Gamed
With virtually no debate, and certainly with no public debate, the California state senate have fast-track approval to the largest legalized gambling expansion in recent history. There'll still be a fight over the expansion in the state assembly. But it's amazing what a couple of million dollars in campaign contributions will buy you... the best bet in the house. I explain it all in my latest L.A. Weekly column.
April 26th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Kansas this past week legalized gaming for the first time, only the funding match-ups were reversed in this state. Pro-gaming was outspent by anti-gambling interests nearly two to one. Interestingly, some of the latter came from Indian Casino owners who don’t want the competition.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:16 am
“Inside the teepee pissing out . . .” Why how LBJ of you.
On a more serious note I wonder just how far we can go in adding more casinos. Where is the saturation point? And, more to the point, when do the casino owners in Nevada get worried and start putting THEIR millions toi work?
Isn’t it interesting that, until the red man discovered gambling and its riches, the white man couldn’t care less about the poor indian!
April 26th, 2007 at 11:44 am
I hadn’t read the LA weekly story written by Marc until just now. Here in Kansas, gaming is allowed but it is only allowed to be operated by Indian-owned casinos. Last week, though, they allowed expanded casinos for anyone to own.
April 26th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
The city of Toronto right now is resisting putting a casino in the waterfront area – a position supported by much of the local left. I’m not a gambler, outside of being a mean crapshooter, but I don’t see why something that would bring in immense tax revenue to a tax poor city wouldn’t make a difference….so I ask – what is the progressive argument for a casino?
April 26th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Marc, do you buy that only 1percent of gamblers become addicts?
April 26th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
What are the odds that jcummings’ figure is right? Any takers?
April 27th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Marc: I generally make clear my opposition to your articles on gaming on two counts…sometimes you simply get the facts wrong and you fail to disclose your antipathy for gaming due to a family problem with gaming abuse.
However, on this article you are on the money. The SIX-Pack Tribes, as they are known in Tribal circles, are really giving greed a bad name. They have been outstanding in not helping other tribes and hide behind sovereignty to avoid living wage and worker equity issues. I hope the Nunez holds tough.
March 31st, 2010 at 9:00 am
I love your take on this, could not agree more.
April 8th, 2010 at 7:28 am
I am of same opinion with what the poster said. Thanks for posting this, bye.