Gambling interests spend big bucks on NY lawmakers

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According to a report by the Common Cause NY, gambling interests have spared no expense courting New York lawmakers, spending $20 million over the past 2 years on lobbying and campaign contributions for various offices, including almost a quarter a million dollars to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s campaign. The spending comes on the heels of Cuomo’s announcement that New York will be looking to expand casino gambling in the state. This article, by Newsday, summarizes the developments quite well.

2013 Gambling interests spent $20 million on NY lawmakers in 2 years, Common Cause finds

LesGambling interests spend big bucks on NY lawmakers
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Gambling winnings, even when offset by losses, cost seniors more than you would think

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This article, from The Wall Street Journal‘s “Market Watch”, shows how gambling winnings can cost seniors dearly when tax day comes. Even if they are balanced out by losses of the same amount,  certain tax rates can skyrocket, leaving seniors to pay extra. Using a real example, the author shows just how much gambling can cost.

2013 Gambling tax hits SSA payouts — even when you lose

LesGambling winnings, even when offset by losses, cost seniors more than you would think
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Casino-owning tribes still subsidized by US government while financial backers see immense profits

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Casinos were supposed to generate billions of dollars of revenue for Native American tribes, allowing them to be independent of taxpayer-funded federal subsidies. However, while their financial backers reap heavy profits, the casino tribes have yet to see the revenue they need and are thus still reliant on money from the US government. This article, by the Niagara Gazette, documents one tribe’s struggle to gain the profits the casino was built to raise.

2013 Casino-owning tribes betting on help from the US government

 

LesCasino-owning tribes still subsidized by US government while financial backers see immense profits
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Even casino industry researchers call racinos a sham

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Even the researchers funded by casino interests admit slot machines do nothing to help horse racing and the workers connected to it. The late Bill Eadington, who was the director of the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming at the University of Nevada, Reno, told the Maryland Capital News Service in 2013, “The whole phenomenon of racetrack casinos has really been a sham. It’s done virtually nothing to increase the demand for horse races.”

2013 Casinos drawing mostly local crowds

LesEven casino industry researchers call racinos a sham
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Casinos’ public health risks outweigh the potential benefits for community health centers in Canada

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Several community health centers in Canada are standing up to potential casinos in their area, according to this article by EMC News, saying they present a public health risk that far outweighs the potential revenue. Additionally, they say any revenue generated by casinos will come at the expense of other entertainment businesses.

2013 Casinos do more harm than good, say community health centers

LesCasinos’ public health risks outweigh the potential benefits for community health centers in Canada
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Arizona lottery revenue may not be going where promised

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This article, from The Arizona Republic, documents how difficult it is to find where Arizona lottery profits are going. Instead of directing a portion of profits directly to, for example, K-12 education or health care, the lottery puts money into a general fund. This money could be going to Arizona schools, or it could be going to the pensions of Arizona lawmakers, but because of the nature of the general fund, it is impossible to track. The article shows how the amount of money the lottery says it puts back into the community can be deceiving.

2013 Arizona Lottery revenue has grown, but tracking how funds are used proves difficult

LesArizona lottery revenue may not be going where promised
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Addicts make up nearly 50% of Alberta’s gambling revenue

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A study from the University of Lethbridge shows that in Alberta, the Canadian province that gets the most revenue from gambling, addicts fund nearly half of the gambling profits. This is especially astounding, considering gambling addicts make up only 2-3% of the population, leading to what researchers call an “ethically problematic” situation.

2013 Addicts fund nearly half of gambling revenue

LesAddicts make up nearly 50% of Alberta’s gambling revenue
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New York schools see stagnant aid in face of rising lottery revenue

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Below is an article that details the growing gap between lottery profits and aid for education in New York state. While the revenues for the New York lottery have soared in recent years, the percentage that is allotted to the schools of New York has remain unchanged. The article also chronicles the ongoing debate over lotteries in the state of New York and is a great read for anyone looking to see the impacts of lotteries on education.

2013 Lottery revenue soars, but schools fear ‘shell game’

LesNew York schools see stagnant aid in face of rising lottery revenue
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Illinois Lottery gains overwhelming majority of revenue from poorer areas

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This article by The Chicago Tribune outlines how poorer neighborhoods are bringing in the stark majority of sales, showing that the most disadvantaged in the Chicago community are often the most exploited by the lottery.

2013 IL Lottery – poorer neighborhoods bring in most revenue

LesIllinois Lottery gains overwhelming majority of revenue from poorer areas
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Survey of literature on the economics of lotteries

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Below is a survey and summary of the many existing works regarding the economic impacts of lotteries in the US. It underscores the need for more unbiased research in this area, as well as giving an informative look into the how lotteries impact the economics of towns, states, and the country as a whole.

2012 The Economics of Lotteries- A Survey of the Literature 2-20-2012

LesSurvey of literature on the economics of lotteries
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