Global View - Gambling (0136)

A: Did you hear? The state is thinking of legalizing gambling in our city! Soon we are gonna have amazing hotels and casinos here which will be good for our business!
B: Are you serious? Gambling is a vice industry built on deception and fed by the intentional exploitation of human weakness for the sole purpose of monetary gain! It disgusts me.
A: What are you talking about? How does it exploit people?
B: Well, to begin with, Gambling is addictive, ruins marriages, destroys families and bankrupts communities. Once you are addicted it is very difficult to stop. People have lost their houses, cars and been left out on the street after becoming addicted. Secondly, it exploits because men become addicted to gambling most often because of the action and risk. Women gamble to escape, and senior citizens will start gambling for the social interaction. Underage gamblers often start gambling on sports with friends and then illegal bookies.
A: Geez! Now that I think about it, maybe legalizing gambling isn't such a good idea! Although, I have been to Las Vegas, and I didn't become addicted or anything like that.
B: You cannot predict who will become addicted to gambling. Now excuse me, I have a protest rally to organize!

Key Vocabulary

legalize principle verb, present progressive to make (something) legal
vice common noun, non-variable bad or immoral behavior or habits
exploitation common noun, non-variable using someone for something unfairly
sole purpose phrase only reason
monetary Adjective about money
gambling common noun, non-variable the practice of risking money in a game or bet
casino common noun, plural a building or room that has games you can bet on
bookie common noun, plural a person who organizes bets (informal)
addicted Adjective unable to stop doing something that is harmful

Supplementary Vocabulary

Texas Hold'em common noun, singular a variation of poker where there are five community cards and each player has two personal cards.
slot machine common noun, singular a machine featuring an electronic game on which to gamble, worked by placing a coin in a slot
roulette common noun, singular A gambling game in which the players bet on which slot of a rotating disk a small ball will come to rest in.
odds common noun, plural the probability, expressed as a ratio, that something will or will not happen
online gambling common noun, singular a form to gamble via the interet visiting web sites and using a credit card