Bugsy Siegel would be in heaven today.

That’s not to say that the notorious mobster who was gunned down in 1947 and who would inspire a Warren Beatty film decades later would face a better chance of everlasting grace if he plied his nefarious trades in the modern age. But consider that when Siegel built the first casino in Las Vegas just before his death, he did it in a largely barren desert. Today, the massive development of Sin City is a reality, and Siegel would have unlimited options to play with.

All the different types of gambling today go beyond the casinos, way beyond the facts. These are some of the places where bets are currently being placed:

Casinos: Of course, gambling still happens in casinos. It’s just about more than Las Vegas or Atlantic City or Monte Carlo in the modern age. Casinos in Minnesota exist today, as they do in Northern California and beyond, anywhere Indian gambling is legal, really. A casino is no longer simply about the glitz of the circus, tigers on display, and sweltering desert heat. A casino can be a few slot machines or a poker table, or it can be Las Vegas in South Dakota (which is increasingly happening as Las Vegas tribes and interests have recognized the potential for big business). ).

Online: There is another alternative to Las Vegas or the Indian gambling arena. Today, one’s living room can be the casino, thanks to the wonders of the Internet. Online gambling can also be lucrative. A college roommate of this author used $20 he received as a gift to open an account at a poker site. He played prodigiously, strategically, sometimes betting under a woman’s name so that people would be more tempted to raise the ante for him. In time, he worked with great success: he earned something like $10,000 in a short period of time, enough to buy a flashy motorcycle. This was the same guy who used to stay on weekends to play Everquest on two computers at the same time. Finally, all that obsession was put to good use.

Racetrack: Everyone who works at a racetrack bets on the outcome of the races, from the ushers at the food stalls to the newspaper reporters on hand to cover the action. All. Why is this? In short, betting at the racetrack is fun. The stakes are often not huge, maybe a few dollars with probably impossible odds. Unless it’s a major track or race, say the Kentucky Derby, the names of the horses are about as familiar as what’s painted on the sloops at a Minnesota boat rental. Betting on a horse race is just plain fun, maybe winning $20 over the course of an afternoon in disposable bets. It’s cheaper than going to the bars, and every once in a while those bets pay off.

Office Group – As these words are being written, March Madness is playing somewhere, and somewhere, someone’s level is breaking. Whoever comes out with the least damage can win some money. Welcome to the most ubiquitous form of gambling in America.