English attitudes and opinions prevailed in the "New World", and created gambling in America. Settlers brought with them the view that gambling was a harmless diversion. In these colonies, gambling was a popular and accepted activity. Legal gambling tended to be those types that were considered gentlemen-like. For example, it took a long time for cock fighting and prize-fighting to become legal because it was not considered a suitable gentlemen's' game.
Although the financial backers of the colonies viewed gambling as a source of the colonies' problems, they began to see it as the solution as well. The Virginia Company of London was permitted by Britain to hold lotteries and raise money for the company's colonial venture. The lotteries were relatively sophisticated and included instant winners. Eventually, Britain banned the lotteries because of complaints from the English back home that felt that they were robbing Britain's money. Proceeds helped establish some of the nation's......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 1316
Approximate Pages: 6 (260 words per double-spaced page) |