DAllesandro has spent the past two decades fronting the effort for New Hampshire to build massive slot machine casinos, but has suddenly become concerned about the potential side effects of expanding gambling.

Yet DAllesandros hypocrisy does not wash away the costs of gambling. And this Legislature has quietly expanded gambling across New Hampshire.

Keno supporters finally got their new game authorized by using it to fund increased state aid for full-day kindergarten. How this will actually work has been pushed off to rulemaking.

The budget trailer bill, HB 517, authorizes the Lottery Commission to start selling online scratch tickets. Again, the details havent been decided.

New Hampshire has been selling lottery tickets to raise money for schools for decades. And for many people, playing the games is harmless entertainment. But gambling comes with real costs, for those who become addicted and for the communities in which they live.

Lawmakers this year placed hasty bets on expanded gambling without carefully considering the consequences of their actions.

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Bad bets: Recklessly expanding gambling - The Union Leader