The PitBoss

The answer appears to be no, at least according to Keith Whyte, the Executive Director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. To hear Whyte tell it, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is little more than a “politically designed measure, crafted to cut off funds for gamblers.”

“The ongoing economic downturn has hit the gambling industry, a media report says. For Las Vegas Sands casino operator, a full-blown financial hurricane may be brewing, Time magazine reported, pointing out that in a November 5 filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company had revealed its cash was drying up.” - The Economic Times

Anti-Gambling activists are always quick to point the finger at casinos for creating gambling addicts. This ludicrous claim paints the casino as a sort of factory that takes in people of all different backgrounds and psychological make-ups and spits them out the door as addicted gamblers. This is simply not how people become gambling addicts. Gambling is not like drug use where, as long as you do it several times, you’re definitely getting addicted. It takes a certain type of person to become a gambling addict. Pathological Gamblers have a diathesis for addictive behavior.  This means that a Pathological Gambler is born with many biological differences that predispose him or her to compulsive behavior. The act of gambling is simply one of these behaviors

Some of the most thrilling and suspenseful movies center around a gambling-related plot. Whether it’s Kaliedescope from the 60’s or modern-era future classics like Casino Royale, the high-stakes action of gambling is the stuff epic movie plots are made of. In line with that, here are 15 of our favorite gambling movies (your opinion may differ), including trailers and video clips where the MPAA has not yanked them offline yet! In no particular order:

Betting has always been, and likely always will, be a part of human culture. From the earliest civilizations to the modern day age of technology, people from all walks of life bet with cards, slots, dice, and traditional game pieces every day. Arguably the most popular form of risk gaming has always been card games. Hold’em, Blackjack, and a whole list of others have been made household words, and just about every desk drawer from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Las Vegas, Nevada contains a deck of playing cards. But where did this concept of card games come from, and how did it get to where it is today?

Anyone can buy a traditional poker table, but what’s the fun in that when so many quirky, custom tables are available, beckoning the poker enthusiast to pick one up! Believe it or not, there are many poker tables that allow the unconventional gamblers to indulge their wild side. Below are seven such crazy, weird, and unique poker tables.

Gambling has been with us since the beginning of human history. “Zeus, Hades and Poseidon are said to have split the Universe by sharing heaven, hell and sea with the throw of the dice.” The earliest evidence of gambling among humans dates back to as early as 2300 B.C. in ancient China, Egypt, Rome, and India. In fact, 20th century anthropological data suggests that gambling has been a part of virtually every great society that ever was. A set of ivory dice (carbon dated before 1500 B.C.) were recovered from Thebes, while a tablet on the Pyramid of Cheops bears some of the earliest known writing on the subject of gambling.

Every night, poker is played in kitchens, garages, casinos, and cruise ships around the globe. Whether it’s a father teaching his son how to play his first hand, an eagerly-awaited guy’s night out, or an expensive trip to Vegas, poker players are just about everywhere. But of the masses, only a select few rise to the top and earn the right to call themselves champions. Nowhere is this more evident than the prestigious World Series of Poker. The month-long Las Vegas tournament is the largest of its kind, a place where the best of the best compete for big money - and bragging rights. Here are the top 12 all-time money winners from this prestigious event.

Casinos profit by tipping the odds in their favor. Most people know this, but they don’t understand the underlying statistical forces behind it. Beneath all the glamorous lights and sizzle is some serious math ensuring the casino always ultimately comes out ahead. If you’ve ever wondered exactly how they can accurately know this, prepare to find out!