Gambling is growing like gangbusters in America

NEW YORKERS who wished to gamble used to be limited to a series of peculiar options: a lottery run by the state, raffles run by charities, casinos run by Native Americans, slot machines run by racetracks, horse-betting run by local governments—or a trip outside the state to a more permissive spot such as Atlantic City, New Jersey. In recent years, however, it is New York that has become more permissive. The state’s first ordinary, commercial casinos started opening in 2016, although none in the area around New York City. In 2022 it became legal to bet on sporting events online. Next year or the year after the state is due to issue three licences to operate a casino in or near the Big Apple.