[EricE]

Please don't refer to gambling as an industry.

Industries produce things - all gambling produces is misery and social fallout.

This is from someone who grew up near Vegas. Example: I was taking a college friend through a casino to get to the (at that time) cheap food and he paused and asked me what the big wheel was. I explained it was a paycheck cashing wheel - you cash your paycheck in the casino and they spin the wheel for a prize. He immediately saw it for the evil it was (with cash in hand impulse would likely win out and the casino get's your paycheck eventually); I was jaded and of course would never think of doing such a thing so I didn't think it any further. I felt rather stupid.

Sometimes having an outsiders perspective is important. Sadly with the spread and legitimizing of gambling, the social costs are going to be pretty significant.

It's still amazing to me to see the rush of people in the casinos at the first of the month after getting their social security checks.

Evil and vile are too good of descriptors to be wasted on this "industry".