A Dreamscape - Gambling in America

Americans love gambling: annually, they spend more money at gambling than at entertainment and sports taken together. Last year, over 330 billion dollars were spent gambling, which is an 1800% increase compared to twenty years ago. In A DREAMSCAPE - GAMBLING IN AMERICA, filmmaker Bernie IJdis looks for an explanation for this American passion and for that purpose visited Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York and other places. Why is gambling such an obsession for many Americans? The film considers this craving for a good bet as a metaphor of the American Dream: both are based on a promise which is redeemed for only a few. The filmmaker regards the American society as a 'win or lose culture', there is no middle course. His film bares the consequences: addiction to gambling, loneliness and a dog-eat-dog mentality.