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Given that the gaming industry is making money hand over fist these days, you’d think that would be enough. But I was recently asked whether the legal gambling age in Nevada (and elsewhere) should be lowered to 18. Since this called for a wiser head than mine, I turned to University of Nevada-Las Vegas Distinguished Fellow Alan Feldman. He’s been in the industry longer than I, having worked with Mirage Resorts, then at MGM Resorts International.

Are casinos all for a lower gambling age? Hardly, says Alan. “Here in Nevada the gaming industry would have stood firm against that. They know that’s not a winning issue.” He adds, “I guess you could make an economic argument about money. But what exactly are you trying to achieve by going at people who are still every much in the minimumwage category of their lives?”

“In the past 30 years there’s been quite a bit of research on gambling and youth,” Feldman said, “and lowering the gambling age below 21 would be a very bad idea. The brain is not fully formed yet. Even 21 might be a little bit young. It’s a bit nebulous but 21 is at least a moment at which brain development is more advanced than in an 18 or 19 year old. Problem gambling affects youth disproportionately. We see people under 21 in the higher incidence of harm from gambling than those above 21.”

What of lotteries and Vegas nightclubs, where 18 years of age is the threshold for admittance? “The lotteries have this widely held perception that they are harmless. We could argue about whether the lottery is harmless. It obviously isn’t to a small number of people. The larger issue is whether or not lotteries are setting in motion a larger cycle of gambling that ends up in a very harmful situation.”

As for nightclubs, “My knowledge comes from my own kids, one of whom was involved in their management. They don’t really want to have people who are under 21. They just aren’t the kind of customers most of these places are really looking for. Then you get into the problem of someone who is underage mixing with people who are of age and there are just bound to be problems as far as alcohol service.”

“My preference would be that the age would be raised in any state where it’s 18, of any activity,” Alan concluded. “I’m also of the view that tobacco should be restricted more tightly than it is and tobacco is a known addictive product. Ninety-eight percent of the people who use it properly become addicted.”

Strong words? Definitely. But well worth hearing when coming from such a seasoned industry veteran.

David McKee Editor