This editorial by The Nation declares legalized sports gambling operators play an equal if not greater role in corrupting popular sports than illegal, underground gambling.
Corruption
Predatory Gambling Has More of a History of Corruption Than Any Other Business
In the wake of the October 2010 indictments of four State Senators, Gary Palmer of the Alabama Policy Institute wrote about the historical connection between the legalization of gambling and government corruption. He quotes former U.S. Senator Paul Simon of Illinois who declared predatory gambling “…has more of a history of corruption than any other industry.”
Investigation finds worldwide game-fixing in soccer
This Los Angeles Times story details the results of an investigation that found worldwide and widespread corruption in soccer. Europol, the joint police body of the European Union, has released information form its ongoing investigation of the possibility of major worldwide soccer games being fixed, and it has found evidence of over 680 “suspicious games” in 5 continents, including a Champions League match in England and several World Cup qualifying matches. According to one German investigator, this widespread corruption is “on a scale and in a way that threatens the very fabric of the game.”
2013 Investigation uncovers possible fixing of soccer games worldwide
Investigating the Lottery’s “luckiest woman”
This 3-part series, from Philly.com, examines the story of Joan Ginther, a woman from Texas who won millions off of scratch tickets over several years. Her story captured headlines worldwide when she won $10 million on a single scratch ticket in June 2010. Mathematicians estimated the odds of someone winning as much as Ginther has at 1 in 18,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, or 18 septillion. However, this series explains that with a little luck and patience, it might not be so difficult to cheat one of America’s biggest industries.
2014 Lottery’s ‘luckiest woman’ bet flabbergasting sums on scratch-offs
2014 How Lottery legend Joan Ginther likely used odds, Uncle Sam to win millions
2014 Lottery mystery yields clues to missing $7.5 million prize
Political influence of gambling interests in Illinois grows due to lack of strong regulation
This study by the Common Cause details the growing influence of gambling interests in Illinois. Illinois is one of the few states without a limit on campaign contributions, so deep-pocketed lobbyists and special-interest groups, especially the gambling industry, can use their exorbitant amounts of money to exert influence over Illinois legislators.
Pennsylvania’s failure to limit campaign contributions allows gambling interests to buy their way to legislative victory
This study by the Common Cause shows the growing influence of money in Pennsylvania politics, especially from gambling interests, due to the state’s lack of limits on campaign contributions. Gambling interests with essentially limitless sums of money can thus buy their way to influence and power over Pennsylvania lawmakers.
Report finds link between casino gambling and corruption in states
A report by two economists from the Pew Research Center surveyed political corruption before and after the legalization of casino gambling in states and found that corruption tends to rise when casino gambling is legalized and casinos begin to operate. The report gives two theories as to why this is. First, the economists report casinos tend to open up in states with a “culture of corruption” already established . They also report that the casino industry and casino interests are able to obtain the legislative results they want in a way that is “perhaps tainted by corruption”. This article from Al.com summarized the report’s findings.
2013 Mississippi leads nation in corruption when linked to legalization of gambling
Gambling interests spend big bucks on NY lawmakers
According to a report by the Common Cause NY, gambling interests have spared no expense courting New York lawmakers, spending $20 million over the past 2 years on lobbying and campaign contributions for various offices, including almost a quarter a million dollars to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s campaign. The spending comes on the heels of Cuomo’s announcement that New York will be looking to expand casino gambling in the state. This article, by Newsday, summarizes the developments quite well.
2013 Gambling interests spent $20 million on NY lawmakers in 2 years, Common Cause finds
Legalization of casino gambling leads to corruption
A new report is out showing that legalizing casino gambling in states results in higher rates of public corruption. Casinos help create a “culture of corruption” in states in which they are legalized, which harms the community as a whole. Here you can find a summary of the report done by the Pew Research Center as well as the report itself.
Behind an Army of Lobbyists, an Instant Force in Gambling
There is no grassroots movement anywhere in America calling for regional casinos. The push is completely driven by very powerful corporate gambling interests that are dominating state legislatures across the U.S. This New York Times story highlights just one example of how this highly corrupt process works to force casinos into communities. It focus on the lobbying practices of Genting in New York State, a massive corporate gambling power based overseas.