By host Tom Ashbrook

When it comes to gambling, Americans are on a roll. In 1960, there was not a single state lottery in the country. Now there are 43.

And casinos? Once they were the exclusive marks of sin cities like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Now they’re all over, and promoted like motherhood and apple pie. Have a casino! It’s good for you!

From Massachusetts to Kansas to California, more states are looking to expand or dive in. Bottom line: Americans would rather roll the dice and grab those revenues than pay more taxes.

But what does it mean for the country?

This hour, On Point: America — Casino Nation.

Guests:

Alan Wolfe, professor of political science, director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College and host of an upcoming conference on gambling in American culture

Michael Nelson, professor of political science at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and author of “How the South Joined the Gambling Nation” and “Governing Gambling: Politics and Policy in State, Tribe, and Nation”

Richard Coe, a member of Stand Up for Kansas, an anti-gambling group, and president of Coe Financial Services.