Easy Gambling

The average U.S. residents large appetite for easy and fast gambling continues. According to the Census Bureau's annual Statistical Abstract of the United States, U.S. residents last year spent over $53.4 billion on lottery tickets, up from $52.4 billion in the previous year.

Most decided to skip the "more complicated" type of lottery where you have to pick a bunch of numbers, as about $3 of every $5 went toward instant scratch-off tickets. Despite a poor economy the numbers climbed from last year as they have every year-you can check out the numbers here (PDF)

The other gambling favorite of our times, video slot machines, got a boost as the Shinnecock Indians of Long Island, NY received federal recognition, clearing the path for the group to go forward with casino plans and essentially another player enters in the Aqueduct/Belmont 8 year long slot drama.