Trial balloon floated to drop Vegas gambling age to 18
Filed under: Extracurriculars
Remember when you were 18? Were you good at handling money, shrewd at evaluating risk, able to keep your head while those around you were going crazy? Me neither. That's why I think the idea, floated by a lawyer for the gaming industry recently, to drop the legal gambling age to 18 in Las Vegas casinos is a big mistake.
The rationale is obvious; Vegas has been expanding right into the teeth of America's economic downturn, and it needs new punters with cash to spend and a poor grasp of probability, ones easily distracted by the hype and glitter. In tribal casinos in nearby California and Arizona, 18-year-olds are already allowed to squander their money gamble.
In my opinion, 18-year-olds are easy marks for the casinos, too easy; the phrase "taking candy from babies" comes to mind. How many earn enough money on their own to fund a gambling night, and how many would be playing with their parent's money? How many 18-year-olds could revel in the atmosphere of booze and sex without being tantalized by those adult recreations, as well?
If Vegas is desperate enough for money to look to the 18-21 crowd for help, it might want to think about canceling some of those expansion plans. The 18-21-year-old's have a lifetime yet to cultivate bad habits; don't rush them. Let them gamble on a college education, a career, marriage, children. Then, if they have anything left over, they can hit the tables in LV.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
11-13-2008 @ 1:10PM
brianna said...
You know what for all those "adults" out thier who make the mistake of thinking the same thing about any younger generation needs to realize that there are younger people that are mature enough if not more mature than say a 30 year old. I for one know i have a good head on my shoulders to not get sucked in to the world of of glitter and gambling. There are "adults" by age but not by maturity and resonsibilty so instead of being a hypocrit by action just give it a chance to have the younger generation contribute to our hurting economy.
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11-14-2008 @ 7:35AM
ROBERT said...
MAYBE YOU HAVENT BEEN READING THE NEWS PAPER BECAUSE YOUR ON YOUR CELL PHONE, CRIME FROM CHILDREN IS ON THE RISE, MAYBE THEY WILL ROB OR .,., YOU GET THE PICTURE I HOPE WE SET AGE LIMITS FOR EVERYBODYS PROTECTION, YOUR COMENT PROVES THAT YOU ARE NIEVE AND IMATURE. WE ALL ARE SUBJECT TO CRIME, OR HARM OR DO YOU LIVE IN A IMPREGNABLE BUBBLE
11-14-2008 @ 7:18AM
joncdodge said...
This is definitely not a good idea. More frivolous spending...
Ever wonder why the drinking age is at 21?
http://www.curiousread.com/2008/10/why-is-drinking-age-21.html
JD
11-14-2008 @ 7:48AM
Martin said...
Learn how to spell Brianna, then you might have some credibility when advancing an argument that you're as mature as a 30 year old adult.
That being said, I agree that "some" 18 year olds may indeed be as mature as others who are older, but most are certainly NOT!.. Between lottery tickets and the Indian tribal casinos already mentioned there already enough gambling hazards placed in the path of these young people. Any politician who really cares about his constituents and who isn't already in the pockets of the gaming industry, should shoot this idea down.
11-14-2008 @ 11:59AM
Tom said...
I know some bright 12 year olds too. Why not drop the age limit to 12, or 10 . . . maybe 6 . . .Hell why even have a limit?
11-14-2008 @ 11:49AM
hommysan said...
You are right! Maybe they also throw in a raise on the age to be able to enlist in the armed forces and are sent to Irak or Afghanistan.
11-14-2008 @ 1:18PM
Billy said...
Damn the economy.Do not put 18 YEAR OLDS at risk lifes a bitch donot put obstacles in their paths
11-14-2008 @ 6:43AM
Chelsea said...
My parents own houses near various gambling centers, my boyfriend is above age, and I am still in the middle of the 18-21 crowd. I dont particuarly wish to gamble, I just dont want to be yelled at for walking without an adult to the restroom that happens to be accross the floor from the lounge where I work on my projects for university while my parents and boyfriend relax and play the tables a bit. I have friends that have been playing for money (lots of it for college students) for 5 years and they are still not considered old enough to play with the "big boys". Those who will become adicted to gambling usualy have the mind that bends easily to adiction, same as drinking. Government can't protect everyone from everything forever... it just doesn't work. And I really hate having to ask my parents to hold my hand and walk me accross the room to the little girls room when I'm 20 years old.
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11-14-2008 @ 7:19AM
ROBERT said...
JUST WHAT WE NEED ANOTHER WAY OF CORUPTING OUR SOCIETY AT AN EARLY AGE. COSINOS TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN, THEY TOOK YOURS NOW THEY WANT TO TAKE YOUR CHILDRENS, AND OUR CHILDREN WILL TURN TO CRIME TO SUPPORT THERE FIX.THEY WILL ROB US OR THE ELDERLY, WHO SAYS GAMBLING DOESNT CREATE CRIME. THEY GOT TO GET THERE FUNDS FROM SOMEWHERE, MOMS PURSE OR DADS WALLET. OR EVEN YOUR PURSE OR WALLET. HEY WHY NOT LOWER THE AGE FOR WEAPONS. OH MY BAD, KIDS ARE ALREADY KILLING KIDS WHEN YOU OUT LAW GUNS ONLY OUTLAWS WILL HAVE GUNS.
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11-14-2008 @ 7:01AM
Michael said...
I say lower it.......18 is old enough to go to War but not old enough to Gamble..give me a break.....We as a Counrty are so UPTIGHT about things.....I am 48 years old now and went to my first Casino on my 21st Birthday and I do not have a problem with gambling. I go once a year to Las Vegas and have a blast sitting at the Slots.
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11-14-2008 @ 7:07AM
Brian said...
Lower the age, If you can join the Army you should beable to gamble AND drink. I am 44 years old and when I was 18 you could still buy beer. If you are able to go over seas and get killed, then you should be able to make up your own mind and what is right for you..
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11-14-2008 @ 11:23AM
nancy said...
Where were you able to buy a beer at 18? Not in the US. I am older than you and the drinking age has always been 21. Also I have lived in Nevada for most of my life and I have known people of all ages that couldn't handle living in a 24 hour state. I have seen just as many lives ruined from gambling as you hear about drugs ruining lives.
11-14-2008 @ 7:17AM
ROBERT said...
TO ALL THE CHILDREN OUT THERE I AM 61 I AM A VETERAN, VIETMAN 1967 TO 1968 I AM STILL LEARNING. I DIDNT GIVE UP BECAUSE OF MY AGE. I FOUGHT FOR THE FREEDOM OF THIS GREAT NATION, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO BECAUSE OF OUR VETERANS. IF YOU PROVE YOURSELF FIRST BY DEFENDING THIS COUNTRY, AND YOUR RIGHTS, BECAUSE I THATS ME NOW I SPEAK FOR MY SELF, I BELIEVE IF YOU JOIN THE MILITARY TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY EVEN THE WOMAN, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOUR HEARTS DESIRE, THAT IS, WITHIN THE LAW. NOW WE ARE BACK TO YOU HAVE YOU SERVED YET? WHAT WAR OR OH!!! MY BAD,
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11-14-2008 @ 7:26AM
john said...
Robert...61 and still learning.
I agree that you are still learning. You really need to learn how to spell and then read what you have typed before you submit anything. Your ramblings do not make much sense. Maybe it is time to set the age limit for listing "advice" or comments on AOL to 60 years old.
11-14-2008 @ 7:26AM
Janice said...
I figure if your old enough to die for your country, then you should be old enough to be treated as an adult. What you think the magic # 21 makes people smarter or more responsible??? WRONG !!!!! If you don't know right from wrong by age 18, you never will.
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11-14-2008 @ 7:32AM
Chelsea said...
Mr Robert... My daddy is your same age and same background... ret Lt Col USAF... I know that we never stop learning... thats the beauty of humans... corruption comes from everywhere... but the patriarchal society that makes you use the phrase "EVEN THE WOMAN" makes my skin feel like I need to take multiple showers, and thats sad... a 100 years since the "Cult of True Womanhood" was suposedly abolished and we still get the phrases that make young women think they are below men.
When you were 18 you could buy beer serve the country and be a man... I'm 20... (i chose not to drink even though it is widely availible to me), I plan to serve the country after I become a better person and finish my education (WHOOP 2010!), and you know what, I am a WOMAN. Your mother was a woman hopefully a lady, so dont make disparaging comments... it doesnt look nice
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11-14-2008 @ 7:44AM
execk2 said...
Oh great more testosterone on the strip....I am so over Vegas, it's become too aggressive with young fluff wanna-bee's living on a weekend dream paid for by their Visa card.
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11-14-2008 @ 7:45AM
Simzee said...
If you are underage....Go to the N.J. casinos. They'll let ANY underage person gamble. No one will say anything to you if you are spending MONEY.
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11-14-2008 @ 8:10AM
ADOA said...
In the U.S.A. at 18 a person is considered an "adult," they can buy cigarettes, vote, and if they are wealthy rent a house or an apartment, and if they're trust fund babies they can buy a house. If a person is an adult at 18, the should be able to gamble and drink alcohol. I believe the age of "adulthood" should be raised to 21 for everything. Most "kids" aren't leaving their parents homes now until their mid to late twenties anyway.
In the "Indian" Casinos where I live in California a person must be 21 years of age to gamble. Where are the ones you are reporting on? I would like to take my 20 year old sister there for a night out. Ha.
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11-14-2008 @ 3:34PM
Mark said...
"In the "Indian" Casinos where I live in California a person must be 21 years of age to gamble. Where are the ones you are reporting on? I would like to take my 20 year old sister there for a night out. Ha."
Some of the Indian Casinos in California are 18 some are 21.
San Diego County- Viejas Casino= 18
San Diego County- Sycuan Casino=18