OK, so it was almost 1,000 years ago, but it's still pretty cool:

http://westerndigs.org/dice-gaming-utah-cave-prehistoric-gambling/

I do wish they'd bring in the Lottery, like Idaho and Arizona has. In Nevada the lottery is illegal so it doesn't compete with state sanctioned gambling.

It would be nice when I retire to sunny Utah, to not have to drive across the border every now and again just to pick up lotto tickets lol. (Although one can register on New York's lottery, and pay for a subscription, just so don't have to buy tickets in person..)

Then on the other hand, I'm reminded how much of my disposable income will be saved by not gambling it away. ... I don't play at local casinos near where I live because I hate losing money, unless it's a state lottery. Then I make exceptions for the big wins, even though the odds of winning are far slimmer than getting hit by lightning.

If I had to choose, of course I will choose lotto. ;)

I've been known to frequent Wendover, NV a few times. Won a fair share of money and I know that is a total fluke. I buy a few lottery tickets whenever I head to Idaho for family things.

If it weren't for the Utah folks, Wendover would cease to exist.

Another good thing about lotteries and gambling, the TSCC won't take tithing on it. It is considered filthy lucre.

That is a myth.

When I moved to Las Vegas I asked my bishop about that. He and I looked through the handbook and there is nothing saying to not accept tithing money from gambling.

Half my family are Nevada mormons and my mom moved there as a young adult.

You are correct, no tithing is going to ever be turned away.

The church owns a percentage of the nevada casinos.

The church owned Zions bank purchased Nevada State bank witch has a part ownership of many of the Nevada casinos.

I stand corrected. :)

Church's stance on gambling:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is opposed to gambling, including lotteries sponsored by governments. Church leaders have encouraged Church members to join with others in opposing the legalization and government sponsorship of any form of gambling.

"Gambling is motivated by a desire to get something for nothing. This desire is spiritually destructive. It leads participants away from the Savior's teachings of love and service and toward the selfishness of the adversary. It undermines the virtues of work and thrift and the desire to give honest effort in all we do.

Those who participate in gambling soon discover the deception in the idea that they can give little or nothing and receive something of value in return. They find that they give up large amounts of money, their own honor, and the respect of family members and friends. Deceived and addicted, they often gamble with funds they should use for other purposes, such as meeting the basic needs of their families. Gamblers sometimes become so enslaved and so desperate to pay gambling debts that they turn to stealing, giving up their own good name."

Ensign Article: The Evils of Gambling


Critic's Commentary:

Although the LDS Church condemns any form of gambling, even the lottery as stated above, it doesn't stop the Latter-day Saints from enjoying the benefits of the gambling industry and the lotteries.

Many LDS live and work in Nevada where gambling is legal. Many LDS also work in casinos and receive their income and pay their tithing off the fruits of gambling. No one seems to mind.

Also, most U.S. state lotteries fund education scholarships. Few people see a problem with that and hundreds of thousands of students are able to get an education that they wouldn't have had the opportunity otherwise if it weren't for the state lotteries. If everyone was LDS there would be no state lotteries and no state-funded scholarships programs, therefore leading to less people obtaining a college education. Of course, Latter-day Saints don't hesitate to accept the state lotteries' money for their children's education even when the church condemns the lotteries that fund them.

http://mormonthink.com/glossary/gambling.htm

Over the years I was involved in some poker playing circles in Utah. Done very good, as most of them were not good players, didn't understand the game. In a period of about 6 months, bought and paid for a new pickup. Got so that I was not invited very much. Still went to Wendover and Vegas. Probably some ahead, but had lot of fun.

A fellow poker player!

My screen name does not have anything to do with water.

You need to hook me up with some good home games

I support legalized gambling, but I'm against state lotteries. The lotto tends to serve as an extremely regressive tax on the poor, and many of the moneys are not used to good purpose.

This is so very true, and why the lottery system is maligned.

Typically it's poor folks who play the lottery, spending their next to last dollars on a hope and a pipe dream.

One attorney I used to work for put it this way (he was pretty well off, living on inheritance money, and both he and his wife were well to do attorneys, *even* he played the lotto,) that that dollar buys hope. Buys hope, like we can put a price on it.

Hope from despair. From drudgery. From poverty. From having to work for a living. Or from not having a job, or underemployment.

It's the regressive tax part that really gets me the most, though. It generates billions of dollars, and the gov *says* it goes to *help* education. I have a sneaking suspicion more of it goes to other causes, including supporting huge bureaucracies to oversee the handling of them. The people at the top of that dogpile rake in the dough as much or more as a lottery winner.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2015 09:33PM by amyjo.

Alpiner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I support legalized gambling, but I'm against
> state lotteries. The lotto tends to serve as an
> extremely regressive tax on the poor, and many of
> the moneys are not used to good purpose.

*
take from the people and give to the person([life]less)
*

I've always viewed the lottery as a tax on the statistically challenged.

Pretty much.

A lot of smarter folks describe what they spend on gambling as paying for entertainment -- purchase a ticket for a dollar, and you can spend a few minutes (depending on the game) or hours or days contemplating what winning the jackpot would get you. Which is fine, as far as it goes, but is not how the bulk of players spend with regards to the lottery. Many poor individuals are spending upwards of 10% of their income on the lottery. And while I'm perfectly okay with legalized gambling run through private institutions, I believe it's poor form for a state government to further impoverish people already at the bottom rung of the income ladder.

Some links, for those interested.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/03/amazing-the-poorest-households-spend-9-of-their-income-on-lottery-tickets/255304/

http://www.alternet.org/hard-times-usa/disturbing-facts-about-state-lotteries-they-prey-poor-and-trash-economy-and-political

Scratch tickets are the worst. Like slot machines, carefully engineered to get people addicted ("Skinner Box").

I was in a trendy bistro and shopping district a few evenings ago, and saw a panhandler, sitting on his milk crate. He had his cup on the side walk (with at least a few dollars in it), while he was scraping his scratch tickets. Yeah, sure, I'm going to help you maintain your lottery habit, buddy (NOt!).

Mormons gamble that the LDS church will get them to heaven. But, in this case, the house ALWAYS wins.