Gambling in America: An Encyclopedia of History, Issues, and Society

by William N. Thompson

Overview

This one-volume reference provides a comprehensive overview of gambling in the Americas, examining the history, morality, market growth, and economics of the gaming industry.

This is the most complete encyclopedia of gambling, covering the industry in great detail including the players, the games, the venues, and the surrounding social issues. Updates in this second edition reveal the impact of technological advances on the games, the growing legislation regulating the industry, and the expanding global footprint of gambling across the world—from Manitoba to Montana.

Author William N. Thompson postulates on the impact of gambling on local communities and shows how the U.S. gaming industry is tied to the global market, most notably gaming expansion in Macau and Singapore. The book addresses the various forms of gaming, such as casino-based and online gambling, sports betting, and lotteries. Additional content examines the social issue of problem and pathological gambling and addresses the rehabilitation programs available for the mitigation and treatment of gambling problems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610699792
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/10/2015
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	544
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

William N. Thompson, PhD, is professor emeritus of public administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Table of Contents

Preface,
Introduction,
Chronology of Gambling Events,
Adelson, Sheldon,
Alabama,
Alaska,
Alberta,
Antigua,
Argentina,
Arizona,
Arkansas,
Aruba,
Baccara, Chemin de Fer, and Baccarat-Type Games,
The Bahamas,
Belize,
Bennett, Bill, and Bill Pennington,
Bingo,
Binion, Benny, and Jack Binion,
Blackjack,
Bolivia,
Boyd, Sam, and William Boyd,
Brazil,
British Columbia,
California,
Canada,
Cards, Playing,
Caribbean Casinos,
Cash Transaction Reports and Money Laundering,
Casino,
Casino Employees,
Cassius Marcellus Coolidge and Those "Poker Playing Dogs,"
Cheating Schemes,
Chile,
Chips, Gambling,
Cockfighting,
Colombia,
Colorado,
Commission on the Review of National Policy toward Gambling (1974–1976),
Connecticut,
Costa Rica,
Craps and Other Dice Games,
Credit and Debts,
Crime and Gambling,
Cruise Ships,
Cuba,
Custer, Robert L.,
Dalitz, Morris,
Davis, John,
Delaware,
Demographic Categories of Players,
District of Columbia,
Dog Racing,
Dominican Republic,
Eadington, William R.,
The Economic Impacts of Gambling,
Economics and Gambling,
Ecuador,
El Salvador,
The European Casino,
Fahrenkopf, Frank, Jr.,
Faro,
Federal Lottery Laws,
The Federal Wire Act of 1961,
Florida,
Gamblers' Motivations: Why Do They Gamble?,
Gambling, Problem,
Gambling: Is It a Drug?,
The Gambling Devices Acts (the Johnson Act and Amendments),
Gambling on the High Seas, the Laws of,
Gambling Systems,
Gaughan, Jackie, and Michael Gaughan,
Georgia,
Grey, Thomas A.,
Guadeloupe,
Guatemala,
Haiti,
Harrah, William F.,
Hawaii,
Hoffa, Jimmy,
Honduras,
Horse Racing,
House-Banked Games,
Hughes, Howard,
Idaho,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Insurance and Gambling,
Internet Gambling,
The Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978,
Iowa,
Jai Alai,
Jamaica,
Kansas,
The Kefauver Committee,
Kennedy, Robert F.,
Keno,
Kentucky,
Kerkorian, Kirk,
The Knapp Commission (1970–1972),
Lansky, Meyer,
Las Vegas,
Laughlin, Don, and Laughlin, Nevada,
Lesieur, Henry,
Lesser Antilles Islands,
Lotteries,
Louisiana,
Louisiana Lottery Company,
Maine,
Manitoba,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
McClellan Committees,
Mexico,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Mississippi,
Missouri,
Montana,
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission (1997–1999),
Native American Gaming: In the Past,
Native American Gaming: Modern Times,
Nebraska,
Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten, Curaçao, and Bonaire),
Nevada,
New Brunswick,
New Hampshire,
New Jersey and Atlantic City,
New Mexico,
New York,
Newfoundland,
Nicaragua,
North Carolina,
North Dakota,
Northwest Territories,
Nova Scotia,
Nunavut,
Ohio,
Oklahoma,
Ontario,
Oregon,
Organized Crime Control Act of 1970,
Pai Gow and Games with Dominos,
Panama,
Paraguay,
Pari-Mutuel Wagering Systems,
Pendleton, Edward,
Pennsylvania,
Peru,
Player-Banked Games,
Poker,
President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice,
President's Commission on Organized Crime,
Prince Edward Island,
Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992,
Puerto Rico,
Quebec,
The Racino,
Red Dog,
Religion and Gambling,
Reno,
Rhode Island,
Rose, I. Nelson,
Rothstein, Arnold,
Roulette, Wheels of Fortune, and Other Wheel Games,
Saskatchewan,
Sawyer, Grant,
Siegel, Benjamin,
Slot Machines and Machine Gambling,
Social Gaming, Internet Cafes, and Sweepstakes,
South Carolina,
South Dakota,
Sports Betting,
The Stock Market,
Suriname,
Taxes, Gambling,
Tennessee,
Texas,
Trump, Donald John,
Uruguay,
Utah,
Venezuela,
Vermont,
Virgin Islands,
Virginia,
The Wagering Paraphernalia Act of 1961,
Washington,
West Virginia,
Wisconsin,
Wynn, Stephen Alan,
Wyoming,
Yukon Territory,
Ziemba, William T.,
Appendix: Major Cases,
Gambling Terminology—A Basic Glossary,
Bibliography,
Index,
About the Author,

Editorial Reviews

A rich bibliography closes this impressive book which should interest the individual scholar and general reader alike. . . . This book belongs in all libraries with collections on social and economic history.” —Library Jourbanal

“This interesting reference is suitable for most public library collections.” —Booklist

“Where this volume sets itself apart is in the author's analysis of, and reflections on, gambling and society. The discussion of demographic categories of players is especially insightful. . . . Thompson has a writing style that is very accessible. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates; general readers.” —Choice

“I believe the quality of the entries is authoritative and sufficiently up-to-date for those seeking general knowledge on these topics. I recommend the eBook for academic libraries wishing to acquire an electronic version of this valuable work. This source should also prove useful for undergraduate research and for ready-reference inquiries into various aspects of the gambling world. For those interested in informed analyses of recent developments in Internet gaming and problem gambling, the new content on these topics will be a welcome addition.” —Reference Reviews

From the Publisher

04/15/2015
America's most eminent gambling scholar Thompson (emeritus, public administration, Univ. of Nevada-Las Vegas; International Casino Law; Casino Customer Service; Legalized Gambling: A Reference Handbook) here assesses technological advances in gaming, current legislation regulating the industry, and world gambling. This new edition includes an expanded section on Internet gaming and problem gambling. A chronology of major gambling events precedes the entries, which profile leading figures in gaming, describe how modern gambling in the Americas can be traced to European and world origins, cover the pastime in other countries, and offer information on topics such as casino employees, legislation, individual games, and taxation as it relates to gambling. The focus of the encyclopedia is on risk-taking activities: games of chance outcomes, the placing of stakes on the outcomes, and the awarding of prizes. Of note is the that some form of gambling is permitted by legal authorities in 48 of the 50 American states. A rich bibliography closes this impressive book which should interest the individual scholar and general reader alike. After the summaries the reader is given a collection of law cases; a glossary and a comprehensive bibliography are also provided. VERDICT This book belongs in all libraries with collections on social and economic history. Readers desiring further related material might consult Sam Skolnik's High Stakes.—Claude Ury, San Francisco

Library Journal