Here in Ohio, there is a piece of legislation to legalize gambling.  That is fine for those who can control their gambling, but what about those that cannot?

When I think of legalizing gambling, and especially with the economy, I see people spending their last dollar to make it rich.  However, they aren't considering when losing, the fact that the rent/mortgage has to be paid, food needs to be put on the table, the kids need shoes or school supplies, coats, you get the idea.

So, which is more important..... the economy and the jobs casinos will create, or the families that will most likely suffer due to people that have a problem with gambling?

No, I'm just saying if gabling is legalized here, what about the families.  Let's say maybe I'm biased because too often I have heard of families devastated by people that can't control their gambling.  No real reflection on those that can.  I suppose that feeling comes from when I worked in child support for alot of years.  The children somehow seem to suffer.  Was not intended as a slant on those can place limits.

nursecranny: So, which is more important..... the economy and the jobs casinos will create, or the families that will most likely suffer due to people that have a problem with gambling?

I heard something on the news this AM, how various casino revenues werre DOWN, DOWN, DOWN and it's only a matter of time be4, because revenues are down, they WON'T be employing as many people; but the pepople who can't help themselves, will still go blow that paycheck-when they should be saving that money.

There wil always be the issue of problem gamblers. Also, the poor are often hurt by the lottery, gambling etc. What has t o be looked at is the overall picture. And, where will the money really go? Will it go for schools as promised? Often, lottery tickets or casinos have been brought in and then lo and behold the money goes to who knows where.

I live near Atlantic City, New Jersey - we go there all the time. When the casinos were built the revenue was supposed to "help the city."

Decades later the casinos and hotels are beautiful! But walk one block inland and you are still in a slum, complete with hookers and crack houses...

No help to the community, from what I can tell, or not much, anyway! Maybe some infrastructure changed, but it still looks like a pit. Plenty of homeless wandering the boardwalk too!

Atlantic City is very depressing. Look at Las Vegas. the casions and hotels are the only thing here for work basicly and the schools are awful. The casinos do pay a very large amount of taxes. Still, the schools here are the pits.

I am also from Ohio. I don't gamble at all. I am all for the casino. There is a casino only 45 minutes from my house. So if someone is going to a casino and spend their last dollar what will stop them from crossing the state line to do it? Yeah it isn't right for that person to take the little money the family may have but that is their choice to make. I say build the casino and bring the jobs to Ohio. As for the tax money helping the schools. When I was in high school I had the same health book my father had. The school was more worried about getting new sports equipment then getting books. My friend is a contractor. He built a new school in Cleveland. In just a few months the kids had broke the lockers, tore down chalk boards, urinals. They had spray painted all over the school. I think we need more then tax dollars to help our school systems.

I am with Lawyer Rn, look at atlantic city. It is a pit... Good for the economy, really do not know. I suppose it creates jobs, but hey so does prostitution, so why don't we open brothal's everywhere? Which by the way San Francisco is looking to do just that.

 I personally think casino's are the crack cocaine of gambling. It is however a personal choice whether you go into one or not. Same with brothal's I suppose, but where do we draw the line. I do not want a casino in my area, I have not researched this, but my guess is that it also drives up crime... Just a thought

I'm not much of a gambler, never have been.  It's fun for me for about an hour and I'm done.  However, I think people will gamble regardless if there are casinos, lotteries, football etc.  It seems to be human nature.  I'd rather casinos be in place then to continually see dog fighting, cock fighting, animal fighting of any kind for fun and profit.

I agree with the first poster; if you can control your gambling and make sure that you don't blow your paycheck before the rent/mortgage, pay bills (all bill, like credit card to a zero balance every month) and leave $$ aside for the rainy day, I don't see harm, assuming there aren't religious issues.

However, there are many who frequent the casinos who for one reason or another, can't control their gambling. I don't see a way to discriminate between the problem and recreational gambler, and I realize that many people make their living fromt he gambling industries. Waitresses and people at the gaming tables, floor walkers, coat checkers, restaurants in the casino, valet parkers. There are a ton of people employed by the casinos.

If  you decreased the # of people who could gamble, or the # of casinos, there'd be unemployed people. But, maybe the problem gamblers would spend their money on the  things they should, then. It's a tough question.

I'm on the side of openess. Prohibition doesn't work. I don't gamble much, after about $25 I lose interest.

I think people should be educated about how to recognize the symptoms of trouble within themselves. I also think we should be educated about the "marketing" methods of casino's and the tricks and traps they use to keep one gambling. Like no clocks, hard to find exits, too many flashing lights, free booze, sexual manipulation by employees dispensing those drinks...

I haven't seen Atlantic City since before the casinos went in. I can attest to how they affect Reno. If one walks outside the glare of the lights on the strip you find fairly scrubby conditions. I haven't been there since about 98 but I don't imagine that has changed. The money stays in the hands of the casino owners and some employees lucky enough to have good paying positions. Otherwise it isn't much different than a poultry processing plant, a potato plant, a tomato plant, etc.. the workers that make the place run are disposable and paid next to nothing to keep them hungry enough so that they don't make waves. Always with the carrot out in front of them.. If I could just get X hours I will get this benefit..  Oh nevermind, pay no attention to the man behind the monitor....

OMG, don't start me on those child support laws! They really need to change and I'm not talking about change just for the parent that has the children.

Casino's? I love looking at them at night time as they light up so nicely! It's really not up to the government to watch out for people who cannot control their money habits. In fact, it's not up to us, their neighbors to either! I realize you are concerned about all the children going hungry and / or shoeless due to all their parents money going to support the casino's, but I'm sure the kids will survive it all just fine. You cannot compare casino's to child support or even place them in the same category.

Well, "deadbeat parents" that are in arrears quite a bit are tagged by their social security number. Should someone hit the big one or big enough one requiring taxes to be taken out of their winnings would be caught as soon as they give their social security number. If my memory serves me correctly, they would not get the money. It would be confiscated and given to the custodial parent. Should a person owing back taxes receive income tax money back at the end of the year, it will be diverted to the custodial parent. Should a parent owing back child support have a drivers license, they can have it taken away as well as any professional license.

I'm sure the government could start a program about tagging a drivers license (if they still have one), but how much do we want them to babysit us? I see it as none of my business what others do with their money or their government benefits. I sure wouldn't want someone coming to me telling me that I am spending too much on clothes and shoes because the government decided to tag me due to having what they feel is too much debt on my credit card. I know they don't do that.....yet, but think about it, would you want to be monitored on your every move? All working people pay taxes, and you would still pay taxes even if there was no food stamp program.  Food stamps only buy food items. I think they are allowed some cash stipinds so they can buy non food items like laundry soaps and non food items.

LOL, I think people are watching too many drama movies. Not everybody who lives near a casino are that careless and ignore their childrens needs due to gambling. I'm in Reno Nevada right now, and I don't see this as a problem. Sure we have bad areas in town and I have worked in the bad part of Reno at the drug & alcohol rehab. What I see are people hooked on drugs (or alcohol) that are loitering the streets. I see no child at their side. Casino are no different then loyttery tickets. I've heard and seen people buying those tickets when they shouldn't be. Nevada has no lottery tickets.

Just my thoughts...right or wrong.

You're not mean, you just have strong feelings against something is all.

My philosophy is...Live and let live.         

As for the original question...Casinos do help the economy I believe.

Goldenserenity says ...

OMG, don't start me on those child support laws! They really need to change and I'm not talking about change just for the parent that has the children.

Casino's? I love looking at them at night time as they light up so nicely! It's really not up to the government to watch out for people who cannot control their money habits. In fact, it's not up to us, their neighbors to either! I realize you are concerned about all the children going hungry and / or shoeless due to all their parents money going to support the casino's, but I'm sure the kids will survive it all just fine. You cannot compare casino's to child support or even place them in the same category.

 

Golden,

Man do I agree with you. It is NOT up to the government to determine what we do with our lives. That's why we've chosen a Republic as our form of government. What actually would the government be able to do, anyway? Let's try to keep them out of our lives as much as possible.