Evidence indicates that illegal gambling cannot exist long without the cooperation of public officials. While the police have been the subject of most investigations, it cannot be concluded that they are the only or even the most corrupt public agency. Gambling corruption appears to pervade all criminal justice agencies, and the scarcity of examples merely reflects the fact that other agencies are seldom investigated. Gambling corruption is not an isolated phenomenon but occurs in several contexts; legal, political, public, and organizational. It is generally agreed that the legal regulation of what is essentially private morality, the public's willingness to engage in unethical practices, and certain policies and practices of official agencies are to some degree causative factors. That improper political influence in public agencies is a factor is also widely accepted, but observers are not in agreement about the processes of political interference. In addition to permitting illegal gambling to continue, corruption may also result in more serious and pervasive corruption, increased organized crime influence, and loss of public faith in law enforcement and government. Changes in public attitudes and practices, in the policies and practices of official agencies, and in the relationships among political and governmental entities are needed to deal with gambling corruption. 117 footnotes