The culture of the USA is exceptionally diverse and exceedingly rich. The country’s many customs, traditions and ideals are well known throughout the world, from its thriving entertainment sector and pioneering science and technology industries, to its hugely popular sports, lively arts, delectable cuisine, widely celebrated holidays and many more. Things like Halloween, hotdogs, Thanksgiving, the Super Bowl, Apple, Hollywood, apple pie, Amazon, the American dream, McDonald’s, Google and its many iconic buildings – all of these and more come together to form the country’s fascinating cultural tapestry, which is constantly growing and evolving.
But where does gambling fit into all of this? Is it as important to American culture as the Statue of Liberty, baseball, Elvis Presley or even the yellow school bus? We’ll attempt to answer that question in this post, so don’t go anywhere.
When people from other countries think of America, they don’t usually associate gambling with the country. They think of some of the many other things we’ve mentioned, such as American holidays, companies, pastimes and achievements. But, you may be surprised to learn that gambling is actually quite big in the states and its popularity is growing very fast indeed.
The Industry with Numbers
In 2019, the country’s gambling industry was estimated to have contributed some $137.5 billion to the economy. This is a significant increase on the previous year’s figure of $79.42 billion. Figures for 2020 aren’t out yet, but they could well beat those from 2019, especially since more people have been gambling at home due to the ongoing pandemic.
Anyone can see from these figures that gambling in America is huge. What’s also huge is the potential for this industry to grow. Many different forms of gambling are still illegal in lots of states – online gambling, for example, is legal in well below half. So, the country’s annual gambling revenue could get very high indeed, double what it is now or even greater.
Despite gambling clearly being a thriving industry in the US – online gambling especially, with people visiting online casinos and sportsbooks more during the pandemic – gambling isn’t really synonymous with American culture just yet. It’s just not something that springs to mind when you think of the country.
The Most Famous Gambling Location
However, Las Vegas is something that’s well known and widely accepted by people in other countries as a part of American culture. The desert city in Nevada is famous for its over-the-top casino resorts and its multitude of entertainment offerings. It’s got a reputation for being a party city that’s always got something going on no matter what time of day or night it is. While it attracts many millions of Americans looking for thrills and fun, it also attracts tens of millions of foreigners.
Vegas is one of the world’s top destinations for gambling and is home to many of the world’s largest casinos and casino resorts. Even though the city’s known for its gambling, it’s got many other attractions and not everyone who goes there spends money on casino games or other gambling-related activities. Many people go for the tourist attractions or the nightlife.
The Pros & Cons About Gambling
Even though the USA can boast having a gambling hotspot as popular as Vegas, gambling still isn’t really that closely associated with the country’s culture as other things are. Why is that? The reason is probably that, despite its popularity, gambling does have some negative connotations that can’t be shaken off. Most people who gamble regularly do so sensibly and don’t have any problems. However, there will always be a small minority for whom gambling is problematic for one reason or another. Some people become addicted and spend too much time and money playing at casinos, especially online ones as they’re more easily accessible. Problems such as addiction, debt and even depression can arise in people who end up gambling too much.
Many people know that the best way to gamble is to do so in moderation. It’s easy to fall into the trap of spending more and more time and money hoping to land a big win that, chances are, will never come. Casinos, both land-based and online ones, can easily suck you in and encourage you to keep playing. Thankfully, the majority of people see gambling as something that can be enjoyable, as long as it’s sensible and not overdone.
Conclusion
Despite gambling being very popular in the USA – its annual revenue is even bigger than the country’s box office earnings – it’s not seen as a key part of American culture. This is because it’s associated with things such as debt and addiction that go against the wholesome ideals promoted by the concept of the American dream. While the activity’s popularity can’t be denied, it may be a long while before gambling is as closely associated with American culture as you’d expect it to be based on how much money Americans actually spend on it.