The Republicans and the Democrats are polarized on many issues, from the environment and taxes to same-sex marriage and abortion. However, state-regulated gambling is an issue where they seem to find some common ground. No matter what their party is, many politicians today support gambling because of its potential to generate revenues and other economic benefits for states and municipalities.
Supporting gambling together
In 1931, Nevada was the first state to permit casinos, and in the 1960s, the first modern state lottery was approved in New Hampshire by a Republican-led legislature and signed into law by a Democratic governor.
Pennsylvania casinos became legal in 2004 thanks to a Republican-led state legislature, and a Democratic governor signed the measure into law. A new gambling law passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in 2017 greatly expanded legalized gambling throughout the state. Parx is one of the largest land-based casinos with a real money online casino that operates in Pennsylvania today.
At the same time, a Republic Governor worked with a majority-Democratic statehouse to introduce online gambling in New Jersey. In New York, a Democrat joined hands with GOP lawmakers to support the legalization of commercial casinos.
United against gambling
A hundred years ago, the two political parties were also united, but this time they were both against gambling. In the 1890s, they worked together to ban lottery tickets from being distributed and to get the prohibition of gambling enforced in municipalities.
Most Americans today support legalizing gambling
Today only one out of every seven Americans believes that gambling is immoral. More and more states are legalizing gambling and encouraging the opening of casinos. There are event ticketing companies that sell casino event tickets and place a great emphasis on the fan experience. In general, Republicans tend to be a little more supportive of legal gambling than Democrats, although most supporters of both parties are in favor.
Attitudes to gambling
It’s interesting that the two parties find common ground when it comes to gambling. Republicans may see gambling as an expression of capitalism, but it also runs counter to some of the values of capitalism. The Democrats say they care about equality, but they are happy to support the gambling industry, where less educated people with the least money often spend and lose the most money on gambling.
Online gambling trends
You can find out more about different online gambling trends online. The moralistic approach to gambling has changed over time, and real-time gaming is showing a remarkable rise in popularity. Gaming suppliers are going all out to build games with live dealers. Many users are downloading gaming apps for iPhones. By applying virtual reality technology, online casinos will be able to offer users increasingly memorable experiences. Some surveys show that gamblers are more likely than non-gamblers to support political candidates with monetary contributions.
Support for casinos
The economy is usually one of the most important things on the minds of both Republicans and Democrats. Economic profit is the main argument used in support of casinos. The US economic forecast and the possibility of a recession hitting will have an impact on all Americans. While Republics and Democrats may disagree on many other things, they tend to agree on their support for regulated casinos that pay taxes and can help to boost state revenues.
The agreement that legalization is best
There is no question that Americans are betting more than ever before and that most of them are in favor of legalizing gambling. In the face of the increasingly positive attitude toward gambling, both Republicans and Democrats tend to agree that the legalization of gambling is necessary. It is good for bettors because it removes gambling from illegal offshore operators to licensed businesses that protect consumers and pay taxes. More aggressive enforcement can take place against any nefarious activities, and players can be protected.
