Codependent Addicts: States and Casinos

Posted on April 30, 2008 by thestateofblog

“Loath to tax the citizenry based on income, many states have increasingly turned to cigarette smokers and gamblers for revenues. Gamblers are often smokers, and both groups tend to be of modest or low income.

“So after taxing the daylights out of the working class’s cigarettes, states can go for a second helping from the quarters the little people dump into the slot machines. This raises revenues that, in the old days, their better-heeled residents might have had to pay. And the fleeced masses don’t know to complain. Bingo, as they say.

“But the casino industry knows that its profits have become oh-so-important to the gambling-addicted states and localities. We’re partners now.

“That mentality explains how Donald Trump could stand up a few days ago and with a straight face call on 11 casinos to unite in a lawsuit against Atlantic City. The intrepid City Council had passed a new smoking ban that would cover the casinos — and after threats that its move would cost the city 20 percent of its revenues and up to 3,400 jobs.

TheStateOf . . . Gambling and States. California has gone sick with casinos. The Governor is constantly negotiating with them to pay the State’s overdue bonds. The casinos are all over the place. Being a Vegas man, myself, I (J) can’t stand the low-budget casinos in the LA area. It’s nothing but broke folks gambling to pay the light bill. Truly sad.

Filed under: Culture, Economics, Politics

« Another One Bites The Dust . . . Obama Will Have More Superdelegates »

4 Responses to “Codependent Addicts: States and Casinos”

  1. Dina (Om Manar), on April 30th, 2008 at 11:32 am Said:

    Another example of why allowing the State to be involved in anything ultimately makes things worse.

    I recently read an article that some cities are getting rid of the cameras at intersections because it is making people drive safer (wasn’t that the alleged reason for them) and, thus, the city is losing money on tickets.

    So much for all that b.s. about the State being around to protect us.

  2. Roderick, on April 30th, 2008 at 1:15 pm Said:

    umm, casinos exists because politicians know that citizens want services but don’t want their taxes increased to pay them.

  3. Dina (Om Manar), on April 30th, 2008 at 2:09 pm Said:

    That’s why casinos exist?? Hilarious.

    What else exists because politicians “know” citizens want services but don’t want to pay for them?

  4. Rod, on April 30th, 2008 at 3:03 pm Said:

    Rod,

    That’s a possibility, but I’m not sure you’re right. With all the money these casinos are making off the poor, I still can’t understand why California is closing hundreds of schools and laying off 20,000 teachers.

Leave a Reply