Gambling is not the answer (Full Version)

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track2514 -> Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 9:36:26 PM)

I am not sure how everyone feels about gambling, but I would love to hear your opinion. Why PA and Pittsburgh specifically have decided to get in the gambling business is beyond me. Gambling creates more problems than it is worth and I am not sure how a downtown casino is going to solve Pittsburgh's problems. I'm not sure if any of you have been to Detroit, but I went for the Steelers past Super Bowl and while I was there I went to the so-called casinos to see what they were like. Most of the people in the casinos seemed homeless or down to their last penny and now that is all I think of when I think of slots.

My parents have recently relocated to Washington county due to the decrease in taxes, they may be re-thinking this decision with gas prices though, and when I go to visit them my dad always wants to go to the casino at the meadowlands. So a few weeks ago when i was in the Burgh I went to the casino with my dad and let me tell you it was worse than Detroit, smoke everywhere, oxygen tanks, people down on their luck, and it was all set-up in a big tent. It was a full three-ring circus without the live animals. My point to this long rant, is what are the benefits of gambling. I know people win every once in a while, but what are the real benefits and is there a saturation point? It seems that almost every state in America has gambling now. Maybe I have different morals than the majority of America, but I refuse to spend a penny in a casino and I will tell you why. In my opinion, gambling hurts more than it helps and for every winner there are thousands of losers. Oh well, sorry for the long post and I would love to hear everyone's opinion on gambling in the Burgh.



Bughawk -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 10:08:17 PM)

Track,

The gambling industry is all about money.  I think the state believes they can make some money by allowing gambling.  It is not all that different than allowing for bars.  We humans like to indulge in self destructive behavior and the state decided to cash in on the enterprise.  Personally, I don't get the draw to wasting money, but for some there is the delusion they will become rich, chasing a dream....  The bottom line, it is all about making money.




jonnyfishon -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 10:12:13 PM)

I go once every 2 months. Its fun if you dont have a promblem. I always make sure there is a show(music,comedy,magic,ect.) Play the slots for a couple of hours, eat a free meal. If you do it right it a cheap day. Out of 5 times going I only spent about 300$. I ate(mostly on comp) got free money to play with,saw alot of good bands and shows, got a room for 59$ and it was very nice but once again I dont have a promblem. The action,drinks,dancing with my lady, worth every penny. The point is if you go to a party you dont have to drink to have a great time ,you dont have to gamble to have fun at a casino.  



Brightondude -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 10:43:27 PM)

Before Pennsylvania legalized gambling they lost billions each year by people going out of state to gamble, now they can get it. Keep the money in Pennsylvania.



*commander* -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 10:46:06 PM)

ABSOLUTELY!!! it's a business. nobody goes into business to lose money. if the money's going somewhere else, do something to keep it here.



track2514 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 10:57:06 PM)

Brightdude

Good points, but I wonder if states really do make money on gambling in their own state, after it is all said and done. When people used to drive to Wheeling to gamble they were losing their money in WV, but driving back to PA and collecting their welfare/unemployment checks, etc. So there was no burden on WV, just take the money from the people in PA and business as usual. Collecting tax money is great, but what happens when people gamble their life savings away and then start collecting welfare checks?

It seems like gambling increases the poverty of most areas. Atlantic City is a great example here. My grandma, who is now 87 years old went on her honeymoon to Atlantic City years ago and she always tells me how it was so exlcusive and wealthy. I went to my best friends bachleor party there last year and I was offered both sex for money and "party favors" in broad daylight on the boardwalk. Apparently "party favors" are drugs by the way, because I asked the guy what kind of "party favors" he was selling and he said coke, crack, or herb. Needless to say I just walked away, but I'm not sure who is making money in Atlantic City other than the casinos.



track2514 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 11:01:33 PM)

And to pose my previous question again, what do you guys think about the saturation point? Can America handle casinos in every major American city?



*commander* -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 11:05:27 PM)

this doesnt happen in pittsburgh or minnehaha. wake up. sex for money is the oldest profession and drug sales happen in almost every city, everyday.



peacymike -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 11:12:43 PM)

you know **** . all i know the dogs are out looking for you



pxatim -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 11:15:40 PM)

I won't step foot inside a casino in PA until they have card tables.



*commander* -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 11:20:22 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: peacymike

you know **** . all i know the dogs are out looking for you



LMAO!!!!! perhaps you should subsidize your welfare check by partaking in the oldest profession[sm=banana2.gif]. might make you happier instead of always being so negative[sm=beerchug.gif].



pghmarty -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 11:24:59 PM)

A lot of, if not most bars, coffee shops, tanning salons etc. have poker or fruit machines.
I am very familiar in the way they work and the money they bring in.
Since they are illegal there is no regulation on payouts.
A casino might payout 90-110% on a slot machine.
Ones I have looked at inside were set at 65-80%
A lot of raids were conducted by the state police and local police were notified before the raids.
The police often tipped off the owners out of friendship or corruption or they don't want the statistic of having illegal gambling in their precinct.

Confiscated machines are stored in a barn at Mayview State Mental Hospital waiting to be destroyed.(sold back to friends)

Small Print:
I am not involved in any illegal gambling and do not currently know of anyone that is.
My knowledge comes from working in bars, clubs and tanning salons etc. many years ago.
Things may of changed since then but I doubt it.



peacymike -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 11:33:56 PM)

you are brave sucker  watch



MuskyMastr -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/15/2008 11:39:09 PM)

A lot depends on what you do in a casino.  Slots you will lose in the end, house always wins.  Personally I play cards, omaha and hold'em specifically.  Why?  Because if there is $ 100 on the table a very small portion goes to the house, the rest is going to someone at the table.  If you are patient and smart you can make good money.  I go to Seneca Allegheny every 2 months or so and have for the past couple of years.  I have lost money once.  And my wins the other times have made up for that night tenfold.  Slots is a different story.

I think the reason that I enjoy it so much is the competition.  I was a college football player then immediatley went into coaching for 12 years.  When I stepped down from coaching, (to continue my education) I lost that competitive outlet.  Not something easily replaced.  I found it playing cards.



track2514 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 12:44:14 AM)

Commander

Drugs and prostitution are everywhere, but my point is Atlantic City used to be a vacation destination. Where people would go with their kids and famalies. Would you take your family there for a weekend getaway now?



pghmarty -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 2:18:03 AM)

I love Atlantic City!
Where else can you get comped a $500 a night sweet with a view of row houses in a ghetto.[sm=2up.gif]

Next time I have a desire to gamble I will head to The Bahamas.
Flight is only 2 hours and the casino comps are better.



jon_e_si -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 5:47:36 AM)

My Dad always told me, "You don't get something for nothing" and that Barnum (P. T.) always said there's "One born every minute!"  What's that Dad?? "Sucker" I think my Dad was correct. Took my bride to 3 Casinos - Turning Stone @ Verona, NY, Niagra, & Presque Isle. I won - I didn't play anything, but confess to buying 2 beers (my only loss). My bride put all her "winnings" back in for a minus net gain. My observation of the players were similar to Track's - many people playing that probably shouldn't. Our former gov. & legislature thought the "poker" machines were answer to State's economic woes, but have helped add to divorces, bankruptcies, robberies, embezzlements, (former county clerk, who otherwise was good at her job, went to prison for embezzling over $48,000.00 - addicted to bingo- graduated to gov.'s poker machines...),etc. Prison (also government run) has also increased. As Track has pointed out - many negative aspects of the "business" - something we should all think about, but people are going to gamble regardless. Numbers used to be the thing in the ghetto, and as Marty pointed out many of the bars had illegal slots, tips, etc. My opinion is that if people want to gamble, they should educate themselves and "play" the stock market!



rapala11 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 7:20:51 AM)

groups are trying to bring gambling into the youngstown, ohio area.  their strongest contention is that if we don't have a casino here, people will jump across the state lines to pa. and w. va. with their money.  the argument is week.  i work with two folks that have gambling problems.  they seem as desperate as any junkie.  i don't gamble so i don't have much of an opinion, but the people who are hooked, i feel for them. 



PixburghScottie -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 9:00:53 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: track2514

I am not sure how everyone feels about gambling, but I would love to hear your opinion. Why PA and Pittsburgh specifically have decided to get in the gambling business is beyond me.



It's tough to explain, but here goes............................ready? It's a huge money maker...........shocking, isn't it?



Brookie1 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 11:34:18 AM)

they prey on the people with the gambling problems. These people
can't pay their utility bills at home and are there throwing away
every cent they have.



Bughawk -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 11:36:18 AM)

The sex for money and drugs problem is occuring in more places everyday.  A couple of years ago when I was at Nags Head, the fishing pier I usually fish on was not open due to hurricane damage so I tried a couple of the other piers.  What a shock I had on one of them.  There were the usual list of characters you would expect on a fishing pier, but there was fair number of younger folk who were much more interested in "partying".  I am pretty open minded about such things if you want to do that in private, but when it comes to a public place then I believe it is inappropriate as well as illegal.  While I did not witness any solicitation for sex, I did see a few people clearly under the influence of drugs and  several sharing said drugs with their friends.  I have not been back to that fishing pier.  Once the pier I usually go to us up and running again, it is the ONLY pier I fish on.  The owner there has ZERO tolerance for that type of behavior and has no problem removing someone for inappropriate behavior.  He and his wife run a nice facility and all the folks that work there are friendly and very helpful.  BTW the pier I like to fish on is the Outer Banks Pier.  If you ever get to Nags Head check them out.



D-nymph -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 12:30:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brookie1

they prey on the people with the gambling problems. These people
can't pay their utility bills at home and are there throwing away
every cent they have.


And nobody is forcing them to spend a cent.  If they are so weak minded as to throw away every cent they have, the gambling is a tax on their stupidity.




pxatim -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 12:44:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: D-nymph

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brookie1

they prey on the people with the gambling problems. These people
can't pay their utility bills at home and are there throwing away
every cent they have.


And nobody is forcing them to spend a cent.  If they are so weak minded as to throw away every cent they have, the gambling is a tax on their stupidity.





Agreed x1000



Brookie1 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 12:52:17 PM)

you got a point, they are stupid but the problem is, there are going
to be more and more of these people. There are enough of taxes in this
country. I have been to the casinos and beleive me, I won't be back.



S-10 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 1:12:33 PM)

Even though it may not appear that way surveys by the gambling casinos and the Canadian government show that most gamblers are middle class white collar workers. There is also a lot of retirees who have the time, reasonable amounts of money, not good health and looking for some enjoyment. It's like anything (Moderation)



track2514 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 1:36:07 PM)

Scott

But who makes the money? Sure the casinos and the politicians pocket big bucks, but are your taxes being lowered because all of the sudden gambling has saved the day?



track2514 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 1:38:15 PM)

Brookie

I agree and while people do not have to gamble some cannot help it. These casinos make it easy for people with gambling problems when they have shuttles for people who don't have a car or can't afford to drive there and they will probably even cash checks at the cashier.



D-nymph -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 1:38:47 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brookie1

you got a point, they are stupid but the problem is, there are going
to be more and more of these people. There are enough of taxes in this
country. I have been to the casinos and beleive me, I won't be back.


I've been to casinos too, (twice in my life, I'm 36) I like to play some black jack the times I went to a casino, or other card games with friends now and then.  But these people who throw dollar after dollar into slot machines, I just can't understand.  With cards I have the choice to bet, when to bet and how much I want to bet.  A slot machine is totally and completely mindless.  It's so bizarre, they have to be dumb people, there is no other explanation. 



D-nymph -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 1:41:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: track2514

I agree and while people do not have to gamble some cannot help it. These casinos make it easy for people with gambling problems when they have shuttles for people who don't have a car or can't afford to drive there and they will probably even cash checks at the cashier.


So what.  They need to learn to be stronger people then, no sympathy from me.  They can't help it.  LOL.

Bars help "some" people become alchoholics.  Bring back prohibition, right?  Take them away from the rest of us because of some alchoholics?



rapala11 -> RE: Gambling is not the answer (7/16/2008 1:41:46 PM)

have never been to one but do people hit that often?  are the payouts big enough to make gamblers continue to come back?  i don't think i know anyone who ever won much.



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