The recent fiscal downturn forced cash-strapped, tax-averse state lawmakers to seek unconventional revenue- raising alternatives, for additional revenue-raising opportunities outside of the income, sales and property taxes that form the backbone of most state tax systems. One of the most popular alternatives to those major revenue sources is state-sponsored gambling. As this policy brief points out, however, gambling revenues are rarely as lucrative, or as long-lasting, as supporters claim.
Form of Government-Sanctioned Gambling
Failed revitalization in Atlantic City and the continued culture of crime
Despite billions of dollars that have been spent and lost in Atlantic City, crime and poverty are sinking the city down further. The tragic situation underscores the truth that commercialized gambling merely redistributes wealth from ordinary Americans to the powerful.
Failed revitalization in Atlantic City, and the continued culture of crime
Behind an Army of Lobbyists, an Instant Force in Gambling
There is no grassroots movement anywhere in America calling for regional casinos. The push is completely driven by very powerful corporate gambling interests that are dominating state legislatures across the U.S. This New York Times story highlights just one example of how this highly corrupt process works to force casinos into communities. It focus on the lobbying practices of Genting in New York State, a massive corporate gambling power based overseas.
Kansas state government exempts casinos from statewide ban on indoor smoking
Despite the statewide ban on indoor smoking, state government in Kansas exempted casinos. Research indicates that a smoking ban would drive thousands of patrons away from Kansas casinos.
Queens Racino Draws Increased Police Attention
The development of The Aqueduct racino in South Ozone Park had citizens concerned of a spike in crime level due to its presence. Because of this underlying fear, cops have been centralized around the racino and as a result, surrounding areas have suffered due to a lack of protection.
Atlantic City casinos spend 40% of winnings on comps
Casinos across Atlantic City have been even more generous in sending out free slot-play rewards in attempts to lure customers. Statistics released last month show that Atlantic City’s casinos spent an average of about 40 cents of every dollar they won in gambling on promotional allowances and expenses in September.
Atlantic City casinos spend 40% of winnings on comps to compete with other venues
The Casino Practice of Lending Money to Citizens Who Then Gamble It All Away
The casino business model is based on patrons who “chase” their losses which means people who continue gambling to try to get back the money they have already lost to the casino. Borrowing money to gamble is one of the most glaring warning signs of problem gambling. One way casinos exploit the mind set of those who chase their losses is by loaning money to gamblers who do not have the cash on hand to continue gambling at the casino. Below is an example of the predatory casinos loan process taken from the Harrah’s Metropolis (IL) Casino website on May 30, 2012.
‘Gamble responsibly’ is an ad, not a deterrent
State governments presumably believe that the ‘gamble responsibly’ message is evidence of their concern about gambling problems, and will assist people who gamble to do so in a ‘responsible’ manner. This message seems to be no more than a façade however, providing a false sense of caring, as persuasively explained in this article by Charles Livingstone.
Schools’ slices of lottery pie small, getting smaller in Oklahoma
With more than 500 Oklahoma school districts vying for their cut of the funds and only 35 percent of gross proceeds going to education, the lottery pie gets sliced hundreds of different times before an individual school district sees its portion. The result: The amount in lottery funds sent to individual school districts in Oklahoma has been relatively small. Read below to learn more how the Oklahoma Lottery has (not surprisingly) failed to fund education in the way proponents had promised citizens.
Near Misses Are Like Winning to Problem Gamblers
The brains of problem gamblers react more intensely to near misses than casual gamblers, new research from the University of Cambridge has found. The results help explain what keeps problem gamblers betting even though they keep losing.