Gambling

The last several decades have been marked by the increased availability and accessibility of legalized gambling. The biggest contributor to the increase - the “democratization” of gambling - was the lottery, which has been a successful funding source in many states. Because they require little skill to play, involve a relatively small monetary risk, and offer wider accessibility, lotteries are played by people from every socioeconomic level and every age group. Casinos have also attracted more people to gambling - especially older adults after their retirement - for its purported entertainment value and resort-like environment. More recently, Internet-based gambling has seen rapid growth among younger generations of gamblers. As the availability and accessibility of gambling has increased, the 12-month prevalence rate of gambling behavior in the United States has increased from 61% in 1974 to 82% in 2001. The growth of gambling has been accompanied by a growing number of gambling….