Every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. five white balls are selected out of a drum containing 59 white balls, and one red ball is chosen out of a drum containing 35 red balls. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball. Tickets cost $2.
Why gambling seems like fun to children and teenagers Gambling and gambling-like experiences are so widespread that children see gambling as a normal part of everyday life, including sport. And gambling advertisements send the message that gambling is fun, exciting and a quick and easy way to get rich. Gambling is a barrier to producing wealth. So are many other things, that alone is not a reason to make anything illegal. That being said, I certainly do not think adults should do this, much less children if they want to forge their wealth. Why More Gambling Is Allowed. Manipulation of gaming equipment; use of unapproved wagering instruments illegal. Private, social gambling allowed. Note: State laws are constantly changing - again, contact a Nevada gaming attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching. Top 10 Reasons Why Gambling is Bad. Article by lipika bhattacharya, April 21, 2014. Gaming when illegal is called gambling. This is the most crude and layman definition of the vice which involves wagering of money or something of material value. Teens succumb to gambling addiction at rates between two and four times the rate of adults. Complicating efforts to protect minors from online gambling is the ever-present access to computers and mobile phones (several online casinos and card rooms offer mobile options) that make gambling just a click away.
After rolling more than 16 consecutive times without a winner, the Powerball jackpot shot up to $587.5 million, the second-largest in U.S. history, and the largest for Powerball, before two winning tickets with the numbers 5, 16, 22, 23, 29 and a Powerball of 6 were announced by the Multi-State Lottery Association, which has run the Powerball game since 1992.
The first winning ticket belonged to the Hill family of Dearborn, Missouri. They have already appeared at a press conference where they were handed an oversized check made out for their share: $293,750,000 (before taxes). Although the chances of any single ticket’s winning the jackpot were 1 in 175 million (making it more likely that someone would die from a lightning strike or a bee sting than win), the Hills bought five tickets on the day of the Powerball drawing at the Trex Mart gas station in Dearborn, a town of 500 north of Kansas City. “Tickets sold at a rate of 130,000 a minute nationwide — about six times the volume from a week ago. That pushed the jackpot even higher,” said Chuck Strutt, executive director of the Multi-State Lottery Association.
The other winning ticket was sold at a 4 Sons Food Store in Fountain Hills, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona. The winner has come forward, but as of this writing his name has not been released.
About the same time the Powerball frenzy was taking place, the peaceful and voluntary actions of Americans who prefer another gambling medium were ended — thanks to the hypocritical and oppressive actions of the U.S. government.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a civil complaint in federal district court in Washington, D.C., on November 26 seeking an injunction against Intrade, a prediction market for non-sports-related events. Intrade is an exchange market that allows its customers to make predications (by buying and selling shares) on the yes or no outcome of real-world events: candidate x to win an election, actor x to win an Academy Award, contestant x to win on American Idol.
According to a CFTC press release, the complaint charges Intrade “with offering commodity option contracts to U.S. customers for trading, as well as soliciting, accepting, and confirming the execution of orders from U.S. customers, all in violation of the CFTC’s ban on off-exchange options trading.”
Said David Meister, the Director of the CFTC’s Division of Enforcement,
It is against the law to solicit U.S. persons to buy and sell commodity options, even if they are called “prediction” contracts, unless they are listed for trading and traded on a CFTC-registered exchange or unless legally exempt. The requirement for on-exchange trading is important for a number of reasons, including that it enables the CFTC to police market activity and protect market integrity. Today’s action should make it clear that we will intervene in the “prediction” markets, wherever they may be based, when their U.S. activities violate the Commodity Exchange Act or the CFTC’s regulations.
In its continuing litigation the CFTC seeks civil monetary penalties, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and permanent injunctions against further violations of federal commodities law, as charged, among other relief.
This is the same government agency that earlier this year rejected an application by the North American Derivatives Exchange to operate a market for contracts relating to the U.S. elections. The commission argued that political event contracts constitute “gaming” that is “contrary to the public interest.”
Because of the CFTC complaint, Intrade issued this statement to its U.S. customers: “We are sorry to announce that due to legal and regulatory pressures, Intrade can no longer allow US residents to participate in our real-money prediction markets. Unfortunately this means that all US residents must begin the process of closing down their Intrade accounts.”
With lotteries in more than 40 states and the District of Columbia, one would think that customers of Intrade would have no trouble finding another gambling option. But aside from state lotteries, Americans’ gambling options are somewhat limited unless they live near, or are willing to travel to, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or the Mississippi River. True, some states have casinos run by Indian tribes, some have horse or dog racing that one can wager on, and some have legalized slot machines or poker rooms in selected areas, but Nevada is the only state that has legalized casino-style gambling statewide.
All forms of gambling that have been legalized throughout the United States have one thing in common: they all exist only with government permission. It is the state governments that license and regulate casinos, pari-mutuel wagering, slot machines, and poker rooms. It is the state governments that maintain a monopoly on lotteries. In most areas of the country, private, unlicensed gambling is simply illegal.
For example, in my state of Florida: “Whoever plays or engages in any game at cards, keno, roulette, faro or other game of chance, at any place, by any device whatever, for money or other thing of value, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083” [s. 849.08]. An exception is made for a penny-ante game of “poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes, or mah-jongg in which the winnings of any player in a single round, hand, or game do not exceed $10 in value” [s. 849.085, 2, a].
And no one in Florida had better try to compete with the Florida Lottery, for it is unlawful in Florida to set up a lottery; dispose of property by a lottery; conduct any lottery drawing; assist in conducting a lottery; attempt to operate, conduct, or advertise a lottery; possess any lottery implement; sell or offer for sale any lottery ticket; possess any lottery ticket; assist in the sale of a lottery ticket; possess any lottery advertisement; or possess any “papers, records, instruments, or paraphernalia designed for use, either directly or indirectly, in, or in connection with, the violation of the laws of this state prohibiting lotteries” [s. 849.09, 1, a-k].
But why is that the case in Florida and elsewhere? Why are the peaceful, voluntary actions of consenting adults prohibited? Why is gambling illegal?
We are told by opponents of legalized gambling that gambling is psychologically addictive, that it leads to financial ruin, that it leads to compulsive gambling, that it harms families, that it leads to criminal activity to support one’s gambling habit, and that it increases crime in areas where gambling venues are located. Religious people add that gambling is immoral, that it is a vice, or that is it a sin. Even economists weigh in on the subject, telling us how great the odds are against winning the lottery and that gambling is a type of regressive tax that hurts low-income people. Every time someone wins a substantial lottery jackpot, there are news stories about how bad it is to win such a large sum of money.
Those things may all be true, but none of them can legitimately be said to be a reason for gambling to be illegal.
Forty-three states and the District of Columbia have state-run lotteries. Forty-seven states allow charitable gambling such as bingo. Thirty-nine states permit pari-mutuel wagering. Nineteen states have legalized commercial casinos. Thirty states have Indian casinos. Only the states of Hawaii and Utah forbid all forms of gambling.
If gambling should be proscribed by governments because it is harmful, ruinous, crime-fostering, or immoral, then governments — to be consistent — should outlaw all forms of gambling and certainly not be running lotteries. How can the 48 states that allow certain forms of gambling justify any of their laws that make other forms of gambling a criminal activity?
The real reasons so many forms of gambling are illegal in so many states are that governments are grossly hypocritical and arbitrary when it comes to their gambling laws and governments see themselves as nanny states with their citizens as children who need to be protected from vice and their own stupidity.
In a genuinely free society (as opposed to a relatively free one), people have the freedom to make any wager or bet any amount of money they choose on sporting events, horse races, casino gambling, pari-mutuel wagering, lotteries, prediction markets, private poker games, or any other gambling activity.
That does not mean that gambling is good or that it has no negative consequences. There is a distinction between favoring a thing and favoring the legalization of a thing. It is perfectly consistent for someone to disdain some or all forms of gambling and yet fully support the legalization of all gambling enterprises and activities. The issue is one of freedom, not preference.
It goes without saying that there should be no federal or state laws that relate to gambling in any way. Not because the gambling industry provides people with jobs or the states with revenue, but for the simple reason that there should be no federal or state laws prohibiting any voluntary activity between consenting adults.
Every teenager eventually runs into prohibitions based on age. To a 15-year-old it’s understandable why a 5-year-old shouldn’t be allowed to drive.
But why do you have to wait another year to get a driver’s license?
And if you have a summer job, why can’t you spend your money on alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling the way 18-year-old or 21-year old friends and relatives do?
Everyone feels “mature enough” to make mature decisions before their elders say they’re ready.
Reflecting upon all the factors a gambling establishment, either online or land-based must consider, several reasons come to mind.
Age of Majority
This seems to be the most important factor.
Despite any precocious emotional or intellectual maturity young people may possess, in most jurisdictions, an age of majority prevails.
The age of majority determines when an individual can enter into legally binding contracts. A law-abiding gambling company cannot do business with minors.
Every member of an online casino must register and honestly affirm their age. To collect winnings they must prove their identity and age eligibility.
If a minor successfully enters a land-based casino, plays a game, and collects a modest stake, the casino has broken the law. The young player may get away with it.
Not only do they not have to honor the win they legally cannot.
Laws Governing Gambling Activities
Governments around the world decided not to allow minors to gamble in licensed establishments. Gambling laws take the decision out of the casinos’ hands.
Many teens learn how to play blackjack, poker, roulette, and other gambling games at home or from their friends.
Why Is Gambling Illegal For Minors Legally
They may even play for money in unlicensed gaming situations.
If caught by authorities the teens may not be prosecuted, but game organizers would almost certainly be arrested.
Teens’ parents are also held accountable for the behavior of their children.
Age restrictions on gambling fall into a complex system of laws designed to protect young individuals from making life-destroying choices.
Emotional and Intellectual Maturity is Vital to Managing Risk
While few fully mature adults (estimates range from 5% to 10%) are considered gambling addicts, many acquired addictive habits while still adolescents.
Science is still uncertain about when people become fully mature adults. In 2014 the National Academy of Sciences proposed that ages 18-26 be considered the final stage of emotional and intellectual development.
Why Is Gambling Illegal For Minors
The truth is that science has yet to show at what age the general population can make good choices about risky behavior. This goes well beyond gambling and into many types of activities.
Teens are not permitted to compete in many types of professional sports. They may lack the physical characteristics and training to compete, but their mental abilities are not yet ripe.
Why Is Gambling Illegal For Minors Allowed
Social concerns about teens’ readiness to make important choices are reinforced by one disturbing study: a 20-year study found that children experiencing stress do mature faster than their peers.
This is not a justification for allowing some teens to gamble, smoke, drink, or take other risks. It’s clear confirmation that young people are not naturally ready to make adult choices. Gambling is all about risk, and society has deemed it’s too risky for young individuals.
Gambling Requires Financial Responsibility
If you gamble, you’re staking something of value. In both online and offline gambling establishments, money is at stake.
And gamblers are expected to cover their losses.
Unfortunately, this is easy to do with debt. You can borrow $1000 and take it to the casino. All the casino can do is insist you put money on the table before they allow you to pay.
Online casinos can only insist you deposit funds into your account before playing.
An emancipated teenager has the right to earn a supporting income, but most teens are not emancipated. Without the ability to enter into legal contracts, they can’t even borrow money.
Ironically, even though casinos don’t care where you get your money, they need you to bring in new money every time you gamble.
They’re counting on your losses for their profits.
Having a steady income, being able to support yourself, and budgeting a reasonable amount for entertainment makes you a more desirable customer for a casino. A business that depends on financially unstable teenagers accepts greater risks than most casinos do.
Younger People Are More Susceptible to Addictive Behavior
Although science still has much to learn about how the brain develops and works, recent findings show that adolescents are more prone to addiction than adults.
An individual who grows to adulthood in a supportive, healthy environment is less likely to become an addict.
There are no guarantees in life, but requiring teens to wait before taking some risks helps them later in life.
Gambling addiction is the number 1 reason why some organizations oppose the spread of organized, legal gambling. The cost to society of treating addiction is calculable.
But that cost rises as one considers secondary issues, such as criminal behavior driven by addiction. Many crimes are committed by non-addicted people, but the connection between addiction and crime is undisputed.
Age-restrictive laws are intended to ensure that young people have a fair chance to grow to full maturity in safe environments. By holding adults accountable for how they interact with teenagers, society hopes to prevent some exploitative situations. And let’s face it: some adults are unscrupulous enough to intentionally manipulate less mature teens into bad situations.
What Is the Youngest Legal Gambling Age in the World?
It’s impossible to be sure, but this Wikipedia article lists no age restriction for a Category D gaming machine in the United Kingdom.
The same article includes a few other restrictionless forms of gambling:
- Private or non-commercial gaming and betting
- Equal chance gaming (prize gaming permitted or licensed family entertainment)
- Prize gaming at an unlicensed family entertainment centre or traveling fair
- The United Kingdom also permits 16-year-olds to gamble in:
- National lottery
- Scratch off ticket games
- Football pools
Another country enacting unusual gambling laws is Afghanistan.
They forbid all land-based gambling activities, but anyone of any age can gamble in an online system. Afghanistan may not be known for its high-speed Internet, but cell phones are widely used there. The Wikipedia article says that Tunisia may have inadvertently made gambling legal for all ages by failing to make it illegal for all ages.
The country of Malawi in southeastern Africa allows children as young as 5 to gamble in land-based casinos.
Also, the Wikipedia article may not be up-to-date, and some of the points listed above could be inconsistent with current laws in the countries named.
Conclusion
The ancient Roman writer Tacitus wrote in his famous treatise, The Germania, that the ancient Germans of his time had a reputation for gambling:
“An amazing thing to us is that they practise gambling as the serious occupation of their sober hours; and they hazard to win or lose so recklessly that, when all he has is gone, a player will stake his personal liberty on a last and decisive throw.
If he loses he goes into voluntary slavery; and, although he may be the younger and the stronger man, he suffers himself to be bound and to be sold. They exhibit herein a most perverse obstinacy, and call it paying a debt of honour.
Successful gamblers get rid of the slaves held under this title by selling them to the merchants in order to escape their share of the shame.”
While some historians question the accuracy of Tacitus’ description, there is some universal truth to the matter. Gambling has earned a hard reputation through the centuries. Some people do lose everything. For that reason society has learned to protect its youngest members (in most countries) from taking such risks until they have grown to an age to make sound decisions.
Life doesn’t promise we’ll always make the right decisions. That’s why we make laws to slow us down when we’re most apt to rush in where angels fear to tread.