Date

Topic

Grinols,
Gambling in America

Walker,
Casinonomics
( ) = optional

 Reading

News Articles and Other Material

Other Stuff, Not Required

1/14

A. Introduction
   - student survey on gambling
   - review syllabus and class policies
   - overview of gambling in the US
 
B. Review of microeconomics

1

Preface, 1, Appendix

- Time wasting promotions

1/16,21

C. Economics of state lotteries

- Fottrell, "Why the $1.6bn Powerball is everything that's wrong with America" (2016)

- SC Education Lottery
- SC Lottery education funding overview
- Lottery and happiness (v)

- Class lottery pool
- Expert advice on the lottery
- 20 Dumbest...Jack Whittaker (9:30) (v)
- "Lottery curse" story on Jack Whittaker (v)
- Lottery Changed my Life, Leroy Fick (v)
- John Oliver on the lottery (v)
- Out of Luck (v) trailer | film on Amazon Prime

1/23 - 2/6

D. Statistical theory of games
   - perceptions of odds & luck
   - luck games: slots, craps, roulette
   - skill games: blackjack, poker

- Hannum & Cabot (2005), on Roulette, Craps, and Blackjack | (table showing H.A. on craps bets)
- Casino Math full book 
- AGA, The House Advantage

- Volotta (2010), "Blackjack payouts drop, but oh, those dancers!"
- Slots: What Every Player Should Know (v)

- Class II machine ("bingo" slot machines)
- Movie clips: The Cooler
- Kucharski: How Science is Taking the Luck out of Gambling (v)
- NC table game "dealers", pic 1 | 2

2/11-13

E. Introduction to gambling policy debate
   - sides of the debate
   - inter-industry relationships

2, 3

(18)

- Bluestein (1/2017), GA governor wants to be sure casinos won't devastate lottery

- Pushing Luck (v)
- The Simpsons, "$pringfield" (v)
- Stossel, Gambling and Liberty (v)
- Andy Rooney on Gambling (v)

- Think Tank, "Gambling" (v)
- Andy Rooney with Ali G (v)
- Simpsons trivia question, "big time' pic"
- Cummings et al. (2017), Effect of Casino Proximity on Lottery Sales in Maryland

2/18-27

F. Casinos I: economic benefits
   - economic growth (theory)
   - consumer benefits
   - economic growth (evidence)
   - casinos and tax revenues
   - market "saturation"

4, 5, 6

2-6, (7), 8

- AGA, State of the States, 2019
- Thompson & Quinn (1999) - SC Machines

- Boston Globe: Everett/Encore Casino Jobs

Map of Mid-Atlantic casino market
Map of Northeast casino market

     MIDTERM EXAM - March 3, 2020

3/10

Guest speaker - Will Cummings

PDF | YouTube link

3/12

"Online class"

9, 10

- CBS 60 Minutes: Slots: The Big Gamble  (v)

G. Disordered gambling
   - diagnostic instruments
   - prevalence studies
   - casinos and crime
   - 12-step programs & treatment
   - responsible gambling (RG)

(11), 12

- DSM-V, Pathological gambling
- Lesieur & Blume (1987), South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS)
- Brief biosocial gambling screen
- Schaler, Addiction is a Choice, Intro | Ch 1 | 2
- Walker et al. (2015), "Setting Win Limits"

- Playresponsiblysc.com, warning signs
- Gamblers Anonymous, 12-step program
- Nelson Rose, "Gambler Just Can't Win"
- The Economist, The almost-winning addiction
- Stossel: Help Me! I Can't Help Myself! (v)
- Theory of rational addiction (v)

- Boy at slot machine (pic)
- Casino check cashing (pic)
- Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (12-step) (v)
- Twilight Zone, "The Fever" (v, 1960)
- The Onion, "83% of gamblers quit..."
- Addiction (v), Kurzgesagt
- M.Lewis: Neuroscience of Addiction (v)
- Movie: Owning Mahowny (dvd)

H. Casinos II: social/economic costs
   - definition of "social cost"
   - monetary estimates
   - casinos and crime rates
   - "cannibalization"
   - corruption

7, 8

13-16, (17)

- Thompson, et al. (1997), "Social and legal costs of compulsive gambling"
- Walker & Calcagno - Corruption

- Thompson's "bath tub" model of the economy
- Walker (2013), Social cost lecture PP

- Grinols, Piety and Political Economy
- Kindt, Depo 1 | 2

** FINAL EXAM **
Tuesday, April 28, 9:30-10:30
IN OAKS