[zeveb]

> I'm wondering why gambling(except for lotteries and casinos, etc.) was made illegal?

Because the State can't stand the competition. Note that most numbers games (i.e., private lotteries) have better payout odds than the State lottery.

[dragonwriter]

In many cases it was made illegal and state lotteries only created much later, so that explanation for why it was made illegal is not plausible.