Not worth the gamble: Easy money lure never pays off

Billy Joel once sang, “I want that easy, easy, easy money.” This succinct phrase captures the empty promise of gambling.

Politicians and local business leaders hear that siren call. Tax revenue without raising taxes. Jobs, increased business, profit potential. We have heard them trumpeting the glitzy glamour of easy, easy money.

Players flock to casinos for the same reason. People come not because they offer entertainment or restaurants or hotels. We want that easy, easy money.

But is there such a thing as easy money?

The truth is that for every winner there are hundreds, thousands, even millions of losers. Gambling addicts us with the illusion that if we just play along a little we will see the big payoff we have coming.

This is the key to the gambling addiction taking hold of our na