Editorial: Gaming harms more people than it helps

Monday, November 20, 2006  

"The Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs near Wilkes-Barre has almost 1,100 gambling machines on two floors, plus a bar and restaurants. But that's just the beginning.

Plans call for the casino to increase the number of machines to 2,000 and add retail shops and a nightclub, among other facilities. At that time, revenues are expected to be almost $168 million a year.

The purported beneficiaries of revenues from the casino, which is operated by the Mohegan Indian tribal council, are homeowners, workers, and seniors. Plans are for gaming monies to cut taxes, help a rent rebate program for seniors, and increase horse-racing purses.

Along with the revenue and the jobs come the potential for increased crime, for men and women to spend money they can't afford to lose in gaming parlors where they think they can place a bet or push a button on a machine and immediately end their financial woes.

Not going to happen. For every winner, most other players lose more than they can afford, sinking deeper and deeper.

And just because other states have legalized gambling - Pennsylvania became the 36th to have electronic gaming - does that mean Ohio should have jumped on the bandwagon?"

Get the Story:
Editorial: Two views of gambling (The Toledo Blade 11/20)