Gambling has been a part of the American experience since the country was first founded. While it may not be as popular or as prevalent as it once was, gambling still plays an important role in the United States economy and culture. To understand why this is so, we must take a look at the history of gambling in America.
The first recorded form of gambling in America took place in 1612 when settlers from England brought dice to Jamestown, Virginia. The game quickly spread throughout the colonies and became one of the most popular forms of entertainment for the early settlers. During this period, lotteries were also used to raise money for various public projects such as roads and bridges.
In 1791, Congress passed the first federal law related to gambling – The Lottery Act – which prohibited lotteries in all states except for Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This act remained largely unchanged until 1868 when Congress passed another act that outlawed lotteries across the entire country.
In 1931, Nevada legalized gambling with a bill that allowed casinos to operate within its borders. This marked the beginning of what would become known as “Las Vegas,” which is now a major tourist destination in the U.S. Other states soon followed suit by legalizing different types of gambling including horse racing, pari-mutuel betting and state-run lotteries.
Today, there are more than 60 casinos located across 20 states in addition to numerous other types of gaming activities that can be found throughout these same states. Gambling continues to remain an important part of American culture and provides an economic benefit for many communities across the country through jobs and tax revenue generation.
