With many discussing the possibility of a recession in 2008 and beyond, where are the people likely to turn for help? "When storm clouds gather over the economy, people often seek shelter in a glass of whiskey, a pack of cigarettes, or the green blaze of a roulette table," says Thomas M. Anderson in Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. "That's why many financial advisors are telling clients to invest in sin as a bulwark against a possible recession."

Tobacco, alcohol, and gambling have long been called "sin stocks" or "vice funds"—when the economy takes a downturn, historically these stocks have held up in the market. During the recession of 2000–2002, the Standard & Poor's index showed that broader stocks tumbled 47 percent as casino and gaming stocks grew 115 percent.