Economic relief effort.

I think it's okay for people to want to have a good time and spend a little money... But all too often people overspend and put themselves in bad situations. Yes, people should be able to control themselves, but we all know that some people can't. I think there should be some kind of law limiting the amount you can lose to save people from themselves. Just as there is a drinking limit (when driving).

Jus don't sale the farm ....Hey jus legalize weed and I will be happy lol

Talk about boosting the economy.....Plus, no more state taxes, look at Nevada.

You know Its entirely up to the morons who like to gamble away their lives. Itsd a form of entertainment. Once your 18 your a fucking grown up. If your stupid enough to gamble your life away then thats your own god damn fault.

I neither think this a good idea or bad idea. Now personally it's not for me as I had a bit of a problem when I was younger with gambling.

so, just by rating this item it tells em how i stand on controversial issues???

I'm a big boy. Just like I know when it's time to put the bourbon down, I know when it's time to walk away from the blackjack table. (Usually.)

There is a reason this has not caught on

hell yea, gamblings fuking fun!!!

I don't really care about this at all.

Where I live, the government legalized gambling and then monopolized it in one fell swoop. Illegal gaming still takes place, but the average person can play cards, machines or bingo without getting drawn into some seedy underworld. That element still exists by all reports, but at least grandma doesn't need to go to the Barcca Club and slip Tony a sawbuck to get into the game.

By most assessments the local game is clean and fair, maybe a little underwhelming in the flash department. They seem to have tables for all the games, and have the hardware for slots and VLTs. The two larger local casinos have a live stage, but the attractions are generally the oddest assortment of has-beens and never-weres that appeal to an audience that I wouldn't describe as discriminating.

Society hasn't gone to Hell here, most studies show we have problem gambling at about the same rate/level as any other jurisdiction. Every now and then there is some media story about a family that is destitute because dad gambled away the mortgage money, but statistically we don't seem to have fallen into the abyss, neither have other places that took the same approach.

Government did exactly what everyone suspected, started out by saying the profits would be earmarked for community projects, but eventually just folded it into general revenues. In effect it is viewed by most people as a form of voluntary taxation. Local charities are supported by grants in exchange for providing volunteer labour selling cards in the bingo hall.

I don't play, but have gone to a couple of sponsored events at the casinos. Not a bad night out, but I'd sooner go to a bar and listen to a good band.

I think it is not fair that only Native americans can capitalize on this system. How is that fair? MN has been trying for years to get a state run casino, which would help with our deficit, and bring some much needed income to MN....... I'm sorry, but I really don't think its fair that Indians, are allowed to monopolize this industry.

Why the hell not? With some restrictions.

This is a really tough issue for me as well, but this one for a more personal reason. My mom got really addicted to gambling when I was around 15 or so, and took out loans and stuff and went through I'm thinking about ten thousand dollars at a casino that was in Delaware, not far from where she worked. One day she said she was about to kill herself because of all of the money she had gone through, but instead she checked herself into a psychiatric facility nearby. The hardest part for me at that point was that I was also in residential treatment for depression, and I can remember having a family session over the phone, where my counselor called my mom's counselor and we were to have an over the phone session, with my dad being where my mom was, since it was closer than where I was. Well, all I can remember is, that was really scary, before I had come in for the session they had already been talking about it and my dad got up and left, and went home. So it was really hard for me to deal with knowing that my mom was alone and in a bad place mentally, and I was alone and couldn't really talk to anyone.

I tell that story just because it is part of the reason that I can't completely 100% support gambling everywhere. I spent a lot of years keeping secrets, when I was a kid I kept quiet when I found my dad's beer cans, when he was supposedly not drinking, and then when I was older, I had to keep secrets about my mom's gambling--be it lottery tickets or slot machines. Had there not been a casino less than an hour from where we lived, chances are, a lot of that pain would have been prevented. Not to say she wouldn't have bought lottery tickets, but slot machines are a lot more dangerous than lottery tickets, as far as losing money goes, since you can put X amount of money in at a time and just keep hitting a button.

All that being said, it is now about 10 years later, since a lot of that stuff happened. My dad occasionally takes my mom to a casino, gives her a set amount of money, and that way, she gets to have fun and play the slots, but not go overboard. In my opinion, I do think she still has a bit of a gambling problem, but it's definitely not as bad as before, because she doesn't have access to it nearby, most likely.

So while I do think that people should be able to go to a casino if they want to, but it is a huge responsibility, it's like alcohol, it can be addictive and dangerous. So when it comes down to it, I guess I'd say that it should be limited to certain areas, not near areas where people work or live, it's just too risky. In the middle of a city, like Atlantic City, in New Jersey or a reservation--it's fine, but not near a suburban area where a lot of families live.

Now, for lotteries, I feel differently... I think they are fairly safe. Not that someone couldn't buy say 100 scratch-offs, but face it, that's not as easy to do as putting a 100$ bill in a lit up slot machine, and end up putting more money in 5-10 minutes later. But you definitely still have to be responsible with lottery tickets as well.

its good fun till you lose your house your car your life and you grandma.

love me some poker

If people choose to waste their money, it should be their right too!

I think lottery is legal gambling. I think people should be educated in the the risks of gambling, but it should be a personal choice, not a law against it. If people are going to gamble, they will.

not govt job to make decision

Not in every state!!!

Mixed feelings. On the one hand, I'm against laws based on morality. On the other, this destroys families and preys on weakness for extreme profit.

Gambling is fun.

I never understood why gambling is illegal anywhere. If you don't like or don't believe in gambling....don't gamble. Problem solved....

I've done some consulting work in the gaming industry, and I while I have some reservations about legalization, I think it is better legal and regulated than illegal and unregulated.

The biggest problem for governments is that gaming revenue becomes addictive, and too often gets funnelled into general revenues, there to be pissed away on the mega-project vote buying extravaganza of the moment.

In my view, the revenues from gaming should be going into education, health care and other necessary social programs, which it usually does not.

One major upside of legalizing gambling is taking it out of the hands of organized crime. For one example, I can remember my father buying numbers from a numbers runner. I doubt, given the plethora of state and provincial lotteries, that the numbers racket exists in any significant way anymore.

The problems of addictive gambling are certainly real, but they will be real whether the games are legal or not.

Tax the gamblers not only the casinos. And tax them strongly. if they have money to throw away, let lots of it get into the hands of the ordinary people who have higher morals and especially, deeper needs.

I'm unsure because I love casinos and its a great way to make quick money

if people want to throw their money away, let them.

I'm kind of on the fence. It should be up to the states. I don't think I've ever been in a casino without getting depressed....all those old people and cigarettes.

This low-life and creepy vice should be outlawed, period.  Gambling is not a form of cheezy entertainment, rather, it's both an outlet of the sick, negative notion of "something for nothing," and, in its extreme, is a serious illness requiring professional help.  Yet, our ass-backward idiots in government are apparently is solid support of this major social ill.  It's an easy out for them, a means to generate revenues they can waste on whatever ridiculous notion strikes their fancy at any given time without raising taxes.  Casino gambling has absolutely no trick-down economic effect in surrounding areas.  If anything, study after study strongly indicates that casino gambling actually has a seriously damaging effect on local commerce.  And these lotteries are just funnels for losers to dump their money into.  Despite all this revenue supposedly being raised by these scams, virtually every state government in this country is in dire straights financially.  Where's all this money going to?

shoots im down, lets roll tha dice

It's they're money.

if people wishes to waste their money, it's their fault.

I don't gamble...however there is a direct correlation between gambling areas and a dive in crime stats in those areas. so there ya go....

it just hurts people

I think it should be like alcohol and only be done in a responsible manner.

I think it's stupid...

Spread it thin all over like butter to even out the crime.

no

WATS WRONG WIT GAMBLING??

I live in Montana!! We have a casino on every corner and usually 4 or five a block. lol I love it but I do see some negatives if people don't have common sense and self restraint.

Freedom damn it... even if it is lose your $$, it should still be a choice, and not just limited to one nationality running the show in most areas...

Even the stock market is gambling

I think that if gambleing was legalized it would lose what makes it so special to go to los vegas or reno or whatever and the idians would be screwed out of what little they get. I think that it should defidently stay in nevada or for the indians.

tax it ......fix the roads.

The lottery is legal and it is a form of gambling. It should be legal and a percentage of earnings should go to cause that means well.

Enjoy life

I don't gamble, but I don't down the guy who does and I think it should be his personal choice.

I personally don't gamble. I don't care to. But I know people that do that love it. Does it hurt society as a whole? I don't know. But if someone is going to get addicted and screw up their whole life, that's their problem and none of my (or anyone elses) business.

could be good or bad seen both sides