GAMES OF CHANCE IN BRITISH AND

AMERICAN HISTORY

Catherine JohnsonALA June 2014

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Games of Chance in British and American History

Sources:• U.S. Serial Set• CRS Reports• Congressional Hearings• Executive Branch

Documents• Colonial State Papers• House of Commons

Parliamentary Papers

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Native American Gambling Traditions

Sources: U.S. Serial Set Reports, 1852, 1903, 1905

Fascination, Intensity of Interest, Addiction

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Native American Gambling Games: Implements and Songs

Sources: U.S. Serial Set reports 1902, 1941

Beautiful objects, unexpected rhythm

British and Colonial Gambling Laws

04/07/2023Sources: Colonial State Papers 1677, 1728; House of Commons Parliamentary Papers 1711

“Laws of the Massachusetts Colony That Are Repugnant and Contrary to the Laws of England” 1677

Virginia restrictions on gambling 1728

British efforts to restrict gambling 1711

Remedies for Evil

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Stock-jobbing and Scrippomony

Sources: Parliamentary Papers 1734; Executive Branch Documents 1853 Thomas Jefferson

Speculation in stocks…worse than public gambling 1734

Speculation in bank scrip…the spirit of gaming is incurable 1791

8Sources: U.S. Serial Set 1844, 1858

The Cantonese: Unemployed—Vagrants, Gamblers, “Bad Men”

Gambling in China—The Opium War Period

Gambling Houses—”Prohibited by Law”

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British Licensing of Gambling in Hong Kong--1867

“The government has no right to countenance and sanction vice”

Source: Parliamentary Papers 1868-69

“Larceny among servants is 75% less than it had been before licenses were issued”

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Gambling in the Army

British Army Courts-Martial for Gambling 1889

“The vice of gambling prevails to a very considerable extent in our Army…” 1898

Protecting “the boys” World War IISources: Parliamentary Papers 1892; U.S. Serial Set 1898; Hearings 1961

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State Lotteries

State lotteries…Their power for evil increasing1891

Source: U.S. Serial Set, 1891; Hearings 1984

“A moral question” 1984

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Legal Gambling in the U.S.: Demise and Comeback

Source: CRS report 2011

1911 “Moribund”

2011:Some form of gambling legal and regulated in all but two States

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“Vice, Gambling, and Booze”

Source: U.S. Serial Set 1931

Rubbing elbows with the underworld 1931

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Gambling… a cohesive influence

Source: U.S. Serial Set

Gathering for The Sun Dance 1950

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Gambling and Organized Crime 1950

Source: U.S. Serial Set 1950

Gangster Operations

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Promotional Games of Chance 1968

Investigates alleged misuse of games of chance as a marketing strategy, the impact on retail oil dealers, small business competitors, and consumers

Source: Hearings1968

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Punters Passing the Time 1978

Source: Parliamentary Papers 1978

Betting offices…open, but bleak and depressing—a “characteristic British compromise”

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Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 1988

Source: CRS reports 1988, 2011, 2014

Federal Standards for Indian Gaming

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Participation TV Gambling 2007

Source: Parliamentary Papers 2007

Call TV Quiz Shows “A Rip-Off”

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U.S. Gaming Revenue 2010

Source: Hearings 2011

1976 $3 billion1994 $39.9 billion2010 $61 billion

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Remote Gaming

Source: CRS report 2011: Hearings 2011

Internet gambling study: the most involved bettors played every fifth day, placing a median of 188 bets

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Gambling in Macau 2013

Concerns for US:Money laundering

Source: Congressional Research Digital Collection CRS report

Macau has 6 gaming licenses, 3 of which are subsidiaries of Nevada gaming companies

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Games of Chance…

Evil

Relaxing and joyous

Revenue-raising

Serious endeavor

Illegal

Legal

Fascinating

Thrilling

Addictive

Criminal enterprise

Good for business

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