It's not that the government is trying to legislate morality, they are protecting society from itself. Gambling is incredibly addicting, and without legislation, would drag society down. It's not that everyone gambles, although I'm sure most people do in one form or another, its that those who do sit at the VLT's all day are the people who can't afford to. After working at a bar here for 6 months, I realized it was common place for people to come in and spend $100 a day in the machines, on the slim chance of winning, and watched myself begin to get dragged in. Those who spend there whole paycheque/welfare cheque in the VLT's need help, financially and mentally. Therfore, those who don't gamble have to invest their hard earned money into the system, just so those who play can dump our money back into the machines.

Now, I'm not saying gambling should be outlawed, with the right aid programs in place, it can be a very lucrative source of money for governments. I enjoy to gamble now and again, but not a the VLT's, where most problem gamblers exist. I prefer a card game, where the social value is worth my 5 or 10 bucks. And if I win, its a bonus.

Look at it this way, casino's and lotteries aren't designed to lose money.

Trevor

 

My problem is not with gambling - Mad Bomber has it right.

The problem I have is what happens to the money the Gov't gets.

When they sold Ohio on the lottery, they said they would take all the profits and pour them into the schools.

Did they? - you bet!

But what they didn't tell us is that they would take an equal amount back out of state funding for school budget. So instead of an additional $100M, the budget is no better off than before the lottery. But politicians got another $100m to spend on other stuff.

So they didn't lie - the lottery money went right to the schools, but they didn't tell the whole truth and we STILL have a huge problem

 

Do a search for our former Gov Edwin Edwards [Louisiana].He is in prison from his dealings with gambling contracts.With so much money involved, corruption will follow.

 

They sure are...and that's the root of the problem. The creeping paternalism of Big Brother over the past 60 years has steadily eroded our personal liberties and rights. Most of us are already working 4 months out of the year to support the government that finds new things to tell us we can't do. It's time to stop.

Besides, there are some things you just can't legislate. I get the impression, though, that this is lost on many of the more "progressive" legislators, who seem to feel that if we repealed the law of gravity, people would start floating in air...

Prohibition didn't work. Drug laws aren't working. Gambling and gun laws won't work.

 

I'm not sure which you're gettin at with "of course they are..." of course they are legislating morality, or protecting society from itself, or both. Of course gambling laws don't work, the only gambling laws promote it. Those who don't promote gambling are protecting the people in their province/state as a whole, by not creating the problem of people playing away all their money, then turning to the government to ask for money. Governments who allow gambling don't care where there money comes from, so long as they get it.

Drug laws don't work because they are too lenient, up here at least. Grow ops look at the risk vs reward and don't care if they get caught, cuz max they do is 2 years less a day, but more often get big fines, which are easily paid for from their drug money.

It's the same as a dry town or reserve, there is still booze their, but the problem is dramatically less. (I'm not saying everywhere should be dry, I enjoy a drink as much as the next guy. It's just my example)

It's simple, with legalized gambling, MY tax dollar, which is already spread thin enough, goes towards funding someone else's gambling problem, and I don't like that, and I hazard to guess no one else does.

Trevor

 

T-dickie, I don't disagree with you. Gambiling IS very addictive, and can ruin lives, as can many of the other vices mentioned. However, my points were maide in aid of the original request for ammunitions to win the "Pro" argument.

Personally, I do not believe legislation is helping. In fact, I think it all too often leads to too much government, excess spending, and possible corruption.

I do, however, believe government does have a role in helping us put EFFECTIVE education and treatment programs in place - education to teach people about the potential evils, and treatment for those who are not able to control themselves. Both these together would cost FAR less than the amount of tax dollars we are throwing at trying to enforce unenforceable laws (at least until we as individuals decide it is in our own best interest not to do these things.



Oh, to be king for a day (they'd probably bring back the guillotine!) <G>

 

Correct me if I'm wrong... Wasn't that about the time that the Texas Lottery went live with On-line games? (Take five, Numbers, Keno), and instant tickets.
In either case, the sad, cynical answer is, that the Government hates competition. They went live with a lottery, and they'd rather get the money themselves than run the risk of the profits going to an independent company.

Coincidentally, did you know that the Instant (scratch off) Ticket contract in Texas is one of the most lucrative instant contracts in the US. (In many other countries, lotteries are run by federal governments, such as the UK lottery.)

I happen to work in the lottery industry, so I get to see a very different viewpoint than most folks. I see exactly what goes in to separating you from your dollars.

 

this is what happened where i live

when the provincial government got into the gambling business about 10-15 years ago, it was seen as a way to make money from tourists. the government figured that if they opened a casino in montreal, tourists would come and gamble, and the province could make a lot of money without it doing too much harm to the people.

they even built the casino on an island, where they had the expo in '67, to keep it away from downtown and the poor neighborhoods.

but at the same time all the other states/provinces were getting into the gambling business. so when gambling revenues started to drop off again, the government brought in the video poker machines to make up for the lost revenue. difference was, the poker machines are in every bar in montreal and target local people, not rich tourists. most poor neighborhoods you can't walk down the street without a bar advertising the poker machines

now they're stuck with these machines because the money they collect is part of the budget. the whole issue of casinos and poker machines is a huge mess involving the horse track, bar owners, poverty people, the budget, tourist board.

the minister of quebec lotteries will want to reduce the number of poker machines to make things look good but people point out as long as you have them in every bar, poor people who can't afford to, will still find a way to gamble. another idea is to move a bunch of poker machines to the horse racing track to help revive the horse racing industry. but then people will take the metro (subway) to the racetrack, and end up hanging around a casino all day. then they're talking about moving the casino off the island and building one closer to downtown. they figure if they attach it to the local convention centre where the hotels and the auto shows and stuff are, more tourists will go there. then they can fudge some numbers saying less poor people are gambling.

what it all comes down to is the government wants to make money without harming the population. but that was possible maybe 20 years ago when nevada was the only place to gamble. now they're stuck with these stupid machines in every bar, sucking the life out of poor people who don't know any better

 

Your project is to promote the positive side of passing a gambling bill. Most of what you have heard so far is true. For your side of the argument. First pick where you want the proceeds to go. Schools are always good (next to politicians the biggest waste of taxpayer money known to man) they ring the bell for a lot of people. Highways/roads are another good one. You have to pick the areas that most of the people are interested in. I would take these two and extol there virtues. Add the claus that the funds could not be used for anything else without voter approval, another hot button item. You can throw in the right of choice etc. But do not play this card to hard. Remember you are appealing to emotions not intelligence. Have the dollar figures spent on schools and roads. Then show what amount gambling will provide for these services. Then throw in that 90% of this replacement amount must be deducted from future taxes. Another hot button item. Good luck on your project.

 

we have riverboat gambling and the lottery here in illinois and our state finances are in shambles. sad

 

I, personally love to gamble. I will go to the casino a couple of times a year and blow what I brought. 50 bucks, 200. It's what I can afford and I don't hit the ATM if I lose. It's fun and relaxing, as long as it's fun money. I will play the lottery a couple of times a month also. I don't think I am any different in this regard to the majority of people, play for fun and if you win Hoorah! Those people who blow the grocery money at the casino will find a way to blow it gambling someplace else if there is no casino. Bookies, office pools, "friendly" card games, etc. Gambling is like any other addiction, if you are addicted, you will find a way to lose your money whether your state allows legal gambling or not.

 

I'm in the car biz and have traded the stock market for 7 years- I think I already have all the risk I'd care to take on.

 

The government already takes 1/4 of what I make. Why should they be allowed to tell me what I can or can't spend the rest on?

Cigarettes, alcohol and fast food are a whole lot worse for you physically and mentally, they're more addicting and they cost EVERYONE a hell of a lot in healthcare expenses and insurance. They're still legal.

Credit cards are also addicting and cost everyone money. People overspend, run into financial problems, and possibly file for bankruptcy and we all end up paying for it through higher retail prices, credit card fees, and welfare for them. They're still legal.

I guess I don't see how gambling is any different from these things. Other than the fact that gambling offers the chance (small as it may be) of getting a return on your money, while these other things GUARENTEE no return and very harmful, sometimes fatal consequences. The problems that gambling MAY cause are no greater than those that already exist because of alcohol, tobacco, fast food, credit cards, automobiles, guns, etc...

These things are not the problem. People are the problem. Lenient liberal laws are the problem. Nobody is forced to take responsibility for their own actions anymore, so they don't.

I say, instead of telling everyone that they CAN'T gamble, tell them they can, and make the penalty for abuse so severe that they might not WANT to. Basically, teach people to make wise decisions instead of just telling them 'no'. It doesn't have to cost us anything if you make the abusers WORK to pay for their rehab. It really can work. Well, if we didn't have liberals or lawyers it could.

Kevin K.

P.S. I don't gamble, but I do drink, smoke, eat fast food, own a gun and use credit cards.

 

i wont get on too big of a tangent here.. BUT.. in Louisiana, we did the whole gambling thing.. we were told that we would have perfect schools in no time and everyone would have tons of money and the economy would improve.. and blah blah blah. this all was also said when they wanted lotto too.. here's the thing.. none of that happened... NONE.. while the schools may have gotten some of that money. all they did was shift the money around.. schools didnt get more money.. which, i dont think throwing money at a sorry schools system is going to fix it anyway..
i can say that since the boats showed up, more minorities have gotten better money chances.. the city of Shreveport has decided that they will do whatever the boats want.. Shreveport will build anything and put it on the riverfront even if the voters dont want it.. if the voters act like they wont pass it, they just do it.. they dont let anyone vote...

as far as gambling being outlawed in the first place, well, that is so the government can come in later and get a pull off of it... its like anything else.. when the man sees that he can somehow take an extra pull, he'll do it.it's like gas taxes, hotel taxes, inspection stickers.. and the list goes on and on...
i am currently living in Texas and hope that they will get gambling here.. if for no other reason that if that happens, the boats in Shreveport will go broke.. i would love to see that whole gambling thing blow up in the mayors face..

this is all just my opinioin though...

 

Personally I would like to see a "federal budget" on a large spreadsheet that lists and proves where government funds are going. If people could only see the mass amounts of governmental spending directed towards government officials' pockets... we all know it happens. It's hard to belive that almost half our wages go to taxes. (Sales, Income, and Property) That's the equivlent to working through May to pay off all our taxes. That's 5/12 the year of our hard work directed toward our schools, roads, ect. ( The price of freedom )
Honestly.. how much money are our schools receiving from legalized gambling? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the average citizen can't find this proven information anywhere.