Saturday, February 23, 2013

E-1: History of American Gambling


    • 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.