[dpc59]

Where I live (Québec in Canada) the government has a crown corporation that has a monopoly on gambling. Competition is illegal because it would make the government lose revenues.

[noobiemcfoob]

Publicly run gambling is interesting. I mean, a bookie is a bookie, but it seems a safer bet if your bookie is a publicly accountable institution.

[caseysoftware]

Until you realize that the "muscle" coming to collect is your local law enforcement..

[gohrt]

There's no "muscle" to "collect" if you pay your fee in advance.

[pm90]

Yes, also: profits from the operation are going to the state, which presumably puts them to better use than the local gangster.

[jogjayr]

I think the idea of state monopolies over "vices" (see also, government-run liquor stores) is to remove the profit incentive from running these businesses while still providing legal options for customers so they don't enrich criminals.

EDIT: to address the sibling comment. if companies that manage the monopolies earn a fixed fee rather than per-unit, the non-profit motive is still attained.

[gozur88]

Depends on how you look at it. Where I live the mobsters returned a much larger share of the betting as prizes, back when it was called the "numbers racket". The state doesn't actually get that much, but the company they hired to administer the lottery does.

[oldmanjay]

One should always endeavor to enrich the most powerful gangster around, so giving the money to the state makes sense