How much would you give to have a chance, a very faint hope, of being set for the rest of your life? What is the one in a million chance of winning a big prize? Casinos ask customers these questions every day and too many people give the wrong answer. Many problems are brought by casinos and other gambling industries, but some people argue that their advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The biggest disservice of casinos is the cost they pose to local government, industry and people. A casino often puts pressure on the local government to change the law and improve the area to stimulate its business. The casino, which is a high-risk business, could still fail. If it does, the government could spend millions only to be left as one of many creditors of a defunct casino. Businesses lose funds that the government could have used for subsidies, and consumers often spend money gambling instead of on goods and services they normally purchased. A casino can bring business to tourism-oriented establishments like restaurants and hotels, but if it has these businesses integrated within it, independent companies can ...