Stop Predatory Gambling

Kansas becomes a casino republic

by spgadmin

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Kansas yesterday. The casino opening is significant because it represents the first state-owned casino in America. Kansas state government is now “the house.”

There is no more compelling symbol about how we as a country are on the wrong track then the fact that our government is literally acting like a casino. How do we build a country based on another kind of Bernie Madoff “something for nothing” scheme? How do we sustain our democracy in which everyone is considered to be equal yet government, through its embrace of predatory gambling, has declared some of our fellow citizens as expendable?

Lauding the casino as a boon to western Kansas, the governor said “I think it’s a great Kansas story that the very first casino in this state isn’t a high-priced casino in Kansas City.” Kansas Senate President Steve Morris told the audience that having the first casino in the U.S. with direct state oversight would make visitors to Boot Hill more “comfortable.” Carol Sader, chairwoman of the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, said “We’re looking forward to the Boot Hill Casino becoming the proving site for gambling with integrity.”

The proving site for gambling with integrity? Predatory gambling is the antithesis of integrity because it is deceptive, addictive and predatory.

There are many well-intentioned public officials and media who promote predatory gambling who know virtually nothing about the business model, the product and the marketing behind the predatory gambling trade. Because if they did, most would be standing alongside us. And someday soon they will be.