Introduction
Introduction
Gambling fever is sweeping the country. Louisiana voters approved a lottery Oct. 7, bringing the total number of lottery states to 33. Gambling proposals also were on the ballots of several other states Nov. 6, suggesting that more people accept the argument that gambling should be viewed as a “voluntary tax.” At the same time, though, troubling questions continue to be raised about gambling's impact on individual bettors—and about whether it is as lucrative and reliable a revenue source as its proponents claim.