At a time when Gamblers Anonymous estimates that there are at least 12 million compulsive gamblers, it doesn't make a lot of sense to have the state promoting gambling. State sponsorship of gambling makes it harder, not easier, for the compulsive gambler to reform. The economic costs that gamblers themselves incur are significant. Consider just the issue of uncollected debts. And this figure pales in comparison to other social costs that surface because of family neglect, embezzlement, theft, and involvement in organized crime.
Proponents argue that state lotteries are an effective way to raise taxes painlessly.
But the evidence shows that legalized gambling often hurts those who are poor and disadvantaged. The Field Institute's California Poll found that 18 percent of the state's adults bought 71 percent of the tickets. Studies also indicate that gambling increases when economic times are uncertain and people are concerned about their future. The social impact of gambling is often hidden from the citizens who decide to participate in legalized gambling. But later these costs show up in the shattered lives of individuals and their families.