Gambling and games of chance in US Federal government documents and British government documents.

2. GAMES OF CHANCE
IN BRITISH AND
AMERICAN HISTORY
Catherine Johnson
ALA June 2014

3. Games of Chance in British and American History
Sources:
• U.S. Serial Set
• CRS Reports
• Congressional Hearings
• Executive Branch
Documents
• Colonial State Papers
• House of Commons
Parliamentary Papers
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4. Native American Gambling Traditions
7/2/2014 4Sources: U.S. Serial Set Reports, 1852, 1903, 1905
Fascination, Intensity of Interest, Addiction

5. 7/2/2014 5
Native American Gambling Games: Implements and Songs
Sources: U.S. Serial Set reports 1902, 1941
Beautiful objects, unexpected rhythm

6. British and Colonial Gambling Laws
7/2/2014Sources: Colonial State Papers 1677, 1728; House of
Commons Parliamentary Papers 1711
“Laws of the Massachusetts Colony That Are Repugnant
and Contrary to the Laws of England” 1677
Virginia restrictions
on gambling 1728
British efforts to restrict
gambling 1711
Remedies for Evil

7. Stock-jobbing and Scrippomony
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Sources: Parliamentary Papers 1734; Executive
Branch Documents 1853 Thomas Jefferson
Speculation in stocks…worse than
public gambling 1734
Speculation in bank scrip…the spirit
of gaming is incurable 1791

8. Sources: U.S. Serial Set 1844, 1858 8
The Cantonese:
Unemployed—Vagrants, Gamblers, “Bad Men”
Gambling in China—The Opium War Period
Gambling Houses—
”Prohibited by Law”

9. British Licensing of Gambling in Hong Kong--1867
“The government has no
right to countenance and
sanction vice”
Source: Parliamentary Papers 1868-69 9
“Larceny among servants is 75%
less than it had been before
licenses were issued”

10. Gambling in the Army
10
British Army Courts-Martial for Gambling 1889
“The vice of gambling prevails to a very
considerable extent in our Army…” 1898
Protecting “the boys” World War IISources: Parliamentary Papers 1892; U.S. Serial Set 1898; Hearings 1961

11. State Lotteries
11
State lotteries…
Their power for evil increasing
1891
Source: U.S. Serial Set, 1891; Hearings 1984
“A moral question” 1984

12. Legal Gambling in the U.S.: Demise and Comeback
Source: CRS report 2011 12
1911
“Moribund”
2011:
Some
form of
gambling
legal and
regulated
in all but
two States

13. “Vice, Gambling, and Booze”
Source: U.S. Serial Set 1931 13
Rubbing elbows
with the
underworld 1931

14. Gambling…
a cohesive
influence
Source: U.S. Serial Set 14
Gathering for The Sun Dance 1950

15. Gambling and Organized Crime 1950
Source: U.S. Serial Set 1950 15
Gangster Operations

16. Promotional Games of Chance 1968
Investigates alleged misuse of
games of chance as a
marketing strategy, the impact
on retail oil dealers, small
business competitors, and
consumers
Source: Hearings1968 16

17. Punters Passing the Time 1978
Source: Parliamentary Papers 1978 17
Betting offices…open, but
bleak and depressing—a
“characteristic British
compromise”

18. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act 1988
Source: CRS reports 1988, 2011, 2014 18
Federal Standards for Indian Gaming

19. Participation TV Gambling 2007
Source: Parliamentary Papers 2007 19
Call TV Quiz Shows “A Rip-Off”

20. U.S. Gaming Revenue 2010
Source: Hearings 2011 20
1976 $3 billion
1994 $39.9 billion
2010 $61 billion

21. Remote Gaming
Source: CRS report 2011: Hearings 2011
21
Internet gambling study: the most
involved bettors played every fifth
day, placing a median of 188 bets

22. Gambling in Macau 2013
22
Concerns for US:
Money laundering
Source: Congressional Research Digital Collection
CRS report
Macau has 6 gaming licenses, 3 of which are
subsidiaries of Nevada gaming companies

23. Games of Chance…
Evil
Relaxing and joyous
Revenue-raising
Serious endeavor
Illegal
Legal
Fascinating
Thrilling
Addictive
Criminal enterprise
Good for business
????
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