Has There Ever Been an Anti-Gambling Movement in Nevada?

Has there ever been a strong anti gambling movement in Nevada … religiously led or not? Would most churches in Nevada say they benefit or are harmed by the gambling?

Yes, there has, but not, as far as we know, since wide-open casino gambling was legalized in 1931.

A few decades earlier, Reno was earning a measure of national notoriety as the biggest little city in rowdy and libertine Nevada, which sponsored easy divorces and prize boxing matches. The first "Fight of the Century" took place in 1910 between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries, attracting thousands of spectators, national press coverage, and the seed of a tourist industry. Meanwhile, prostitution within Reno's Lake Street red-light district, along with backroom gambling on Reno's Douglas Alley, continued serving the local miners, cowboys, ranchers, railroad workers, city slickers, and train travelers. By 1910, Reno's population had doubled since the turn of the century to more than 10,000. And Reno's reputation as Nevada's first Sin City had kept pace.

The mushrooming population also brought a growing desire for respectability for Reno and the next decade witnessed a backlash against the town's permissiveness. The nation's moral majority at that time were known as Progressives. Catalyzed by women's suffrage, Progressives advocated a repressive platform of alcohol prohibition and difficult divorce, as well as outlawed gambling, prize fights, and prostitution. Divorce residency requirements were increased from six to 12 months, gambling was pushed deeper underground, and the state even made the sale and consumption of alcohol illegal in 1918, two years before national Prohibition.

During the Roaring '20s, the battle for the conscience of Reno swung back and forth between the Progressives and the campaign that protecting people from the weaknesses of their own characters was bad for business. The latter gained ascendance when the two-term mayor refused, throughout the '20s, to enforce laws in areas of personal choice and Reno became the center of a new wild west.

Of course, the Depression rendered this tug of war moot. To counteract the economic devastation of the long drought and stock-market crash, Nevada opened the floodgates. The legalization, once and for all, of gambling had little immediate impact on the state, but the divorce trade exploded. Gambling took a few more years to become popular, but given that it has been the state's lifeblood since then, no campaigns have countered that reality for nearly 100 years.

As for churches benefiting or being harmed by gambling, we can't really say anything specific to Nevada. Perhaps a member of the congregation just won a big jackpot and makes a large donation. Perhaps another member lost a pile of dough and cuts back on charitable giving. Perhaps people prefer going to the casino over church. Perhaps due to all the casinos, people retreat to church as a respite. Not unlike a blackjack player sitting down in the middle of a table and "changing the cards," perhaps it all evens out in the end.

In general, however, we can say that gambling gives religion a serious run for its money. We discussed the competition between the two in a recent Question of the Day.

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[email protected] Sep-16-2023

Since When?

Should any "church" in America have a say in any govt. policy? There is a really good reason for "separation of church and state." This country needs a lot more Libertarians and far less Progressive Liberals and Far Right Wingers...

Hoppy Sep-16-2023

TI TO and Tilt

How liberal gaming availability is has always been contended. TI TO is now being eyed with intent to add incentives. The intention is to keep the player at the machine past reason by means of confidence enhancement. You don't see the push back to pushing credit cards directly into slots.

gaattc2001 Sep-16-2023

Anti-gambling sentiment was running high even when Nevada became a state in 1964...

The state constitution--sent from Carson City to Washington by telegraph, as described in a recent separate QOD--states in strong legal language that gambling is against the public policy of Nevada, and that Nevada cannot have a state lottery [1]. This reflected widespread prudish sentiments in the Civil War period; but as we've seen, it all turned out for the best.

A somewhat similar situation prevailed in Mississippi well into the 1960's: alcohol was officially illegal; but they also had a full system of liquor taxes, and nobody seemed very troubled by the inconsistency. As a friend of mine said at the time: "The tipplers had their alcohol; the state had its revenues; and the religious element could go to the polls and vote 'No.'" 

Don't you love it when everybody's happy?

1. Rose, I. Nelson, "Gambling and the Law," Hollywood, CA, Gambling Times, Inc., 1986, pp. 24-25.

Bob Sep-16-2023

Grassy Knoll

"when Nevada became a state in 1964..."   was that before or after JFK was Assassinated? :-)

O2bnVegas Sep-16-2023

doubtful any benefit

Since the OP specifies "churches in Nevada", harmed or are benefitted by gambling, that narrows it down for actual $$$ calculation.  Intuitive answer is harmed.  But...  

But first let's get 'sin' out of the way.  Most searches will say the Bible doesn't address gambling as a specific sin, but rather the 'love' of anything other than a faith's diety; in Christanity the love of God above all else is the first Commandment.  Included in that is the love of others; not a separate Commandment but inclusive of the first.  OK.

Expense side: most churches set a yearly budget--property, salaries, utilities, outreach/charity, and probably "apportionments" to the church's high office.  Like most organizations, salary is an expense, can't operate without staff.

Income side; churches might ask members to complete a pledge card for the year.  From that number (money pledged) the budget is developed.  

To be continued.

O2bnVegas Sep-16-2023

harmed or benefited continued

Are all pledges (by congregants) met at all Nevada churches by year end?

Expenses:  Perhaps a church sustains major weather damage, has a heating or cooling system go belly up.  But those may be counted for in the budget, or members make extra donations to help with those.

Income:  How much is pledged; how much of the pledge is met at year end?  Does income meet or exceed expenses?  That can be calculated. 

Mystery components:  If pledges are instead used for gambling, does that affect the year end total income or deficit?  Do churches come out ahead or behind in their budget due to money intended for church giving but instead used for gambling?  I'm guessing behind.  

Of all bills, not paying one's church pledge (for any reason) would be the easiest to get away with, except in one's own conscience. JMHO.

Candy

Question of the Day - 16 September 2023

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