We should Ban Gambling

This is my first debate,, take it easy on me! ToDAY I will be speaking on three main points . 1.Gambling is addictive and psychologically harmful affecting poor people HUGELY 2.Gambling leads to the disintegration of families 3.Casinos are often used to mask criminal activity So to my first point, gambling can become psychologically addictive in some people. Whenever a gambler wins a reward it produces brain activation similar to when a cocaine addict receives an infusion of cocaine. Gambling addiction, in addition to the long term effects it has, can result in financial ruin in just a few short hours. Research has shown gambling effects poor people hugely. Poor people are more likely to gamble, in the hope of getting rich. In 1999, the National Gambling Impact Commission in the USA found that 80 percent of gambling revenue came from lower-income households. Gambling attracts people with little money who are desperate for a windfall. Also online gambling has increased the incidence of gambling addiction. Gamblers don"t even need to leave their home, and online gambling sites are available at all hours. This also means that they are gambling in private. They may therefore be less reluctant to wager very large sums they cannot afford. In fact the majority of online gamblers are highly addicted and are in huge debts. Even in casinos there are less problem gamblers than there are online. Online gambling sites are an easy, simple way of getting addicted to gambling. The sites can also get around government regulations that limit the dangers of betting. Because they can be legally sited anywhere in the world, they can pick countries with no rules to protect customers. To my second point, this is gambling leads to the disintegration of families. Gambling can have a devastating effect on families. The most obvious effect is financial as one partner uses all their money on gambling the other needs to support the whole family. Research had proved there is a relationship between gambling and various alcohol disorders. When a problem gambler becomes seriously addicted to gambling it is not only them who get affected. Their family and friends are also immensely impacted due to their stupid actions. So basically every time gambling ruins a gamblers life it is not only ruining their life, but also the lives of the dozens of friends and family who are truly close to the addict. Also, normally when a friend or family member hears about the addict and how badly gambling has affected them they leave the gambler stranded. At the end of the day, could you blame them? I am sure that they do not what to be emotionally or financially be involved with the gambler. Thirdly, I would like to make the point that casinos are often used to mask criminal activity. Casinos are often associated with crime, particularly organized crime. Drug dealers and other criminals operate near casinos " they know that there are a large number of potential clients in the area. Moreover when a gambler is in debt and wishes to continue gambling due to its addictive nature, he or she often turns to loan sharks . These loan sharks themselves usually have links to organized crime, in some cases are actually run by organized crime, and use brutal methods to reclaim their money. By banning gambling the opportunities for loan sharks to offer their services is greatly reduced due to a lesser amount of gamblers in debt, as are the opportunities for drug dealers therefore reducing criminal activity in the areas surrounding casinos. Casinos can therefore be devastating to neighbourhoods. It would of course be wrong to assume all gamblers are criminals, although there is an increased possibility that gamblers in debt could turn to criminality through illegal borrowing. The opposing side may argue that gambling is a way to earn money and support our economy. In contrast to that, John W. Kindt, a professor of business states that gambling is a multi-billion dollar drag on the economy, not the moneymaking boost it is said to be by supporters of gambling. Cash merely changes hands from gamblers to casino owners. It creates no products or anything else of value. It actually diverts money away from local businesses. If the estimated $100 billion now spent annually on gambling went into these local businesses, economic models show it would generate more than $300 billion for the nation's slumping economy and create jobs and services according to the survey.