The competition for Americans' gambling dollars is heating up, as several states eye major casino projects in a bid to reverse their fortunes in a tough economic climate....

Authorizing casino gambling is "easy politically right now," says Douglas Walker, associate professor of economics at South Carolina's College of Charleston and author of The Economics of Casino Gambling. "People want jobs and they don't want higher taxes. Legalizing casinos can be argued to create jobs and tax revenues."

Never mind that some gambling analysts say that gambling doesn't help the long-term financial stability of a state.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Culture-Watch • Gambling • * Economics, Politics • Economy • The Credit Freeze Crisis of Fall 2008/The Recession of 2007-- • Politics in General • State Government

1. John Boyland wrote: I wish the church were more vocal against gambling.  Both conservatives and liberals can agree that gambling is destructive.  On the liberal side, it ends up being a regressive tax; the poor spend a larger percentage of their income.  It lures the downtrodden into supporting the state.  On the conservative side, gambling is worship of the false god of Luck.  (Very clear from recent ads for the Milwaukee Potawatomi “Bingo”).  From a budgetary point-of-view, gambling leads to more social problems and costs than benefits to the state. January 24, 10:30 am | [comment link]

2. Br. Michael wrote: Bad move.  The states are preying on those least able.  John has it right. January 24, 11:33 am | [comment link]

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