Sure, why not, but why stop there. Legalize prostitution, then tax that heavily. And legalize marijuana and tax that heavily. Who cares...let's legalize it, so we can rake in the dough. If revenue is the highest priority, let's not hold back. I mean, to hold back would be silly, why leave money on table with just casino gambling. Let's be cutting edge and make our state the one everyone would want to come to and spend. Then some day when more families are destroyed and peoples lives are a wreck due to addictions, families breaking up over gambling away the weekly paycheck, and the society as a whole goes deeper in bondage, it will be fine, who cares because at that point we will have plenty of money.

 

Sorry folks for the attitude. I just know to many people personally, and have counseled with some that have had their lives and families torn apart by going to Indiana for some casino gambling. Yep, started out fun, but ended up in bankruptcies, divorce or their children going without some food and other necessities. Way to personal for me, and it makes me way too angry. Honestly, I would rather lose money, than to see what happened/happens to these families. But it looks like I am the minority on this thread- and I am ok with that. I am a "vote of the people" guy, but this one, I can't understand why we would even want. Beyond revenue, jobs money, it is more destructive to our citizens/families than it is helpful.

 

Even though you were being sarcastic I totally agree with you. It's absurd that prostitution and marijuana are illegal. Maybe we should just buy every citizen a bubble so they can't get themselves hurt or in any trouble. If some people can't responsibly gamble that isn't the fault of folks that can. Like Clyde mentioned you can already gamble in KY this would just allow more ways of doing so while saving the dying horse industry. It's not my fault that some people gamble too much. I'm guessing a casino in Florence or Covington doesn't affect the people who are addicts because they can go to Cincinnati soon or Hollywood and lose their money anyway.

Wasn't talking about you...not at all. Please don't make this about you. I was talking about personal families I know that had very bad pain due to gambling specifically, and they started or got severely worse when Indiana casinos became available. Obviously, if you keep your eyes on yourself and your own situation, then perhaps it doesn't seem like a big deal. Its not to me personally either. I have never been, and have no plans to go to the casino. Could care less as far as myself goes, but I don't have the liberty of living my life all about myself and what works for me alone. Although it may not be a problem for me, (one person) their are many others that it was/is a problem for. My argument may not work for you, because the only person you are considering in the argument is yourself and your experience. If you had the experience of knowing first hand the people who's situation is not at all like yours, perhaps you would see it differently.

 

While we are at it, should we outlaw gun ownership? Just think of the number of accidents that occur each year. How many children are killed each year playing with dad's guns? Shouldn't the police confiscate all firearms? Shouldn't they raid RTS's home and pry his guns from his cold dead hands to make sure his new and any future grandkids don't harm themselves while visiting Grandpa? Don't we owe it to those kids?

 

Should we outlaw red meat and fried foods? Obesity and heart disease are rampant in this county. Pepole obviously cannot make wise decisions on their own so the government needs to outlaw such harmful foods. France is doing such right now.

 

Tens of thousands of people are killed on the roads each year. Should the automobile be outlawed? If people walked more than that would also help solved the obesity mentioned above.

 

As you can see I simply countered your sarcasm with the other side's view. What this comes down to, what is more important, protecting the safety of the 1% who cannot control themselves or protecting the rights, liberties and freedoms of the 99% who can control themselves? Many want to selectively apply this logic to certain issues, ie I don't want gambling and alcohol in my state to protect families but buy God don't you take my guns or tell me what I can eat or drive, its not my fault some are too dumb to be responsible with their guns, driving or eating habits. It goes the other direction too. There are many who are strongly for gun control to protect the 1% but want expanded gambling and less alcohol restrictions and those who suffer from gambling and alcohol, tough!

First I know you are not talking of just one person.

 

Secondly I work for the court system, so I see destruction of peoples lives on a daily basis.

 

People that you are talking about I believe it doesn't matter because they are currently doing it at the race track and casino taking there last $20 to try flip it. Those people have other issues that gaming has nothing to do with like: Drinking, drug use, or just flat out refusal to be productive in life.

 

I think we can agree that there are problems that are NOT directly caused by gambling and they run deeper than gambling. I can agree with you on that. I just can't agree with what seems to me to be the, "ah, there going to do it any way" approach. Would there be monetary gain? Sure. I just think sometimes, monetary gain is not worth adding to what we agree is already a host of problems. Its like the old cliche "not all that glitters is gold" and what the Bible says "what profit is to gain the whole world, and lose your soul?"

 

I can tell you this...keeping casinos out of KY is not the answer, but putting casinos in KY is not helping with issues beyond money.

I don't gamble, but I'm not against people who want to do it.

Let's make money.

I think we can agree that there are problems that are NOT directly caused by gambling and they run deeper than gambling. I can agree with you on that. I just can't agree with what seems to me to be the, "ah, there going to do it any way" approach. Would there be monetary gain? Sure. I just think sometimes, monetary gain is not worth adding to what we agree is already a host of problems. Its like the old cliche "not all that glitters is gold" and what the Bible says "what profit is to gain the whole world, and lose your soul?"

 

I can tell you this...keeping casinos out of KY is not the answer, but putting casinos in KY is not helping with issues beyond money.

We are talking about separate issues here in this thread. You are making your case as to why casinos are not the answer, others are making a case why it (may) be. This issue needs to be decided by Kentuckians and not lawmakers.

I think a lot of people have envisioned that Kentucky will turn in to Las Vegas with expanded gambling rights. That is nowhere near the case. I liken it to those that felt when alcohol by the drink came in to effect that prostitution would become rampant, people would be lying in the streets, and the city's will go under in no time. I too have my concerns, but I give people more credit than thinking we will all self distruct.

^ I am sure that "path of self destruction" argument will be made by opponents to gambling. And it will be true for some individuals. I don't like gambling. There is nothing productive or positive to society in gambling. But gambling will not destroy the state. All the people that want to make that argument have to do is look all around us. Our neighboring states have gambling and they are not societal cesspools.

I know it wont happen, but why doesnt the state run the casinos and make all of the money the poor dumb suckers lose instead of letting som eperson or company make the money. It is 100% profit because everyone knows you dont win at casinos.

I know it wont happen, but why doesnt the state run the casinos and make all of the money the poor dumb suckers lose instead of letting som eperson or company make the money. It is 100% profit because everyone knows you dont win at casinos.

 

Best thought I have ever seen out of you on here. The state would likely have to hire one of the casino operators as consultants to run it right but I am with you, I would love to see all the profit going to the state instead of the casino companies.

I know it wont happen, but why doesnt the state run the casinos and make all of the money the poor dumb suckers lose instead of letting som eperson or company make the money. It is 100% profit because everyone knows you dont win at casinos.

Not a bad idea in theory, but you have little to not faith the government can do anything correctly and you want them to seize control of the gambling industry? I guess if you are going to steal our money, might as well be out in the open about it

I know a lot would accuse the state of cheating, but everyone knows it is a scam at the casinos anyway, anyone who goes in there has about 1% chance of walking out a big winner. I am for it if the state makes the money.

 

Does anyone know how much a casino makes annually or who even runs the casinos.

I know a lot would accuse the state of cheating, but everyone knows it is a scam at the casinos anyway, anyone who goes in there has about 1% chance of walking out a big winner. I am for it if the state makes the money.

 

Does anyone know how much a casino makes annually or who even runs the casinos.

I believe Caesar's Entertainment (formally Harrah's) is the largest owner of casinos. They make a ton of money, but some have fallen on difficult times in line with the economy. Which kind of flies in the face of some because it shows that a lot of people do have restraint and do not gamble away everything, but I digress.

 

Governments already play a significant role in regulation and taxes.

I know a lot would accuse the state of cheating, but everyone knows it is a scam at the casinos anyway, anyone who goes in there has about 1% chance of walking out a big winner. I am for it if the state makes the money.

 

Does anyone know how much a casino makes annually or who even runs the casinos.

 

There are quite a few operators, Bally's, Horsehoe, Caesars, Trump, good Lord, there's a TON of them.

As to how much a casino makes, do you mean gross or net?

One casino I'm very familiar with gives 40% of income to the State of IN, plus a $3 per turn turnstile fee....that counts coming and going.

I know it wont happen, but why doesnt the state run the casinos and make all of the money the poor dumb suckers lose instead of letting som eperson or company make the money. It is 100% profit because everyone knows you dont win at casinos.

Sure, while they are at it why don't they take over the horse tracks. Heck while they are at it I hope they take over all business. Why let some greedy person or company make the money that the government could.

 

He's one reason, BECAUSE WE DON'T LIVE IN CHINA!