“No,” my friend replied. “There’s no gambling in Shreveport, Period! There’s no gambling anywhere in Louisiana for that matter. It was outlawed years ago along with prostitution. It is illegal and expressly prohibited by the state constitution. Happily for our economy though, gaming is perfectly legal and thriving in the state of Louisiana. See, if you take out the ‘b’ and the ‘l’ from the word ‘gambling,’ it makes everything OK.” Horseshoe is apparently one of the most well-attended gambling casinos (slip of the tongue, I should have said gaming boat). The hotel brings in a lot of Vegas-type entertainment, and the facilities are spacious, generous and somewhat luxurious. There are a few others that are less crowded or a little shabbier. My friend explained that these joints are all actually in Bossier City just across the river from Shreveport.
I found it really interesting how people and officials twist the law a little to get around an obstacle preventing them from getting their way.
Suddenly I remembered Hot Springs, Arkansas, where I grew up. The same thing happened there in the 1960s. Gambling was legal there and then the laws changed and the letters “b” and “l” were dropped and only “gaming” was acceptable.
Like Louisiana, in some states, gaming is restricted to “riverboats” -- large, multi-story barges that more often than not are permanently moored in a body of water. Other states allow casinos to be on dry land, but restrict their numbers. In America alone, there are 450 commercial casinos, producing gross gaming revenue of nearly $29 billion in 2004.
I did a little research and learned that some American Indian tribes opt to create casinos on tribal land to provide employment and revenue. Revenues totaled an astonishing $14.5 billion in 2002 from 354 casinos. I always thought the Indians were poor!
Everywhere in the world, one way or another -- even online now -- gambling or gaming is possible. Although many participate in this as a form of recreation or even as a means to gain an income, gambling, like any behavior that involves variation in brain chemistry can become a psychologically addictive and harmful behavior in some people. Sadly, some who may indulge, persist in gambling even after repeated losses.
The Russian writer Dostoevsky portrays in his novel “The Gambler” the psychological implications of gambling and how gambling can affect gamblers. He also associates gambling and the idea of “getting rich quick,” suggesting that Russians may have a particular affinity for gambling.
All heavy gambling is like Russian roulette: one way or another, you lose.
Just a decade or more ago in Istanbul, I remember when Taksim square had casinos, although I did not frequent them. Lottery and gambling were very popular.
Casino-style gambling was made illegal by Erbakan’s government a few years ago, but those who like to indulge still fly to Turkish Cyprus to enjoy the casinos there where every major hotel has a large casino. We all know the old saying, “Where there’s a will, there is way!”
There are not any riverboats along the Bosporus, but there are Milli Piyango vendors everywhere. Milli Piyango is the national lottery, and the largest jackpots are at New Year’s and at national holidays. It seems that nearly everybody buys a ticket in the hopes of winning something. There is a one-in-five chance that you win the “amorti” and get your ticket money back. The winning numbers are printed in the newspapers. Instant lottery and a pool system of gambling on the results of football matches are also available.
I find it fascinating that all over the world we grade gambling into “harmless” types such as lottery, and “less desirable” types, such as casinos, and promote one but ban the other.
Maybe there is no shortcut to get rich quick that is both safe (i.e., not addictive) and honest… I think I had better not quit my day job!
Note: Keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
