Archive: Opinions

Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his State of the State speech last week. His hour long address focused on the great potential that awaits New York and its citizens. Amid its current economic uncertainty, the Governor called upon New Yorkers to rise to the challenges that face the state and like generations before, meet them head on with courage, strength, and ingenuity.

One aspect of his economic recovery centered on the Gaming Industry. Governor Cuomo would like to expand Casino Gambling throughout the state and have the billions of dollars flow into New York coffers rather than into Indian Casinos.

It's not hard to understand why the concept is so popular among officials. Casinos create jobs and bring economic activity to an area. The Governor sees casinos as a painless way for the state to generate revenue from citizens to pay for services without having to raise taxes.

While it is true that casino gambling may boost the economy and provide decent jobs in hard-pressed areas, the net effect is simply to redistribute wealth rather than generate it. People who spend their paychecks in self-contained casinos are not spending money on other things such as durable goods and luxury items.

Tragically, many who are lured into casinos under the false hope of winning the jackpot often lose substantial amounts of money intended for food, rent, savings, or the monthly mortgage.
Many people place bets well beyond their income level or ability to afford losses. When you analyze casino gambling, it's really a form of regressive taxation with bright lights, plenty of bells and whistles and scantily clad women serving drinks.

In addition to the individual harm that comes with casino gambling, they serve as a magnet for a host of destructive social ills, such as prostitution, alcohol and drug abuse and criminal behavior.

The government should not be giving its stamp of approval to this exploitative form of entertainment. History is clear that there is always a downside when government authorizes this activity within its jurisdiction. We remember the promise made by our legislature many years ago that profits from the New York State Lottery would fund schools throughout the state and eliminate the need for school taxes. Beware of legislatures bearing a Casino Gambling amendment. And that is to the point.

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