"A fool and his money..." These people are going to manage their money poorly no matter what, and if you have a gambling prohibition you're going to just make it more dangerous for them. This seems like the best use of their citizen's need for gambling.
Coincidentally, that's how I justify my crack-dealing and murder-for-hire sidelines.
edit: If not from me, than from someone else, right? If that's not a vapid argument, you should be upvoting my entrepreneurship (even though it's in a well-trod space.) I also donate to open source projects...
You're getting the downvotes, but I think you have a good point - at least the crack dealing bit; not so much the assassin part. I do find it morally suspect for the government to be in the gambling business. It's a cynical and lazy way to raise revenue.
