Gambling and Ethics: A Contradiction

Gambling and Ethics: a Contradiction in Terms.

In this paper, the author will provide an analysis an assessment of the ethics, laws, privacy and security and the code of the Mirage Casino in the context of Nevada gaming. The author will comment on the ethics of gaming as well as the ethics of collecting information for casino Data Mining databases such as the Mirage. In addition, the author will consider U.S. And Nevada laws specifically pertaining to casino gaming that they will use in the legal analysis and assessment. The author will document that the words gambling and ethics are a contraction in terms.

A very short look at the history of the industry is in order. It is difficult to believe, but the individuals who set the ethical standard for the gaming industry in Nevada was Meyer Lansky. By 1936, Lansky had established a number of casinos in Cuba, New Orleans and Florida. Shut down by confusion of World War II, the operations began operating again after 1945. Lansky then branched out to Las Vegas.

What made these gambling casinos successful were two factors. First of all, Lansky and his associates had the technical ability to manage the mathematical odds of the most common, popular wagering games. Secondly, they were known for an absolute rule of integrity of the wagers and games made within their casinos. The patrons of Lansky's establishments were always sure that the games were not rigged against them (using trick decks, loaded dice, etc.) and that the staffs were men of high integrity. The players knew that there would be severe repercussions for any of the casino staff who attempted to steal or cheat form the customer or the house (Moe, 59-62).

While ethics seem to have been easy enough for Murder Incorporated, things have been much more complicated for the rest of society, raising many legal and ethical issues. Unfortunately, it is the rest of society that it will has to foot the bill for the deficits of gambling, namely crime, gambling addiction, alcoholism and a number of other thorny issues. What are the true costs and benefits of gambling? Do the taxes, jobs and other "benefits" outweigh the problems, especially in the sense that the money raised from taxation, paid and secondary and may not be enough to pay the price tag on gambling. There is no sugar coating the fact that there a lot of hidden costs. The central question is whether or not the gambling industry is helping to ameliorate them or not, unlike the mafia which most certainly never did. Its kindness began and ended at the casino door and was limited to making the sheep at was fleecing at the gaming tables feel safe and comfortable. What about the privacy and security of gambling patrons that organizations such as the Mirage Casino violate on a regular basis to gather information in data mining in an attempt to know the patterns of their patrons and to maximize profits from them?

Perhaps the questions are much like those for the cigarette industry. Here is an industry that governments have become heavily dependent upon for income but which has severe social consequences. Certainly, it is not enough to hang a disclaimer sign by the door warning the patron of the consequences. Society also has to deal with the consequences of human stupidity as well.

A main issue raised against gambling by antigambling activists is that gambling is inherently wrong. They argue that it is against human nature and nobility on a base level. The gambler violates their own conscience by yielding to greed. Gambling is in essence an irrational effort to maximize chance against reason. As rational is destroyed, so is the will against being taken advantage of. The pro-gambling position is of the opinion that the central problem of gambling is a tension between free choice and the fear that the choice may harm either the individual or society. Therefore, pro-gambling sectors would like government to enact policies that promote greater freedom for "mature adults," but adds tighter controls on the freedoms of minors and vulnerable patrons. These laws include limits on the size of the casinos, hours of operations and the location of gaming establishments. Pro-gaming advocates say that the state should respect the right of the individual to behave as he or she wishes provided that there is no harm to others. In addition, they also argue that most of the regulation of such activities as drinking, smoking and pornography represents a compromise of freedom and that prohibition does not work (McGowan).