| Abstract: | A great deal of controversy surrounds the writing and enforcement of antigambling laws. In large part, this is due to a lack of consensus among citizens, police departments, and prosecutors in defining the objectives of antigambling laws and the methods of enforcing them. It is suggested that since standards of appropriate behavior vary from place to place, the wishes of the local citizens should be the primary guide in determining enforcement effort priorities. The authors differentiate the four main targets of enforcement efforts and conclude that only two—public social gambling and commercial gambling—can be substantially affected by local police. Finally, specific suggestions about how police and prosecutors can cooperate in enforcing local antigambling laws are made. |
