In this 2004 Mercer Law Review article, Professor John Kindt details the extraordinary methods of predatory gambling operators (and their allies) to hide harmful, and potentially illegal, business practices. Kindt states that “insiders” from the industry need to come forward so the public can truly understand what goes on.
Exposing the Truth About the Predatory Gambling Business Through the Judicial System
Professor John Kindt suggests that subpoenaing predatory gambling operators could reveal the truth behind the business, since “the historical record indicates that decriminalized organized gambling activities invariably lead to new addicted gamblers, new bankruptcies, and new crime and corruption.”
Tobacco-Style Lawsuits Against the Predatory Gambling Trade
Professor John Kindt explores the idea of states bringing lawsuits against predatory gambling operators, a strategy that worked over time with the tobacco companies. Kindt writes: “Owing to costs created by new addicted gamblers, bankruptcies, and crime once gambling is legalized, some have argued that gambling establishments should be held liable for the costs they place on society.”
Native American Tribes and Payday Lenders Partnering to Avoid Oversight
To help “broaden” their portfolio, some Native American tribes are now partnering with pay day lenders to allow such companies to circumvent state laws in nearly 20 states, according to a recent report by the Center for Public Integrity.
Well-intended people have been talking about alternate economic solutions for Native American tribes for more than twenty years. Yet there is no sense of urgency for these Native American tribes to change their predatory business partnerships and, as evidenced by their entrance into the payday lending arena, the situation is getting worse.
Fights over tribal payday lenders show challenges of financial reform
North Carolina Community College Students Become “Collateral Damage”
The North Carolina House recently voted on a budget that will cut financial aid from lottery funds to low-income community college students. Since creating the state Lottery in 2005, lawmakers have “tinkered with the formula” that initially allocated 10 percent of half its net proceeds to need-based college scholarships.
Predatory Gambling Negatively Affects Families
A 2010 article from the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada details the evidence linking gambling addiction to negative socio-economic consequences for Canadian families as the government attempts to “chase after increasing revenue.”
Government Gambling and Broken Families: How Problem Gambling Affects Families
Why Far Fewer Bettors Pony Up on the Horses
This Las Vegas Sun article offers some insights as to why horse racing events are “going the way of Latin.” It describes how horse racing revenue has declined 30 percent at Nevada casinos in the past decade even as other forms of gambling, after taking a hit in the recession, have increased over that period.
The Reverse Robin Hood Effect
Using data acquired from the Florida Lottery Commission, Florida scholars assessed what groups were benefiting from the lottery-funded Florida Bright Futures Scholarships and who were being harmed. Not surprisingly, the study reported that the “net benefits of the scholarships accrue disproportionately to counties with heavier concentrations of white, wealthy, and well-educated households.” The study concluded by stating: “If the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships are going to be made more equitable, the citizens who are harmed — the poor, the less-educated, and minorities, as well as citizens who care about fairness — need to get involved.”
The second study below uses survey data and finds similar results.
West Virginia Legislature Votes to Fund State’s Racinos
In March 2011, West Virginia’s State Legislature voted on a bill that will use $10 million from an existing lottery to fund the state’s racinos for 10 years. Del. Mitch Carmichael, of Jackson, called the bill “the most ‘ridiculous’ he’s seen in several years.”
“Why should we single out a particular industry, the gaming industry and the Greenbrier Hotel, to give them special $10 million giveaways from the people of West Virginia,” Carmichael asked. “I just think it sets the wrong priorities.”
West Virginia Legislature Votes to Fund Racinos with Public Money
Government-Run Gambling Bigger Than Organized Crime
Should our democratic institutions be competing with organized crime for revenue? Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Monica Yant Kinney discovers an important distinction between illegal underground gambling and government-sponsored predatory gambling: “Bookies don’t prey on gamblers. Bookies don’t solicit. Gamblers find them.”
This lies in stark contrast to state governments using taxpayer money to solicit our fellow citizens to play the lottery and providing tax incentives to allow casinos to come to town.