Who Really Pays When the State Wins?

It is funny to think that people are always talking about the good that the slot machines will do for the state, and that all of the additional income that will come in from them will make a huge difference. However, where does that money come from? Who is it exactly that is paying for the “additional income” for the state, as most likely it is coming from the state?

Well, if you listen to the pro slot machine camp, the money comes from those with disposable income throughout the state and from tourists that will come across our borders to spend all of their hard earned money in our casinos. They say that we can get billions from these tourists, and that will help us tremendously.

Now, if you listen to the anti slot machine camp, they say that the slot machines are a tax on the poor and uneducated. That they are putting their hard earned money into the slot machines in hope of a better life, while piddling away what little they do have. They say that we need to protect these people as they will ultimately become slot machine addicts and then become a blight on the state.

I fear it falls somewhere in between. Yes, there are people who will come from other states and put their money in our slot machines, and that money will become education dollars and who knows what else for the state. But unfortunately the slot machine revenue will come from those within our own state that cannot afford it. These people can’t afford to go out of state to gamble so we brought it to them. This is not the positive spin that the government would have us see, but it is the truth, so help us all.
 

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