Guy Calvert

In the following viewpoint, Guy Calvert maintains that government efforts to restrict gambling do more harm than good. Calvert believes that many of the arguments against gambling—such as the growing prevalence of pathological gambling—are exaggerated. Furthermore, he maintains that individuals should not be prohibited from gambling just because some people find it addictive. Finally, he warns that the dangers of prohibiting gambling outweigh the benefits, citing the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s as an example. Guy Calvert is a quantitative analyst at a Wall Street firm.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the study cited by Calvert, how much higher is the average income of casino players, as compared to the general U.S. population?
2. Why does the author feel that compulsive gamblers should...