Illinois’ legalization of video gaming requiring operator involvement has given renewed fire to other state operator associations' push for similar legislation in response to state budget crises. Ohio has approved gaming at racetracks. A measure newly hammered out in Pennsylvania authorizing video gaming units in bars and taverns is awaiting consideration by the legislature. Pollsters report that 79% of most likely voters in North Carolina say their state should regulate and tax video gaming to provide money for education — one of many causes being championed in by The Entertainment Group of North Carolina, a lobbying group of operators and related businesses.
At the same time, debates have been revived about the pursuit of gaming vis a vis society’s well-being, making for sometimes tricky uphill battles. As expressed by an amusement operator and trade leader in RePlay’s March 2009 Operator Interface, “I would like to see the gambling initiative get ratcheted down. It’s not a way to build a country by getting money from gambling. It’s a very bad idea.” But more lawmakers' "desperate times necessitate desperate measures" attitudes are increasingly receptive to the operators' rallying cry, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste."
Are you or your association pushing for video gaming in your state? Where does your state association stand in advancing similar agendas, or is operator-run video gaming politically unfeasible? What’s the conventional wisdom regarding gambling in your territory? How do you feel about the possible proliferation of gaming personally and as an operator?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Gambling has been the underbelly of every society since the dawn of time. For those states that are attempting to pass laws to legalize and tax an activity that is already taking place - AMEN for thinking of an excuse to tax something outside of raising income taxes. The biggest problem all of these states face is by passing a law that is patterned after a casino operation, the costs are going to be too high to the operator and limit operator participation. After letting the gaming-approved manufacturers dig so deep into the operators' pockets there won't be any room to engange in the government's plan B - "Raise taxes for those sinful activities like gambling" just as they have done on cigarettes and alcohol.
Now if someone in the government had half a brain they would figure out if you eliminate the gaming commission, you eliminate the casino gaming equipment, you run "8-liners", poker machines, or whatever every state wants to call them approved through the state DOR and ran them off of a networked printer system you would maintain a machine cost of 2-5K, no monitoring costs, and an extra 10-15% they could squeeze the operators for in increased taxes after the operator has recovered from the initial shock of their investment. Oh, and I forgot, without the gaming commission to govern 5 pieces of equipment per location it won't take 2 years before the pieces hit the market.
If you think these law proposals are because of the economy, you are right - the economy is the perfect excuse to accept how disgraceful the human race is as a whole and get a piece of the action. Nothing getting passed now is going to go into action before the economy turns around anyways. Our lovely politicians just figure if the can pass it now by the time next golf season comes around they'll be able to brag about taking the judge for 40K on 18 holes at the country club instead of denying it.
It only took us 20 years and 5 governors (one of whom is in jail and the other will be soon)(One or two others should be)in Illinois.
We are fortunate in having 4 good legislative leaders in Illinois and a governor who is squeeky clean and probably will be re-elected.
All I can say is get to know your legislators well and let them get to know who you are and what you wish to accomplish.
Write a bill and get several sponsors...the more the merryier!
Post a Comment