fiscal stress that state/local govt's experienced in 1970 & 1980s led to looking at legalized gambling - or 'gaming' in the industry's current vernacular - as a revenue source...biggest revenue winners are parimutuels and lotteries, Nevada is most extensive user of gambling 'taxes', collecting 40% its revenue from them...
legalized gambling - of all kinds - is also an attempt to reduce direct taxes on people...lotteries, the most common form found in about 3/4ths of states, have actually been disappointing revenue earners in most states...
casino gambling, which is also promoted as a tool for creating jobs, remains a major industry in only 2 states - Nevada & New Jersey...in the case of Atlantic City, however, most jobs went to suburban commuters, property values escalated, housing shortages worsened, and many retail businesses disappeared... Michael Hoover