Changes

'''Gambling''' consists of betting on games of chance or uncertain outcomes (like the winner of a sports match or an election).  Sometimes the game entails some skill as an attraction, as in [[poker]]. '''''Gambling addiction has a devastatingly harmful effect on society and families affected by it'''''. Gambling often harms families that can least afford it.  

'''Gambling''' consists of betting on games of chance or uncertain outcomes (like the winner of a sports match or an election).  Sometimes the game entails some skill as an attraction, as in [[poker]]. '''''Gambling addiction has a devastatingly harmful effect on society and families affected by it'''''. Gambling often harms families that can least afford it.  

Gambling is a way that government and businesses take money from the poor.  Twice in our nation's history gambling was legalized in a widespread manner, and then prohibited.  We are currently in a third phase of the legalization of gambling, first in Las Vegas and Atlantic City (which have both declined in recent years), and then on riverboats and Indian reservations, and now in many locations in some states.  Gambling is still mostly prohibited in many [[conservative]] states, such as Texas, except for government-sponsored gambling in the form of a state lottery.

Gambling is a way that government and businesses take money from the poor.  Twice in our nation's history gambling was legalized in a widespread manner, and then prohibited.  We are currently in a third phase of the legalization of gambling, first in Las Vegas and Atlantic City (which have both declined economically in recent years), and then on riverboats and Indian reservations, and now in many locations in some states.  Gambling is still mostly prohibited in many [[conservative]] states, such as Texas, except for government-sponsored gambling in the form of a state lottery.

Lotteries are a common form of gambling, with a small stake being bet for the very low probability of winning a very large amount of money, if the numbers a player chooses are selected by a random number picking device.  Lotteries are a major revenue source for governments.  In just one multi-state lottery in early 2012, there was about $1.5 billion wasted on the "Mega Millions" lottery - money that could have been put to far better use.<ref>http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120331/NEWS/303310014/Americans-spend-1-5B-Mega-Millions-tickets?odyssey=mod|mostview</ref>

Lotteries are a common form of gambling, with a small stake being bet for the very low probability of winning a very large amount of money, if the numbers a player chooses are selected by a random number picking device.  Lotteries are a major revenue source for governments.  In just one multi-state lottery in early 2012, there was about $1.5 billion wasted on the "Mega Millions" lottery - money that could have been put to far better use.<ref>http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120331/NEWS/303310014/Americans-spend-1-5B-Mega-Millions-tickets?odyssey=mod|mostview</ref>