Have you ever wondered why is gambling illegal in some places, but not illegal in other places? I’ve wondered about this many times.
I have some theories about the legality of gambling. But facts are hard to come by. However, I’m going to share a few reasons why gambling is illegal in some places.
My goal isn’t to convince you gambling is good or bad. And I’m not trying to change your mind. But I do want you to have a few ideas about why gambling is illegal in some places.
The following post can trigger some strong emotions. But if you let your emotions keep the facts from you, you might miss something important. I know this is true because I’ve fallen into this trap.
Gambling Law
The simple answer to why is gambling illegal is the law. In some places, the law says gambling is illegal. But, because gambling is illegal in some places, does that mean gambling should be illegal everywhere? Or does the fact that gambling is legal in some places mean it should be legal everywhere?
If you look at gambling law in the United States, it’s a complete mess. All kinds of gambling are 100% legal in Nevada. But if you cross the state line and enter Utah, gambling is illegal. You can’t even buy a lottery ticket in Utah.
Think about this for a minute. By taking one step across an invisible line, the gambling laws completely change.
At one time, online gambling was practically illegal throughout the United States. Now, you can find promo codes for legal, regulated betting sites in multiple states.
Here are a few reasons why gambling is legal in some places and illegal in other places.
Religion and Gambling
What’s one of the big differences between Nevada and Utah?
If you do some historical research, one clear difference is the religious background and leadership n each state.
The Mormon religion is strong in Utah and has been for a long time. The Mormons are against gambling, and they have a lot of influence in the state of Utah. I’m not bashing the Mormon religion. The Mormons are far from the only religion that has a problem with gambling.
On the other hand, Nevada has never been closely tied to religion in any way. And this is proven by some of the laws in the state. For example, prostitution is legal in some parts of Nevada. Nevada is the only state in the US with legal prostitution.
The reason gambling is illegal in some areas is because of religious power and influence. But religion isn’t the only reason gambling is illegal in some places.
The Right to Force Morals on Others
Most people think about religion when they hear the word morals. But morals don’t have anything to do with religion. Everyone has morals, and they can vary a great deal from person to person.
Do you believe gambling is good or bad? Your answer doesn’t matter. But what does matter is if you have an opinion about gambling, it’s an example of one of your morals.
But the real question is if you have the right to impose or force your moral values on other people?
You can make an argument that morals are being forced on others on both sides of the gambling discussion. If you agree gambling should be illegal, you’re supporting imposing your morals on others.
And if you think gambling should be legal, you’re supporting imposing your values on others.
Most laws fall into the same category. But gambling laws in some places are clearly forcing the morals of one group on other people.
Is the Government Responsible to Protect You from Yourself?
Another argument used in enacting gambling laws is about protecting people. And this often gets down to the right of people to do what they want.
If you ask many people if people should be able to do whatever they want as long as they don’t hurt other people, they say yes. But there are plenty of laws that specifically don’t let people do whatever they want.
The question is, should the government be in the business of protecting people from themselves?
If you earn money, should you have the right to do whatever you want with it? Isn’t it your money? If you want to gamble with your money, how can that be against the law?
Opponents of this view say that gambling ruins lives. And gambling can ruin lives. But both cigarettes and alcohol kill people, and they’re legal.
As mentioned above, I’m not trying to change your views on any of this. But the government enacts laws designed to protect people from themselves. And this is why gambling is illegal in some areas.
Should Gambling Be Illegal?
That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? You either think gambling should be legal, think it should be illegal, or don’t care.
The fact is gambling is legal in some places and illegal other places. Some of the possible reasons gambling is illegal is because of religion, morals, and government protection.
You get to choose whether you think gambling should be legal or illegal. And if you don’t like the laws where you live, you can move. For example, if you hate gambling and live in Nevada, you can move to Utah.
And if you live in Utah and want to live where gambling is legal, move to Nevada.
But if you support the choice to move, isn’t that a vote for choice? And if you support choice, shouldn’t everyone have the choice about whether they gamble or not? That’s just something to think about.
Conclusion
Why is gambling illegal? As you just learned, the answer isn’t simple. And the fact is, gambling is legal in some areas.
Laws, religion, morals, and government all play a part in making gambling illegal or legal. But no matter which side of the argument you fall on, you have choices. And isn’t choice one of the basics of freedom?
If you don’t like gambling, you can support groups trying to make it illegal. Or you can move to a place where it’s already illegal. And you have the same choices if you think gambling should be legal.
