Description
This thoughtful book examines the ten major campaigns to legalize casino gambling in America that were waged between 1976 and 1986 and proposes an explanation for why legalization of casino gaming lags behind legalization of other forms of gambling.

Reviews
“Dombrink and Thompson base their well-reasoned argument on their careful studies of the failed 1974 New Jersey casino measure and one that failed in Florida, as well as on press accounts and interviews with participants in other casino-legislation battles. From this chaos of facts, the authors have discerned patterns that reveal meaning in these complex and confusing political events, identifying key obstacles that proponents must overcome to win a legalization fight. They specify four veto factors: the extant political environment, the attitudes of political elites and active interests, the identity of the legalization campaign’s sponsors, and the framing of the issues to be mulled by voters. All four factors must work in support of legalization or a casino measure will fail. . . . The Last Resort provides a well-focused lens to aid our understanding of where and why future casinos will be built.” —David Johnston, Nevada Historical Society Quarterly, Winter 1990

Contents
Contents
Acknowledgments

1. Las Vegas in the American Eye
The Powerful Imagery of Las Vegas
The Third Wave of Legalized Gambling
The Social Value of Gambling
Organized Crime and Casino Gambling

2. New Jersey, 1974 and 1976: Legalization as Economic Development
Casinos as Redevelopment: The Proponents' Campaign
The Opponents' Campaign
Campaign Financing and the Organized Crime Question
Conclusion: The Selling of Casino Gambling

3. Florida, 1978: "Painless Prosperity" Challenged
The Legalization Measure
Florida's Economic and Political Profile
The Southern Florida Tourist Economy
Let's Help Florida Committee
Limited Opposition to Legalization
Well-Financed Opposition to Legalization
The Organized Crime Question
Effective Opposition: No Casinos and Casinos are Bad Business
Conclusion

4. Explaining Casino Outcomes: The Gravity and Veto Models
Legalizing Gambling
Florida and New Jersey
Predictions of Casino Growth
Predictive Factors in Casino Legalization

5. The Frostbelt States
The Major Efforts: New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania
Other Campaigns: New Hampshire, Connecticut, Illinois, Rhode Island
Conclusion

6. The Sunbelt States
The Major Efforts: Florida (1984), Texas, Arkansas, Colorado
Other Campaigns: Arizona, Washington, Hawaii, California
Conclusion: Florida and Louisiana, Two 1984 Failures

7. Obstacles to Casinos
The Structure of the Veto Model
Political Environment Factors
Political Elites and Active Interests
Campaign Sponsorship
Campaign Issue Dominance
The Veto Model: Casinos are Different
New Casino Jurisdictions—View from 1989

Epilogue
References
Index