machines or on football coupons. It was the old guys who were in from first thing in the morning until closing time.

Holy FUCK no. The amount of teenagers being taken advantage of with credit cards and loans and such is far bad enough. The last thing we need is to give our nation's future a free ticket to bankruptcy.

BAH! See, there's the early 20s that allow you the opportunity to take care of the debt you acquire when 18 and hopefully learn a life lesson.;)

I'm not sure about the morality of gambling, let alone for those so young. I'll toss a coin. Anyone want to bet heads or tails? :p

Heads I win, tails you lose OK?

They need to drop the drinking age too.

I don't reallt see a big problem with this, and it has always struck me as odd that in the USA you can vote, drive, marry and serve in the armed forces when you are 18 but can't drink or gamble till your are 21

point of correction. you can gamble in most Indian casinos at 18.


will it help Nevada ? no.
most of your 18 year olds don't go to Vegas because they are poor gamblers and as such cant afford the trip there. Vegas as long ago moved to be a gambling mecca for those who are well off. just those sorts of places get hit worse in times of recession.