Why would anyone be opposed to legalized gambling?

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Personally... I don't gamble and never have... I don't even play the lottery or make little side bets with friends or coworkers.

However, if others do wish to, then it should be their right and not the business of the legislature to decide "we know what's best for you".

As it is now, MA already has a state lottery and horse racing tracks.

Out of state casinos/resorts are only a short drive away.

Allowing casinos would bring in more revenue and create more jobs.

So... what's the problem?

Beacon Hill lawmakers reach tentative casino deal

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

Legislative leaders on Beacon Hill have reached a tentative agreement on a bill that would allow both casino gambling and slot machine facilities in Massachusetts, according to a legislative official who has been briefed on the ongoing negotiations.

The deal would authorize three resort casinos and would allow the state's four racetracks to compete for two slot parlor licenses. The deal does not meet Governor Deval Patrick's demands. He said Thursday he would accept creation of one slot parlor as part of the expanded gambling bill, if legislators agreed to break a legislative logjam on Beacon Hill.

The politics are delicate for Patrick, who faces a difficult reelection campaign this fall. He initiated the effort to legalize casinos three years ago and does not want to be blamed if a measure that promises thousands of jobs and has the backing of the state’s powerful labor unions fails to pass. Yet many within his liberal base oppose gambling.

Bob Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, on Thursday welcomed Patrick’s concession on slots, arguing that gambling is essential to bringing thousands of jobs lost in the economic downturn. He said his union wants a deal, regardless of how many casinos or slot parlors.

“I don’t care what form it takes,’’ he said. “I want the Commonwealth to make the most economic development they can.’

Complete article...

[uncommon]

1. I think there is resistance to legalizing any vice -

looking at history, we really like to prevent people from having fun when we can.

:)

(I live in MA and in a city where there has been a fight going on for years about building a casino.)

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Perhaps on the theory the money isn't being directly "invested" into the community

or spent on merchandise in stores or used to purchase stocks, etc. Gambling is competition for rarified dollars.

[Oregone]

3. Low-income people seem to feel a disproportionate amount of pain from those activities

Prohibition of these activities promises no better result really.

[Edweird]

4. I would say "it's addictive", but I really think it's just that they are authoritarians.

Nonetheless it can suck the money out of your bank account faster than a cocaine habit and it's just as addictive.
I'm not against it - I enjoy blackjack (I win enough to make it worth my while) and an occasional slot machine foray for the lulz - however some people lose control and it can get ugly.

[sandnsea]

5. It can destroy a local economy

I know the local casino has hurt me financially. I know it's hurt some of the locally owned businesses because people go to the casino instead of coming into town. People move to the area because it'll be fun to live near a casino... and that doesn't work out well. There can be increased costs in utilities, social services, and law enforcement; and the city doesn't always benefit enough to offset those costs.

Democrats in our town were the biggest opposition to the casino.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I think it's the same logic by which drugs are outlawed.

There are people who have serious gambling addictions, and whose lives, as well as those of their families, were brought to ruin by their gambling. I know of one case in which a law student with a gambling problem actually ended up robbing a series of banks to support her gambling. I also know of several cases in which people embezzled large amounts of money due to gambling addictions. In one case the total embezzlement was about $750,000, and the perpetrator was a 55 yesr-old woman, the wife of the school superintendent in a small town.


All that said, I don't think prohibition is an effective way of treating our widespread gambling problem.

[NoNothing]

7. Honestly? Politics is one reason.

In states like my own certain Indian tribes are some of the biggest lobbyists that exist, and they have no qualms whatsoever about using the power of the state to maintain their monopoly on casino gaming.

[MineralMan]

8. There are a couple of basic reasons:

1. Gambling is considered to be a vice by many conservative religious folks.
2. Gambling is seen to be a regressive form of taxation by some liberals.

They work together to ban it, even though they disagree on almost everything else.

[old mark]

9. I never gamble other than a very occasional state lottery ticket...

maybe 3 a year or less, just on impulse. I don't enjoy cards or games, and get no thrill out of putting money in slot machines.
BUT I have no problems oif others enjoy these activities, especially when the games provide revenue for the state that is used for good purposes and actually takes the place of tax money, as here in PA.

I look on gambling as a stupid wasteful activity, but I have a few of those that I enjoy myself, and do not begrudge anyone a good time. It can become habitual, and there are ways to treat that, but I expect people to be adults and seek help if they have a problem with it. I would not forbid gambling to everyone just because some have problems with it or are against it - let them not do it.

mark

[Arkansas Granny]

10. Around here, much of the opposition to legalized gambling and a state lottery

was based on the fear that poor people would gamble all their money away and then get food stamps and other government assistance to feed and care for their families.

[Whisp]

11. gambling is predatory

It is just another way to tax the poor.

Yes, people are weak and hope to be lucky and wish and dream. These vultures want every last fucking penny from from all of us.

[Greyhound]

12. Those of us in Nevada think this is a terrible idea.

We've been corporatized nearly to death here, and thanks to that, this is the first recession in living memory that we have not seen our economy grow, so we really need you to keep our game illegal in your states.

What's the difference between the government and the mob? The mob keeps it's promises.

[Arger68]

13. Here is one reason:

http://www.albertleatribune.com/2010/07/06/prosecutor-says-files-in-tuttle-case-are-ample/#respond

This person owned an abstract and title company with escrow accounts in my small Minnesota town. She gambled away many peoples escrow money including $150,000 that belonged to the local humane society, which was a donation from a local person based upon the community raising an additional $100,000. The humane society was just in the process of hiring a construction company to build a new animal shelter when they found out the $150,000 was gone. Our local shelter is now turning away dogs and cats all because of one persons gambling addiction.

[OutNow]

14. No casinos in Texas

There are no casinos in Texas because all the conservative Baptists frown on immoral activities. Yeah right. So I'd drive over to Shreveport Louisiana to play cards. And who did I find in the casinos in Louisiana? Hundreds of the very same Baptists with their starched shirts, pressed jeans and $200 Jimmy Johnson haircuts. Biggest bunch of hypocrites on earth (or maybe tied with LDS for top honors).