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| Casino culture | Casino culture |
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| A POINT OF VIEW By Tim Egan | A POINT OF VIEW By Tim Egan |
| The old-fashioned towns of middle America have changed character | The old-fashioned towns of middle America have changed character |
| The towns of Middle America have stopped farming and manufacture - and turned instead to gambling. | The towns of Middle America have stopped farming and manufacture - and turned instead to gambling. |
| Take a ride through the infinity of corn and the carpet of beige, take a ride through the flatlands of Middle America. Every few miles you come upon a small town, with a grain silo, and a hulking, hollowed out building that stood for something long ago. | Take a ride through the infinity of corn and the carpet of beige, take a ride through the flatlands of Middle America. Every few miles you come upon a small town, with a grain silo, and a hulking, hollowed out building that stood for something long ago. |
| In Iowa, the harvest is on, the grain flying, the fields turning amber in the late light. You drive through little hamlets that evoke some lofty aspiration or inspiration. Here is Lamb's Grove. And Oakland Acres. And tiny Brooklyn. | In Iowa, the harvest is on, the grain flying, the fields turning amber in the late light. You drive through little hamlets that evoke some lofty aspiration or inspiration. Here is Lamb's Grove. And Oakland Acres. And tiny Brooklyn. |
| You drive south further from Iowa City to a little huddle of people in a town called Riverside, population 948. | You drive south further from Iowa City to a little huddle of people in a town called Riverside, population 948. |
| BBC NEWS: AUDIO Hear A Point of View in the BBC Radio Player | BBC NEWS: AUDIO Hear A Point of View in the BBC Radio Player |
| And there it is: the future of the American Heartland - a glittering new casino. In this Field of Dreams is a big barn for the betting crowd, stuffed with one-thousand-one-hundred-eighty-one slot machines. You can also bet the farm on roulette, craps, or poker. And on any given weekend, upwards of 30,000 people will do so in the tiny town of Riverside. | And there it is: the future of the American Heartland - a glittering new casino. In this Field of Dreams is a big barn for the betting crowd, stuffed with one-thousand-one-hundred-eighty-one slot machines. You can also bet the farm on roulette, craps, or poker. And on any given weekend, upwards of 30,000 people will do so in the tiny town of Riverside. |
| Now, it is no secret that in less than a generation's time, legalized gambling has come to penetrate every aspect of American life. What used to be confined to the corners of vice, the Vegases and Renos, the statelines in the desert with their neon enticements, has long since gone mainstream. | Now, it is no secret that in less than a generation's time, legalized gambling has come to penetrate every aspect of American life. What used to be confined to the corners of vice, the Vegases and Renos, the statelines in the desert with their neon enticements, has long since gone mainstream. |
| Lottery losers | Lottery losers |
| First, it was the tribes, the Native Americans living in some of the poorest areas in the country. They dusted off long-forgotten treaties that gave them sovereign powers. With those broken compacts, the natives found the key to opening their own casinos, free of state interference or taxes. | First, it was the tribes, the Native Americans living in some of the poorest areas in the country. They dusted off long-forgotten treaties that gave them sovereign powers. With those broken compacts, the natives found the key to opening their own casinos, free of state interference or taxes. |
| Gambling is a symbol of a post-industrial America | Gambling is a symbol of a post-industrial America |
| Then rather than fight the Indians, the states got into the act themselves, first with lotteries, now with casinos operating under special licenses throughout nearly every part of the United States. | Then rather than fight the Indians, the states got into the act themselves, first with lotteries, now with casinos operating under special licenses throughout nearly every part of the United States. |
| The casino in tiny Riverside opened last month. Iowa, a place that is the very embodiment of common-sensical, broad-shouldered, ah-shucks Midwestern humility and hard work, now has 17 casinos - with two more under construction. The next two will be in Waterloo, and Emmetsburg - two towns that hardly evoke Monte Carlo and James Bondian evenings in a tuxedo. | The casino in tiny Riverside opened last month. Iowa, a place that is the very embodiment of common-sensical, broad-shouldered, ah-shucks Midwestern humility and hard work, now has 17 casinos - with two more under construction. The next two will be in Waterloo, and Emmetsburg - two towns that hardly evoke Monte Carlo and James Bondian evenings in a tuxedo. |
| How did this come to pass? How did a place known for growing things and making stuff - real stuff, like washing machines - get into this racket? How did people slow to anger, and even slower to change, embrace a future that involves the philosophy of chance? | How did this come to pass? How did a place known for growing things and making stuff - real stuff, like washing machines - get into this racket? How did people slow to anger, and even slower to change, embrace a future that involves the philosophy of chance? |
| Drive an hour in the other direction, to the town of Newton, Iowa, and you find some answers. Newton is on life-support. The town has 13,000 or so people, but it has the feel of a death in the family. | Drive an hour in the other direction, to the town of Newton, Iowa, and you find some answers. Newton is on life-support. The town has 13,000 or so people, but it has the feel of a death in the family. |
| Walk down Main Street and you no longer find the kind of stores that kept these rural burgs alive. There is not even much of a retail front, after its stores were drained by that well-known tornado of small-town America - Wal-Mart. | Walk down Main Street and you no longer find the kind of stores that kept these rural burgs alive. There is not even much of a retail front, after its stores were drained by that well-known tornado of small-town America - Wal-Mart. |
| Company town | Company town |
| Newton, for much of its life, was known as the corporate headquarters of Maytag. They made refrigerators, and washing machines, and dishwashers. They made stuff. Appliances. Big ticket items, as they were called. | Newton, for much of its life, was known as the corporate headquarters of Maytag. They made refrigerators, and washing machines, and dishwashers. They made stuff. Appliances. Big ticket items, as they were called. |
| Gambling is pulling in the crowds in the US heartlands | Gambling is pulling in the crowds in the US heartlands |
| You see the solid brick homes in Newton, with their big porches, the ancient trees, the homes that housed workers who built all those appliances for a world market. Maytag was a $4.7 billion corporation and Newton, Iowa was its company town, its pride and joy. | You see the solid brick homes in Newton, with their big porches, the ancient trees, the homes that housed workers who built all those appliances for a world market. Maytag was a $4.7 billion corporation and Newton, Iowa was its company town, its pride and joy. |
| But nobody makes appliances in a middle-class town anymore. They make them in cheap markets, near a polluted river. So Maytag - again, no surprise here - has been moving its factories to Mexico and other places. | But nobody makes appliances in a middle-class town anymore. They make them in cheap markets, near a polluted river. So Maytag - again, no surprise here - has been moving its factories to Mexico and other places. |
| Maytag was bought by Whirlpool, its longtime rival. And a few months ago, they announced that they were closing up their corporate headquarters in Newton, and closing the factory as well. | Maytag was bought by Whirlpool, its longtime rival. And a few months ago, they announced that they were closing up their corporate headquarters in Newton, and closing the factory as well. |
| I ran into Pam DeBruyn and her daughter Molly in Newton, trying to make a living off a little shop that sold cards, office supplies and party favors. Pam said she wants to retire in Newton. But the shop was struggling. | I ran into Pam DeBruyn and her daughter Molly in Newton, trying to make a living off a little shop that sold cards, office supplies and party favors. Pam said she wants to retire in Newton. But the shop was struggling. |
| "It seems like we take home less and less," she said. | "It seems like we take home less and less," she said. |
| Eventually, she was forced to do something that didn't feel right - she had to lay off her own daughter. | Eventually, she was forced to do something that didn't feel right - she had to lay off her own daughter. |
| Farming cropped | Farming cropped |
| But if you can't make a go of it at the appliance factory or a little card shop, what about all those Iowa hogs? And what about all that Iowa corn? Many of these farm commodities, it turns out, are kept alive by more than $30 billion a year in government subsidies. | But if you can't make a go of it at the appliance factory or a little card shop, what about all those Iowa hogs? And what about all that Iowa corn? Many of these farm commodities, it turns out, are kept alive by more than $30 billion a year in government subsidies. |
| That is - large-scale welfare, to some. Once a nation of farmers, the United States now counts less than 1.5% of its workers as people who are tied to the land as a way to make a living. | That is - large-scale welfare, to some. Once a nation of farmers, the United States now counts less than 1.5% of its workers as people who are tied to the land as a way to make a living. |
| Which brings us back to Riverside, Iowa, and its brand new casino. On any given Sunday, you could sit in a church pew in Iowa and hear the preacher condemn gambling. It was sinful. For the weak of mind. What's more, it was stupid. Nobody was ever going to get rich by throwing dice on a felt table. Hell, you stood to lose the mortgage money as well. | Which brings us back to Riverside, Iowa, and its brand new casino. On any given Sunday, you could sit in a church pew in Iowa and hear the preacher condemn gambling. It was sinful. For the weak of mind. What's more, it was stupid. Nobody was ever going to get rich by throwing dice on a felt table. Hell, you stood to lose the mortgage money as well. |
| Middle America got into the act in a strange way. They legalized riverboat casinos. Now these are riverboats in name only. They are mostly faux Mark Twain-era contraptions tied to the shore, evoking rogues and rakes from Mississippi gambling. It's a tourist fantasy. | Middle America got into the act in a strange way. They legalized riverboat casinos. Now these are riverboats in name only. They are mostly faux Mark Twain-era contraptions tied to the shore, evoking rogues and rakes from Mississippi gambling. It's a tourist fantasy. |
| But it was a way to legalise gambling in the Heartland and still preserve the quaint notion that small-town life had not been tainted by an industry once associated mobsters, sleazeballs and losers. Legally, they were still considered "off-shore," not part of town. | But it was a way to legalise gambling in the Heartland and still preserve the quaint notion that small-town life had not been tainted by an industry once associated mobsters, sleazeballs and losers. Legally, they were still considered "off-shore," not part of town. |
| With tax money from casinos, small town mayors started to talk up the importance of the "gaming industry" as they called it. This was a euphemism that Nevada gave us, along with entire university departments devoted to study of the science and commerce of "gaming." | With tax money from casinos, small town mayors started to talk up the importance of the "gaming industry" as they called it. This was a euphemism that Nevada gave us, along with entire university departments devoted to study of the science and commerce of "gaming." |
| House of cards | House of cards |
| Not long ago, I followed the entire route of the western trail blazed by Lewis and Clark, the two explorers who crossed the continent on foot and by canoe, 200 years ago. | Not long ago, I followed the entire route of the western trail blazed by Lewis and Clark, the two explorers who crossed the continent on foot and by canoe, 200 years ago. |
| The thing that most surprised me was to find hundreds of casinos along the Missouri River as its snaked its way through the heart of the Bible Belt. As it turns out, these God-fearing folks have a real sweet spot for cards, dice, and slots. | The thing that most surprised me was to find hundreds of casinos along the Missouri River as its snaked its way through the heart of the Bible Belt. As it turns out, these God-fearing folks have a real sweet spot for cards, dice, and slots. |
| You saw some of these floating gambling factories after Hurricane Katrina came through last year and wiped out communities along the Gulf shore. They collapsed like doll houses. | You saw some of these floating gambling factories after Hurricane Katrina came through last year and wiped out communities along the Gulf shore. They collapsed like doll houses. |
| But while schools, churches and thousands of homes have yet to be rebuilt, the casinos along the Gulf shore were among the first structures to rise after the storm's devastating blow. | But while schools, churches and thousands of homes have yet to be rebuilt, the casinos along the Gulf shore were among the first structures to rise after the storm's devastating blow. |
| In Iowa, gambling used to be limited to bingo night at the local Catholic School or fraternal club. But now casinos are as much a part of the landscape as haystacks. And there are 70 lobbyists in Iowa's state capital who work hard to advance the gambling interests. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of casinos doubled. | In Iowa, gambling used to be limited to bingo night at the local Catholic School or fraternal club. But now casinos are as much a part of the landscape as haystacks. And there are 70 lobbyists in Iowa's state capital who work hard to advance the gambling interests. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of casinos doubled. |
| But none of this is happening against people's will. We bet on horses. We bet on dogs. We bet on baseball games and we bet on the outcome of our elections. Last year, more than 60 million Americans visited a casino. | But none of this is happening against people's will. We bet on horses. We bet on dogs. We bet on baseball games and we bet on the outcome of our elections. Last year, more than 60 million Americans visited a casino. |
| Hot poker | Hot poker |
| A growing number of people gamble online, through the anonymity of cyber space - though Congress has just taken steps to curb internet gambling. We bet in big numbers and we lose in big numbers. Remember the oldest rule of gambling: in the end, the casino always wins. | A growing number of people gamble online, through the anonymity of cyber space - though Congress has just taken steps to curb internet gambling. We bet in big numbers and we lose in big numbers. Remember the oldest rule of gambling: in the end, the casino always wins. |
| Still, we keep at it. Americans lost $80 billion dollars in those casinos last year. One fallout is that the number of problem gamblers has tripled in eight years. And these tend to be people who can least afford to give up a paycheck. | Still, we keep at it. Americans lost $80 billion dollars in those casinos last year. One fallout is that the number of problem gamblers has tripled in eight years. And these tend to be people who can least afford to give up a paycheck. |
| Young people have caught the bug. A survey showed that 72% of college students gamble, and for kids at an even younger age in High School, there is nothing more popular than poker games like Texas Hold 'em. | Young people have caught the bug. A survey showed that 72% of college students gamble, and for kids at an even younger age in High School, there is nothing more popular than poker games like Texas Hold 'em. |
| You think of the prairie - the open skies, the tableland of the Great Plains, what the poet Walt Whitman called that ever-recurring miracle, the sea of grass - and what comes to mind is not doubling down on a pair of aces. | You think of the prairie - the open skies, the tableland of the Great Plains, what the poet Walt Whitman called that ever-recurring miracle, the sea of grass - and what comes to mind is not doubling down on a pair of aces. |
| What comes to mind is the Wizard of Oz, the magic of Dorothy and the Scarecrow following the Yellow Brick Road. You think of the Dust Bowl, and the wrath of all nature, throwing one punch after the other at the Plains. | What comes to mind is the Wizard of Oz, the magic of Dorothy and the Scarecrow following the Yellow Brick Road. You think of the Dust Bowl, and the wrath of all nature, throwing one punch after the other at the Plains. |
| You think of hard work and honest folks. You think of Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman. You see all these hardy towns named after some distant place in old Europe. You think of all the Germans and the Swedes and the Russians who built these towns and built these farms, people named Schneider and Kronberg. | You think of hard work and honest folks. You think of Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman. You see all these hardy towns named after some distant place in old Europe. You think of all the Germans and the Swedes and the Russians who built these towns and built these farms, people named Schneider and Kronberg. |
| So, I must say, it is still jarring to see these little farm towns give themselves over to the gambling industry, to link their future to machines that blue-haired ladies spend their afternoons with, holding cigarettes with inch-long ashes. | So, I must say, it is still jarring to see these little farm towns give themselves over to the gambling industry, to link their future to machines that blue-haired ladies spend their afternoons with, holding cigarettes with inch-long ashes. |
| It is one thing to see a big sign advertising "loose slots!" outside of Deadwood or a brothel town in Nevada. But it's another to see it in the Heartland, in a broken town looking for a fresh start. I can't say that I blame them. But nor will I ever get used to it. | It is one thing to see a big sign advertising "loose slots!" outside of Deadwood or a brothel town in Nevada. But it's another to see it in the Heartland, in a broken town looking for a fresh start. I can't say that I blame them. But nor will I ever get used to it. |
Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| The retirees in Florida love going to the Seminole Hard Rock casino to sit in front of the slot machines for hours blowing their retirement checks. Most have to reach them via walkers or wheelchairs but they make the trip. To them, gambling is nothing more than harmless entertainment to pass the time like bingo use to be. The stakes, however, are higher and the pace much faster. The Seminole Indians have a huge new hotel that packs them in every day for gambling, entertainment and tax free cigarettes. This article is true but sad to read as an American because the losers will not be the casinos.Maureen, Florida,USA | The retirees in Florida love going to the Seminole Hard Rock casino to sit in front of the slot machines for hours blowing their retirement checks. Most have to reach them via walkers or wheelchairs but they make the trip. To them, gambling is nothing more than harmless entertainment to pass the time like bingo use to be. The stakes, however, are higher and the pace much faster. The Seminole Indians have a huge new hotel that packs them in every day for gambling, entertainment and tax free cigarettes. This article is true but sad to read as an American because the losers will not be the casinos.Maureen, Florida,USA |
| I would like to point out that not all native tribes endorse gambling. The Chief of the Cherokee Nation (in Alabama) years ago stated that she did not want anything to do with casinos fearing it would destroy the culture. The Creeks, however, take a differant position. States try to take the moral highground with internet gambling but yet run ads encouraging people to play the lottery! The differance? They don't get taxes off of the internet. Plain and simple. Kara Tyson, Mobile, AL USA | I would like to point out that not all native tribes endorse gambling. The Chief of the Cherokee Nation (in Alabama) years ago stated that she did not want anything to do with casinos fearing it would destroy the culture. The Creeks, however, take a differant position. States try to take the moral highground with internet gambling but yet run ads encouraging people to play the lottery! The differance? They don't get taxes off of the internet. Plain and simple. Kara Tyson, Mobile, AL USA |
| An excellent and disturbing article. Where will it end ? Will it come to England starting with the Super Casinos about to be authorised here?I live too close to Blackpool, one of the contenders, for comfort.R.Carter, St. Anne's-on-Sea, Lancs> | An excellent and disturbing article. Where will it end ? Will it come to England starting with the Super Casinos about to be authorised here?I live too close to Blackpool, one of the contenders, for comfort.R.Carter, St. Anne's-on-Sea, Lancs> |
| I lived all my life in Iowa until recently (and Ohio is not much different; gambling proposals still fascinate) and your report saddens me. There are some interesting things happening in Iowa, yes, but overall the numbers don't lie. What are people supposed to do with themselves with agriculture and manufacturing on the wane? The fact that gambling has not only been offered, but accepted, time and time again as an economic "solution" really hurts. Gambling operations produce absolutely nothing. Any jobs they "create" are paid for by draining off of the remaining productive industries. I don't know what's worse: the cynics who understand this but back the casinos anyway, or the far greater numbers of people whose concept of economics is so dismal that they really believe that casinos contribute to the economy.Matt, Elyria, OH, USA | |