Ka-Ching! Gambling in PA
While you were munching on hot dogs, drinking beer and setting off contraband fireworks in your backyards, the Pennsylvania legislature was passing a measure to bring slot machines to the commonwealth. The bill passed 113-88 following an 8 1/2-hour debate. Incidentally, during the weekend session, a wedding took place in the capitol building’s rotunda.
One of the venues that will be promised slot machines is Penn National Race Course in Grantville, PA. According to an AP story:
the slots bill would allow the state to recapture much of the money Pennsylvanians pour into slot machines in neighboring states and help revive the state’s horse racing industry.
I don’t pretend to be holier-than-thou about gambling. It’s a form of recreation that some keep in check and some take too far. If I were a perfect person, I’d conscientiously object to the casinos and not visit them once a year in Connecticut. As it is, I like to have a little fun every once in while. But, it’s a fact that some people are compulsive and can get into a lot of trouble. Gambling is one of those activities that invites compulsion.
Moreover, the short-term fiscal benefits for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania are likely to be overshadowed by the following years of crippling dependence on casino revenues. Right now the big business casinos need Pennsylvania, but it won’t be long before Pennsylvania is latched onto those same big businesses to stay afloat.
Anyone have any thoughts about this issue? Read the Patriot-News editorial and then let me know what you think in the comments section.
daily life | sighclub July 5, 2004
4 Comments
Other Links to this Post
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
By Jamie, July 5, 2004 @ 1:57 pm
What’s funny is that my grandfather’s democratic club always had slot machines since I was born. The cops used to raid the club regularly when the pay-offs weren’t flowing smoothly. I’m going to miss the image of my grandfather and other 70+ year olds being raided by the cops at their club. Memories.
By Kristen, July 5, 2004 @ 2:48 pm
No need to cry… Stuff like that will probably still get raided, because the Gaming Commission is made up of big business folks who want the lion’s share.
By Your friend Jennifer Myszkowski, July 6, 2004 @ 6:34 pm
I am so vehemently anti-gambling, particularly when that gambling is sponsored by the state. It has nothing to do with religion or anything, just my personal experience.
When I was in junior high, my friend’s father left them to move to Reno and blow all their money on gambling. In another instance, one of my colleagues had a husband who blew all their rent money (basically every month) on scratch tickets.
Sure, gambling is entertainment, but it’s a dangerous kind of entertainment, and one I don’t want to entertain.
I more than object to gambling; I boycott it.
I have gotten scratch tickets for presents that I have won money on but haven’t turned in because I’m just not interested in being party to the madness.
I suppose if I had won any kind of serious money, I might be forced to reconsider my view. Or maybe I’d just give the winning ticket to a worthy cause. I don’t know.
And since I don’t play, I won’t win, so the point is rather moot.
By Kristen, July 7, 2004 @ 10:52 am
I can’t believe that 18 states have legalized gambling, and that’s not including the states that have Indian-controlled gambling! It’s gone way too far. I used to be laissez faire about this, but now that I know it’s coming to my home state, I’m starting to have different thoughts about it. Sure, people can gamble in NJ and CT, but now that it’s in my backyard (well sort of) I suddenly feel differently. I’m one big hypocrisy.