REASONS WHY GAMBLING SHOULD BE ILLEGAL

Michael earns $50 000 a year and has been married to his high school sweetheart, Lisa, for the last six years. Their marital life seemed all bliss until Michael started gambling and accumulated an annual debt of over $90 000 forcing him and Lisa to begin seeing a psychiatrist as visibly all turned violent and awry in their marriage.

Everyone who therefore has inkling about when the rain began beating this family, will undoubtedly attribute the problem wholeheartedly to gambling. And consequently the question that begs is if gambling should remain illegal; I contend that it should remain completely illegal.

Research unequivocally indicates that most gamblers within initial months of starting the act neglect their families. They become irresponsible fathers or mothers with little regard to their children’s or spouses’ feelings and basic needs. This situation breeds violence especially among men who get reprimanded by their irate wives over their irresponsibility.

Moreover it is a sure fact that gamblers accumulate massive debts which due to a non commensurate salary to pay up the debts add on the victim’s stress. We cannot ignore the fact that this debt also adds on the states socio-economic woes as policy upon policy is drafted to aid gamblers and their debts.

If gambling is allowed, crime will inevitably increase. Debts and desperation are sure recipes for criminal activities. The twist in this criminology is that the state will also increase its costs in combating with the vice through added police presence and other budgetary ramifications. Soon gambling becomes a precursor to a morally degraded community.

Therefore, evidently, the states budget is strained. Consider heightened security costs, state litigation and consequent prison maintenance costs, not to mention civic education costs among many others, and you palpably have sure cause for concern.

We already have crime issues like homicide, theft, arson among many others to deal with to compete with a new gambling induced vice. As a result communities’ moral values die awaiting final burial mass. Soon our sons and daughters have no moral ground to stand on and must not therefore let laws be put to legalize gambling.

Take a good long look at the state of Arkansas. The smell of fresh air that speak volumes of its peace and contented serenity, feel the gentle breeze seeping deliciously through your skin pores, see the beauty of its scenery, the horizon a seeming end to a lush green, natural land and right there you have a spot for satisfied relaxation from the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan life. But, you are in for heart-wrenching surprise, the place is now awash with casinos, gamblers pollute the air, crime, the order of the day, and the state is slowly creeping to oblivion a natural disaster all because of gambling.

Psychologists say that gambling is a good tool for manipulation. Tactics are devised to ensure that non-wily customers continue to wager on the tables even when chances of winning are non existent. Lighting is dimmed and manipulative music is some of the tactics used to hypnotize gamblers almost to brinks of insanity.

Remember Michael? Earning $50 000 a year, accruing a debt of $90 000. Well, poverty eventually comes knocking at the door. Found out is statistics that most gamblers are low wage earners who seek a ‘easier’ way to augment their wage and end up with nothing but massive debts. Again extra state money is spent to combat deliberate own induced poverty.

We therefore cannot sit back, fold our hands and allow this travesty to continue unabated. We should scream from the roof tops that gambling should be illegal.