Gambling as stigmatized behavior: regional relabeling and the law

The history of gambling, both internationally and in the United States, is that of a stigmatized behavior having passed through numerous cycles of guarded acceptance and prohibition. The recent spread of gambling in the United States has been characterized by very specific attempts to neutralize the stigma associated with the behavior. Though apparently not the sufficient variable in such campaigns of acceptance, reducing the stigma has been necessary: As part of such campaigns, the successful regulation and control model of Nevada has been utilized widely. Yet an examination of control and regulation experiences suggests that regional differences are a crucial factor in the success or failure of the gaming enterprise.
DURING the summer of 1997, observers of the fascinating and enigmatic relationships between stigmatized behavior and the law were focused on two national stories more dazzling than the Hale-Bopp comet. [...]