AS SUCH, IT CONTAINS NO CONCLUSIONS EXCEPT THOSE OF THE AUTHORS OF THOSE BOOKS, AND THE ONLY ASSESSMENTS IT ATTEMPTS ARE LIMITED TO THE LITERATURE. THE PURPOSE OF THE REPORT IS TO ESTABLISH A POINT OF DEPARTURE FOR FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE COMPLEX SUBJECT OF GAMBLING. THROUGH A CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT WHICH INCLUDES ANECDOTES AND QUOTATIONS, THE HISTORY OF GAMBLING IS TRACED, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS PLACED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAMBLING IN AMERICA. THE EFFECTS OF GAMBLING ON A MODERN SOCIETY ARE DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS VIEWS ON LEGALIZATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).