- First Wave (1607 A.D. – 1830 A.D.)
- England uses lotteries to fund the newly formed colonies.
- New York is home of first horse track
- Individuals to hold a lottery as a way to sell their property before federal banking system was created.
- Acceptance of gambling declines once countries wanted to do business with the United States.
- Dishonest lottery practices resulted in the outlawing of most gambling activities.
- Second Wave (1865 A.D. – 1895 A.D.)
- Southern states saw legalized gambling as an easy way to bring in money to their states.
- Horseracing and the telegraph allow for bets to be placed from miles away.
- Louisiana scandal occurs alleged to have bribed the entire Louisiana legislature.
- territories of Arizona & New Mexico were required to close all casinos before being granted statehood. Nevada did the same (and still bans the lottery to this day).
- US Postal Service banned the mailing of lottery tickets. This law still exists today.
- The Third Wave (1930- Present)
- The Great Depression puts states in desperate need of revenue.
- 1931 Nevada re-legalized casinos.
- By 1939, 21 of the then 48 states had opened racetracks with parimutuel betting.
- During the 1940’s & 1950’s, states began to legalize charitable and social bingo.
- New Hampshire was the first state to re-institute a state lottery in 1964, New Jersey followed 10 years later.
- Federally-recognized Indian tribes are allowed to operate any form of gambling
- Resources used and referenced in this segment: Gaming Law by I. Nelson Rose & Walter Champion.
