The Unethical Practices of Casinos
When walking into “The Strip” in Las Vegas, an instant feel of excitement rushes up. The flashy neon lights paired with glimpses of amazing acrobatics on gigantic screens easily brings up the energy of tourists, businessmen, and gambling addicts. You may wonder how a once stranded desert can transform into such a paradise of skyscrapers. The answer lies in casinos.
In the early 1930s, gambling was legalized throughout the state of Nevada and casinos began to flourish (Dunstan, 1997). The economic growth in Nevada, especially the city of Las Vegas, has improved tremendously by the creation of casinos. Many people were employed since the operation of casinos requires a huge amount of labor, skill, and expertise. In addition, local retail sales also increased from casinos when gamblers visit the stores to spend their winnings on various items and products (Garrett, 2003). As a result, many state governments began to legalize casinos in order to boost their economies and increase employment. As of today, there are roughly 1500 casinos in the United States and they generate almost 65 billion dollars in revenue (“Facts on U.S Casinos” 2013). However, casinos use immoral methods to achieve this incredible feat of big profit with few government interventions. While the city of Las Vegas becomes more prosperous than before, many citizens lose their fortunes or even lives by the immoral business practices implemented by the casinos. Even though the
The Las Vegas and Atlantic City locations have lost revenues in recent years. In addition to the economic slowdown, these gambling locations are also facing new competitors in the market that are providing attractive choices to the customers. Though there are some external forces beyond their control, it seems that attractiveness and accessibility are very important focus areas for these cities.
The growing industry of gambling creates revenue from taxes, but is it really profitable? Smith-Christopher claims “the total amount accounts for less than a quarter of the gambling industry revenues nationwide each year.” It can be said that gambling can help economic progress, “Nearly half of all tribal gaming enterprises earn less than $10 million in annual revenue, and one-quarter earn less than $3 million each year. On the other end of the spectrum, about 40 tribal casinos (or about 1 in 10) take in two-thirds of all Indian gaming revenues” (Smith-Christopher). The economic benefits that gambling creates may outweigh the addictions it may create. Walker claims, “As gambling expands, the gambling industry and government are beginning to
With the Corporate Gaming Act of 1969, Las Vegas began a slow transition towards “respectability.” Gambling in Las Vegas was gaining in popularity in the 1950’s and 1960’s, but the mob presence itself was preventing Las Vegas from attracting the necessary outside funds to turn it into a dominant Metropolis (204). “Nevada seemed to be shedding this image in favor of the many new family-oriented “theme resorts” that were being built, especially in Las Vegas (204). Then there’s The Rat
For many years, Nevada casinos did not make much of an effort to attract the Hispanic demographic, despite the relatively large Hispanic population in the Southwest. There was a clear, underlying assumption that this demographic had little interest in casino gambling, at least not the high-stakes gambling conducted at typical Las Vegas casinos, where it is not unusual for patrons to gamble more than $1,000 in an evening, as well as see expensive 'lounge acts.' Clearly, such assumptions were erroneous given that casinos specifically catering to the Hispanic market are now flourishing in Nevada. Furthermore, because the Hispanic demographic has been so long neglected, even Hispanic leaders are not complaining that their communities are being preyed upon. These new campaigns are seen as a sign of strength of Latino buying power.
Mike Justice, a member of the Siletz tribe in Oregon, is jobless and lives with his recovering addict wife and son (The Economist, 2015). He could work at the tribe’s casino, but instead collects welfare payments and $1,200 yearly from the casino per capita payments (The Economist, 2015). The minimum wage he would make at the casino would barely pay for the transportation costs, since Justice has no vehicle, so he would rather not work and collect money (The Economist, 2015). This is a growing problem and a newer study in the American Indian Law Journal of 24 tribes in the Pacific North-West shows that growing casino revenues can actually make poverty worse as poverty rose from 25% to 29% from 2000 to 2010(The Economist, 2015). Of the 17 tribes in the study that paid directly to tribe members, poverty rose in ten of them (The Economist, 2015). Why the rise in poverty? One reason is the way the money is distributed. The more an individual is paid, the more he has the desire not to work (The Economist, 2015). Obesity, poor health, drug abuse, and alcoholism are already problems and without health insurance, from not working, these problems get much
The city of Las Vegas is considered to be one of the best entertainment locations in the world. Only in Vegas can you find top notch travel amenities and luxurious resorts, accompanied by world class dining and entertainment. Recognized throughout the world, the Las Vegas Strip is the iconic image of dreams and possibilities dependent only on Lady Luck. Not all winning takes place on the craps tables or slot machines. Las Vegas continues to reinvent itself, seeking better and more glamorous ways to enrich the visitors’ experience and score a win for the travel industry. It is this reinvention, this type of guest winning that brings me to discuss and explore the success of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
First, the state has to find construction workers to work on building the commercial casino. In a casino there are many different workers. There are dealers, a broker, bartenders, chefs, cooks, clerks, bingo caller, floor worker, waiters, host, managers, change attendants, cashiers, runners, technicians, security officers, and surveillance officers. In Las Vegas, Nevada there were 170,206 people employed at a; casino in the year 2012. Nevada is ranked 35th in state population and has a population of 2,790,136 in the state. Texas is ranked 2nd and 26.96 million. One of Nevada’s major industry is gambling. If the state of Texas were to legalize gambling the state unemployment rate would go down. Not only would people get employed by the casinos. Other businesses would flourish also creating new jobs. Hotels and motels would be built. Restaurant and brothels would be built. The newly built hotels, restaurants, and bars would need employees. More people would be employed causing the unemployment rate to go down once more. Las Vegas is a testament of the powerful ability of gambling to foster economic development. Las Vegas has shown impressive job growth, developed into a major city with a low tax burden that many state and local governments look at with envy, and has spawned significant private and public sector investment (Library of California). A Wisconsin study shows major economic impact when the state practiced Indian gaming (a
A few years ago at the streets of the cities one can see casino Vegas. The slots gaily winked at the adrenaline fans with hundreds colorful lamps offering them to try their luck. Everybody of them secretly from all hoped for the best at Vegas slots, dreaming of a crazy jackpot or at least a big prize.
In 2012 commercial casinos earned revenues of $37.3 billion, while Indian casinos had revenues of $27.9 billion. The American commercial casino industry directly contributed $8.6 billion in taxes and directly employed over 332,000 people in 2012. Whereas, Native American casinos are exempt from federal taxes, but individual Native Americans aren’t exempt from taxes. As a result, the Indian casino industry also contributes tremendous resources to the government. Although, it’s quite complex to calculate a direct comparison with commercial casinos. Casino City provides the only comprehensive annual report on the Indian casino industry and their report includes other variables, such as nongaming operations. Casino City concluded that Indian casinos employed, directly and indirectly, more than 679,000 people in 2012. That report also concluded that Indian gaming contributed $9 billion in taxes and revenue-sharing payments to federal, state, and local governments in the same
Finally, an increase in job opportunities is a strong motivator for the legalization of gambling and casino development in a time where jobs are hard to find. Jobs are created in all sectors from planners, construction workers, dealers, table workers, cooks and kitchen staff, bartenders, wait staff, security, hotel staff, event coordinators, etc. Financial reasons are the most discussed reasons for the advocacy of legalizing gambling and casino development.
The development of tribal casinos or what is commonly referred to as organized gambling can be credited to Native American reservations. Gaming operations have brought phenomenal success to many native tribes in America, and there has been a new dimension to the existing debate regarding Native American sovereignty in organized gambling. There are over 310 casinos ran by about one-third the nations federally recognized tribes, and generate around $10 billion in revenue which is one-sixth of all revenue generated through legal gaming in the country (Evans, Topoleski, 2002). Many of the tribes are now able to provide for themselves essential services rather than wait for the government. However, most
When I think of a service that is legal but unethical, I immediately think of casinos. Social responsibility is defined as an organization’s obligation to maximize its positive impact on stockholders and minimize its negative impact (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2013). For the stockholders invested in a casino company they are in direct conflict with this. The questionable services that are rendered to consumers who engage in entertaining themselves with these services has more cautionary tales than stories of happy endings.
Casinos don’t come much bigger and better than Caesars Palace. This is one of the original big Vegas casinos, and it has a fearsome reputation that even the mightiest casinos on the Las Vegas Strip can only dream of. But what it is about Caesars Palace that is so alluring? In this article, we will take a closer look at the global goliath that is Caesars Palace, and see just why it holds such a special place in every Las Vegas gambler’s heart.
Adding to Native American casino fortunes, their casinos are likely to increase over the next few years. It is noted that several states are reaching agreements to allow the introduction or expansion of Native American casinos because of the additional revenues they can provide. This increases the Native American casinos opportunities and consitutes a high barrier for new entrants. The major source for this entry barrier is the cost disadvantage independent of scale regarding the favorable government polices vis -a -vis the Indian Gaming and Recration Act of 1988.
Utilitarianism suggests that the act that results in the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of individuals is the option that we should choose. Whether gambling should be deemed as an ethical or unethical act depends entirely on the consequences and benefits gambling has on casinos, gamblers, and non-gamblers. If gambling results in the overall increase of a casino’s profit and the overall increase of a gambler’s profit and mental health, then the act of gambling would be considered ethical. However, if the act has more negative implications than positive, then the act of gambling would be unethical. For example, it would be unethical if the transaction between casinos and gamblers was rigged solely for the casino 's financial benefit while exploiting those who gamble there. The significant concern of this paper is not to point a finger at casinos and other gambling mediums as a means to blame them for the mental conditions of those who we’d consider as gambling addicts. Instead, the point of this paper is to acknowledge the effects of gambling and propose the importance of responsibility. I will present an unbiased view of gambling, paying close attention to the psychological effects and motives individuals have regarding gambling at casinos. Also, I will look at the positive results associated with having a successful casino business, so that allowing gambling is ethical from a utilitarian point of