|
Social
Costs of Slot Machines Here Anyway
One of
the biggest complaints from slot machine
opponents is the amount of money that
has to go toward social costs if the
machines are legalized. They say that
for every $1 a slot machine makes, the
state has to pay out $2 to fix social
ills. They think that there is no reason
why slot machines should be brought in
since it so clearly shows that the
state’s end up paying to have the slot
machines not the other way around. They
are adamant that the more slot machines
you have the more money you are going to
have to pay to clean up the mess they
will invariably leave in their wake.
However, proponents of the slot machines
disagree – they say the ratio given by
opponents is not realistic; it is much
lower than that in cost. They also say
that people should not complain about
slot machine addicts coming in because
they are already here. They say that the
gamblers cross the state line to play
the slot machines, and when they come
back across they come back without any
money. They are losing their money in
slot machines in another state, which
means they aren’t making anything at all
within the state, but they are paying
the social price.
Supporters say that Kansans are giving
Missouri and Oklahoma millions of
dollars in slot machine revenue, but
they are giving Kansas the headache of
providing programming for those adults
who have a slot machine gambling
problem. They say it only makes sense to
try and keep the slot machine revenue
here.
However, there is also the argument that
by allowing slot machines in the state,
that there will be money taken from the
local businesses who already exist. They
say that they should be protecting those
who are already here and invested in
Kansas. But when it comes down to it, it
comes down to a vote in the legislature
and the legislature has lost almost 10
no votes in the last election. So when
it comes time to see if slot machines
are going to be legalized, they may not
have a very hard time getting the votes
for it.
Back to Monthly
Archive //
Main Slot Machine News Index
 |
