A tell-tale sign America’s chips are down: States are increasingly turning to gambling to plug budget holes.
Proposals to allow or expand slots or casinos are percolating in at least 14 states, tempting legislators and governors at a time when many must decide between cutting services and raising taxes.
Gambling has hard-core detractors in every state, but when the budget-balancing alternatives lawmakers must consider include reducing education funding or lifting sales taxes, resistance is easier to overcome, political analysts said.
“Who wouldn’t be interested if you’re a politician who needs to fund programs?” said Bo Bernhard, director of research at the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas ”” a government-funded program.
A vote for legalized gambling is a vote for increased violent crime, prostitution, drug abuse, and divorce. I personally have seen it ruin two communities.
Legalized gambling is a tax cut for those of us who refuse to participate in the activity but it carries a substantial societal price – seniors spending their social security checks at the casinos; parents diverting family resources needed for shelter and food to bells and whistles; encouragement of an ethic that “success” without effort.
[i] State lawmakers bet gambling can help with budgets [/i]
A sucker’s bet.
Legalized gambling is a tax on stupid people
As is the lottery, which was just expanded here in Florida to include the multi-state ‘powerball’.