Daily Archives: February 22, 2017

Do you, or does someone you love enjoy playing lotto, buying lottery tickets or visiting the casino on a regular basis?Has your desire to gamble ever resulted in your spending money that you really didnt have to spend, getting in trouble or had negative effects on your relationships with friends or loved ones?Frequent gambling could be a sign of a gambling addiction.

It is estimated that gambling addiction affects somewhere between two to five percent of all American adults in some way.Many different risk factors can lead to a compulsive gambling addiction that is both difficult to cope with and equally difficult to overcome.

Gambling addiction can lead to job loss, family problems, loss of material possessions such as a house or car, health problems, problems with the law and much more.

Fortunately, there is help and treatment has been derived from many different methods of counseling and therapy to assist those who have a compulsive gambling problem with overcoming their desire to gamble and learning how to control their behaviors.

Gambling is not all fun and games. If it becomes compulsive, seek help to avoid serious consequences.

A simple desire to scratch a ticket, play a slot or visit a casino is not necessarily a sign of gambling addiction but when this desire is so compulsive that you just cant stop thinking about it until you take action, there may be a problem in your life. Gambling addiction is characterized by a compulsive desire to gamble that is marked with an inability to control behaviors when gambling.Those who suffer from gambling addiction will continue to gamble (either daily or possibly just on a binge) despite negative financial, legal and social consequences.

Many people who are addicted to gambling will do things that they never would have done if it werent for their addiction such as stealing money from friends or family members or taking part in illegal activities in an effort to get more money either to gamble or to pay debts. Despite a desire to quit, many compulsive gamblers are unable to control their actions without help.The impulsive behaviors often get them into trouble and can lead to serious consequences.

Often referred to as a hidden illness gambling addiction has no obvious physical signs or symptoms that can be quickly or easily spotted.Problem gamblers often go unnoticed for many years before the signs of the addiction finally become evident even to close friends and family members. In fact, because many gambling addicts are able to control their behaviors the majority of the time, it could be very difficult to spot a gambling addiction unless you physically go with the gambler into a situation in which they are actually gambling, then you may quickly realize that they are out of control.

Although the signs of gambling addiction are often difficult for others to spot, if you like to gamble, theres a good chance that you will be able to recognize the symptoms of gambling addiction in yourself early on, well before others will even notice.

MYTH: Because I only gamble online I cant be a gambling addict.

Fact:Compulsive gambling leads to emotional problems, relationship problems and could lead to legal problems in addition to the financial implications. Even if you have the money to spend, gambling too much can become problematic as your social life suffers from your spending too much time on gambling.

Fact:Gambling in excess, either daily or during a binge, can be problematic.Even if you dont gamble often, the gambling can still cause problems financially, legally or socially.

Fact:Gambling addicts often place blame on their loved ones in an effort to take the blame off of themselves but this doesnt necessarily mean that the partner has anything to do with their problem.

Not all gambling is problematic.Responsible gambling is possible and many gaming venues take part in responsible gaming policies that are intended to provide gamblers with an ethical means of having fun without the dangers and risks associated with gambling addiction.

The devastation that gambling addiction can wreak on the life of those who suffer from this illness as well as those around him make this a very dangerous disorder to be reckoned with.Compulsive gambling accounts for as much as five billion dollars spent annually in the United States alone.Many of the people who are addicted to gambling find themselves accruing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.

Counseling and therapy can help you learn to overcome your gambling problem.

Gambling addiction affects each individual in a different way and each gambler will have unique needs for recovery.The type of treatment that works for one individual will not necessarily work for another. Probably the greatest hurdle in treatment for gambling addiction is to realize and admit that you have a problem and need help.Because gambling is called the hidden addiction it can be very, very difficult to attest to your wrongdoing, and admit that you have a gambling problem.This is especially true when a gambling addiction has resulted in extreme financial hardship, broken relationships and certain legal problems along the way.

Treatment for gambling addiction takes many forms and most people who seek help for a gambling addiction participate in Gamblers Anonymous (GA).In addition to the social support that is found in the Gamblers Anonymous programs, psychotherapy, and especially cognitive behavioral therapy, have proven to be effective at helping those who are addicted to gambling to change their behaviors and take on more positive actions to cope with stress or other potential triggers that would typically lead them to gamble.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for gambling addiction focuses on changing the poor behaviors of a problem gambler into positive thoughts and behaviors.The idea here is to rewire the gamblers brain into a new way of thinking about their gambling addiction and their desire to gamble.

During treatment, you will learn many ways to cope with cravings or your desire to gamble.It is completely normal to feel the urge to gamble, especially if you are recovering from a gambling addiction, but it can be difficult to cope with such desires in a positive way.Throughout your struggles with gambling addiction and recovery there will likely be many times that you want to gamble and struggle to make the right choice not to follow through with your desires.The following methods can help you to cope with potential triggers without relapsing:

Support goes a long way in addiction recovery. Reach out to your loved ones.

If you or someone you love needs treatment for a gambling problem, its important that you seek a treatment approach that will be most appropriate for your individual needs.Finding the right type of treatment for your needs and the right help for a gambling addiction will ensure that you have the greatest chance of recovery.Most of the time, gambling addiction treatment takes place either through social support groups such as Gamblers Anonymous and outpatient therapy or in an inpatient facility.

If your gambling addiction has lead to severe financial, legal or social problems then you may require inpatient treatment for your condition.This type of help for gambling addiction includes around-the-clock supervision in a hospital like setting where the patient will stay while undergoing treatment. The intense therapy, counseling and supervision provided by inpatient treatment centers significantly reduce the risk of relapse while in treatment.

Compulsive gamblers often need the support of friends, family members and additional peers in order to help them stop gambling.Gamblers Anonymous groups can provide peer and social support for those in recovery or for those who wish they could stop gambling.For many, these groups provide a foundation for a successful and long term recovery from addiction to gambling.

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Gambling Addiction - Signs, Symptoms & Treatment for Problem ...

Play with confidence by exploring our 2017 list of the best online casinos before you place a bet. Our ratings take the work out of deciding where to play by providing current information about our recommended online casinos. Read our reviews and ratings about each casino to make an informed decision. We help you learn about each casinos software safety, available welcome bonuses, incentives, payout percent, banking options, game selection, customer service and other details.

* The Casinos listed here accept new customers from United States, USA & other countries.

Playing your favorite games online can be more cost-efficient, less hassle and provide a better atmosphere for winning than gambling in a traditional casino. Even if you have a casino nearby, you will put wear and tear on your car, pay for gas, and may need to spring for meals or a hotel room. Before you know it, you may spend several hundred dollars that you would have preferred to use playing games.

Additionally, your personal comfort can impact your concentration and gambling decisions. Imagine the noise at a traditional casino or interacting with a disgruntled player at your table. If you do not smoke, you may find the odor of smoke disturbing. When you have money on the line, you do not need distractions. You want to make decisions that maximize your winnings.

Your attire and disposition can also adversely affect your play. Uncomfortable shoes can take your mind away from a gaming decision, and hours in the same chair can make you grumpy. Stretch your legs at home without losing your seat at a hot table.

Most online casinos offer odds or incentives that surpass those of traditional casinos. Unlike brick and mortar casinos, online gaming establishments have minimal operating expenses. They do not need janitorial services to clean ashes and debris from the casinos. There are no heat, electric and water bills. In essence, there are few employees needed to maintain an online casino or monitor the games. Therefore, online casinos are in the unique position to entice players with more giveaways and incentives than standard casinos.

Have you ever gone to a traditional casino and decided not to play your favorite game because the minimum was too high? Since online casinos do not have operating costs of traditional casinos, you can usually choose the amount you wish to bet without meeting minimums. The advantages of online casinos are likely to heighten your enjoyment.

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Choosing an online casino can be tricky because there are many casinos competing for your business. Our picks for 2015 are Silver Oak, Cool Cat, Palace of Chance, SlotoCash & a couple of others. All of our reviewed casinos welcome players from America and other countries. The minimum rating is 99.1, but most of our top choices have a rating of more than 99.5.

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Access our review to find information pertaining to play options, software, loyalty programs and advice about accessing bonuses. Our reviews let you know whether a particular online casino keeps their games fresh by adding new options and games. We also highlight details that make some online casinos more preferable than others depending on your concerns. Our reviews identify which casinos excel at offering exciting graphics, excellent safety, convenient banking choices, 24-hour customer support, VIP programs, practice games, no wager gaming and other benefits that may be appealing.

While our ratings share the advantages of each online gaming establishment, they also alert players to problems. Reading our reviews can help inform you about difficulties withdrawing money or customer service issues. Nevertheless, readers should be aware that online casinos try to improve, and any complaints may not be indicative of your experience.

Our list would be incomplete without providing our viewers with access to the casinos we rate. Investigate each casino to decide whether it meets your needs and has your favorite games. Read about their offerings and policies.

We offer information to enhance your playing pleasure and hope that you have a positive experience. In addition to online casino recommendations, read our information about specific games to learn helpful gaming strategies. Whether you choose to practice games to perfect your skills or play for cash immediately, online casinos can enable you to have instant fun without traveling. Try the games on this site to get started.

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Online Casino USA Friendly Online Casinos for 2017

MANKATO Charitable gambling organizations parlayed a big sales year in 2016 into more donations to community causes.

But they feel they could help out even more if state taxes didn't claim so much of their gross receipts. In 2016, the nonprofits donated $62 million to charities, while paying $60.6 million in state taxes, according to the Minnesota Gambling Control Board's annual report.

The organizations may be in luck. Legislation passing through tax committees at the Capitol in recent weeks calls for charitable donations to be exempt from the state gambling tax rate.

Similar proposals haven't gained much steam in past sessions, but there's renewed optimism this year might be different. Al Lund, executive director of the Allied Charities of Minnesota trade group representing 1,200 organizations statewide, said he feels there's growing recognition that the state tax is cutting into the nonprofits' abilities to donate in their communities.

"Our members are more and more getting to the tipping point, so more are realizing that they need to get involved," he said.

Currently, a charitable gambling organization pays out more than 80 percent of its sales back in prizes to its patrons, which wouldn't change. The remaining percentage is then taxed incrementally depending on how much the organizations do in sales for pulltabs and other select forms of gaming from 9 to 36 percent for the top sellers. Whatever amount remains is then spent on lawful expenditures like charitable donations, building upkeep and expenses.

The new legislation would only lower taxes on the money organizations donate to charitable causes.

"What our charities are saying is we didn't get involved to become a primary tax collector for the state," Lund said. "We got involved to help our community."

Local gambling managers say the tax relief could be a major help, both in terms of allowing them to stay in the gaming business, and in how much more they'd be able to donate to their communities.

John Lamm, gambling manager for the Lake Washington Improvement Association, said he's reached out to area legislators in the hopes they'll get on board with the legislation. None of the 23 representatives signed on as authors for the bill are local.

Lamm said lowering the high tax rate his organization is big enough to fall in the 36 percent rate would be a step in the right direction.

"I think more should be done than that, but this is a start," he said. "What we're paying them is phenomenal."

One of the biggest charitable gambling organizations in the state, the Mankato-based Community Charities of Minnesota, paid more than $65,000 in state taxes in January alone, according to gambling manager Mark Healy. Municipal taxes in some communities further cut into gross receipts.

Healy said any dollar they don't have to pay in taxes would be a dollar put toward community causes.

"What's unfortunate about this is we can get money to charities and needy people a lot quicker than the Legislature can," he said.

Jim Steiert, president of Mankato Area Hockey Association, said he knows exactly how the tax relief could help his organization. With youth hockey participation on the rise, the extra money could be put toward a capital campaign for a new ice sheet in Mankato.

"Any tax relief would be welcome," he said. "Whether it's for charitable gambling or your personal tax return."

One roadblock for the tax relief is how it could impact funding for U.S. Bank Stadium. Charitable gambling has helped fund construction costs for the stadium since 2012.

Speaking to the tax committees in recent weeks, the Minnesota Department of Revenue's Tax Policy Manager Paul Cumings said the relief could negatively impact stadium funding. The hit to the state's general fund could also be greater than estimated, he said.

Lund said his organization has offered to work with the department of revenue to address the stadium funding issue before its potential inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.

"It's complicated and we have ideas on how to address that," he said. "We've offered to work with the tax chairs and department of revenue."

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Charitable gambling organizations look for tax relief | Local News ... - Post-Bulletin

A locally elected state senator is carrying a bill aimed at legalizing casino gambling in Georgia and bringing two destination resorts to the state as early as 2019.

Sen. Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, said Friday that Senate Bill 79, which he introduced late last month, could fill the states coffers by helping Georgia collect revenue residents currently spend in surrounding states with casinos.

Beach said hes trying to get the bill before the Senate Regulated Industries Committee for a vote sometime this week.

In order to become reality, he said, casino gambling must be approved by Georgia voters in a statewide referendum. The cities or counties where the casinos would be built must then hold local referendums where voters will decide whether they want a casino in their community.

The bill requires the casinos be built within 30 miles of a large convention center one in a large metro Atlanta county, either Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb or Gwinnett and the second in either Macon, Columbus, Augusta or Savannah, which also have large enough convention centers.

It would require a local referendum, he said. It just depends where they decide to locate.

According to the legislation, the state would levy a 20 percent tax on casino proceeds. Of that revenue, 60 percent would go toward education funding, with 30 percent allocated for the HOPE Scholarship and 30 percent for a needs-based college scholarship. Additionally, 15 percent would go to fund rural hospitals, 15 percent would be used for trauma care, 5 percent would go to expanding broadband in Georgia and the remaining 5 percent would go to law enforcement agencies across the state.

Beachs bill also calls for the creation of a gaming commission, with three members to be appointed by the governor, three appointed by the lieutenant governor and one appointed by the House speaker.

In the past, opponents of casinos have argued that they would take customers away from the Georgia Lottery, but Beach said that would not be the case.

These casino resorts will be so high-end that they wont hurt the lottery, he said. The people going to these destination resorts are not playing keno at the Chevron.

But not everyone is open to the idea of having casinos in the state, and Beachs bill faces opposition in the General Assembly, even from members of Cherokees legislative delegation.

Rep. Scot Turner, R-Holly Springs, said he opposes casino gambling in the state, not for moral or ethical reasons, but because he says Georgia taxpayers would be the ones who end up having to keep the states casinos afloat.

A lot of states have casino gambling so its not as appealing to the average tourist anymore, Turner said Friday. The only place it really works is Vegas. Every other state that has casino gambling ends up subsidizing it with massive amounts of tax dollars.

Aside from Nevada, he said, states with casinos ends up having to prop up the industry with tax money. And while casinos might do well for the first few years, Turner said that success rarely lasts.

Its a raw deal for the taxpayers, he said. After a few years, well end up having to bail them out.

Additionally, Turner said, states with casinos often see a spike in crime rates.

I have no problem with gambling and I enjoy going to a casino, Turner said. I just dont want to live in a place that has them.

Beach maintains that gambling is already legal in the state and said his bill would generate millions of dollars while increasing education funding for Georgias students.

We already have gambling here, he said. And the lottery plays on people who really cant afford to play the lottery.

Turner, however, said there is no moral equivalency between convenience stores that sell scratch-offs and casinos that offer commercial gambling.

Those two things are not the same, he said. A convenience store that sells lottery tickets does not increase crime rates or burden our criminal justice system the way casino gambling does.

At a 20 percent tax rate, Beach estimates casinos could generate up to $450 million of additional revenue annually. He also said the industry would create about 5,000 jobs for Georgians.

He said getting the bill through the Senate and House would be a heavy lift, but Georgians could stand to benefit from all the additional revenue.

But Turner said the bill has a zero percent chance of passing the House with so many residents opposed to it.

I dont think it has enough support, he said. The broad coalition of opposition across the state is widespread.

Beach said between tourists and residents who would attend the destination resorts, the industry would have enough support to thrive.

He said he and his wife took a trip to a couple North Carolina casinos after Christmas and realized about 80 percent of the cars they saw had Georgia tags.

Were funding North Carolinas education, he said, adding that those who are morally opposed to legalized gambling dont hesitate to send their children to college using the HOPE Scholarship, which is funded by the Georgia Lottery.

Without using any taxpayer money, the state could generate millions of dollars to be reinvested in education and healthcare. Thats hard for me to say no to, Beach said. Thats a good deal from an economic development standpoint.

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Bill in works to legalize casino gambling | Local News ... - Cherokee Tribune Ledger News

However such comments are unlikely to be brushed aside with Sutton club chairman Bruce Elliott saying of the 23-stone player, who has been labelled the roly-poly goalie in the publicity surrounding the high-profile tie, that he has got himself in the papers again and the fame obviously has gone to his head a little bit, but we will soon bring him back down to earth, don't worry about that. Elliott said he knew nothing about the stunt.

Although it was deemed humorous and harmless in some quarters the incident cannot simply be dismissed. A worldwide ban on betting in football was introduced in 2014 and covers everyone involved in the game, from the players and managers to the match officials and club staff.

It prevents participants covered by the ban from betting, either directly or indirectly, on any football match or competition, including the passing of "inside information".

The FA website refers defines that as "information that you are aware of due to your position in the game and which is not publicly available". It adds: "You are not allowed to pass inside information on to someone else which they use for betting."

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Sutton United goalkeeper Wayne Shaw resigns 'in tears' amid gambling commission investigation into pie stunt - Telegraph.co.uk

TUESDAY, FEB. 21, 2017, 9:41 A.M.

Jonathan Krutz with the group Stop Predatory Gambling told the House State Affairs Committee that gambling is dangerous to people and economies. Theres an army of people behind me that are not going to come before this committee that are devastated by gambling, he said. Its certainly true that gambling has enriched the tribes, but it has done so at the expense of the local economies. Theyr not bringing new money into the economy, theyre just taking money out of the economy and putting it into a different place. Committee Vice Chair Jason Monks advised Krutz to stick to the bill.

Gambling increases crime, it increases embezzlement, it increases bankruptcy, Krutz told the committee. Theres a reason why our Constitution says that gambling is prohibited. Its having a very negative impact. People who are addicted, who cant control their gambling, theyre not there to win and theyre not there to be entertained, they go into a zone. Rep. Paulette Jordan, D-Plummer, objected to the testimony on a point of order, and Monks again cautioned Krutz to address the bill. The concern that I have is that our laws are not being respected, Krutz said. Are we going to honor an Idaho statute that violates our Constitution? You cant just define away pieces of the Constitution, and thats what this statute does.

With that, the committee had run out of time for todays hearing though there still were another 10 or so people signed up to testify. Monks announced that the panel would adjourn until 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, when it will continue the hearing. Only those already signed up today will be allowed to testify tomorrow; no new signups will be taken. We apologize for the inconvenience, Monks said, but this is an important issue, and I think you can see that the committee is doing a great job of doing their due diligence and asking the questions.

The House is now due on the floor for its morning session.

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Hearing to continue tomorrow; anti-gambling advocate says 'can't define away pieces of Constitution' - The Spokesman-Review (blog)

Bookies earned about 1.7bn from fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) last year. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian

Problem gambling experts have criticised rival factions of the betting industry for waging a selfish war of words to protect their own interests amid the threat of tighter regulation.

The UKs leading gambling charity also warned that a narrow focus on controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), potentially ignoring online betting and fruit machines in pubs, amusement arcades and casinos, risks undermining efforts to help addicts.

The government is conducting a review of gaming machines that industry figures fear will lead to tighter curbs on betting machines and reduced profits.

The review has seen amusement arcades and casinos go on the offensive against bookmakers by highlighting the addictive nature of FOBTs, which make up more than half of bookies revenues at about 1.7bn last year.

The machines have been publicly reviled as the crack cocaine of gambling, a phrase thought to have been coined by President Donald Trump when he was running casinos to draw attention to video game bingo, which posed a threat to his business.

GambleAware chief executive Marc Etches said that while attention should be paid to FOBTs, which allow punters to stake 100 every 20 seconds, ignoring other types of gambling was a disservice to problem gamblers.

Theres a particular focus on machines in bookmakers but Ive observed the industry for the best part of two decades and in my experience its always been the same, he said.

When the National Lottery was introduced, elements of the industry didnt care for that.

When there was discussion of expanding casinos, there were businesses within the industry that campaigned against it. Such is the case around machines in bookmakers.

He added that it was problematic that a cross-party group of MPs, which has recommended slashing the maximum FOBT stake to 2, is backed by firms that profit from rival forms of gambling.

Groups that fund the MPs efforts include amusement arcade body Bacta, pub chain JD Wetherspoon, which operates fruit machines, and Hippodrome casinos.

The Association of British Bookmakers recently fought back against criticism of FOBTs, latching on to research published by industry regulator the Gambling Commission.

Using data compiled from real betting sessions, the commission found there was no consistent evidence that particular gambling activities are predictive of problem gambling.

The ABB also pointed to figures suggesting that on average gamblers lost more money and spent more time on amusement arcade-style games.

ABB chief executive Malcolm George warned of the danger that adult gaming centres and other forms of gambling escape proper scrutiny.

The arcade industry and elements within the casino industry, which are commercial competitors of the bookmakers, have unfairly used FOBTs as the whipping boy for far too long when it comes to problem gambling.

In particular arcades, with vastly more machines, need to wake up to their responsibility to help problem gamblers, in the same way as the bookmaking industry has.

Bacta accuses the ABB of cherry-picking data that suits its own argument, focusing on averages rather than the extreme losses that can affect higher-stakes FOBT players.

The two sides have also drawn opposing conclusions about whether studies suggest that reducing the maximum stake on FOBTs would stem players losses.

Etches said the back-and-forth between competing firms in the same industry suggested that they were losing sight of the need to address problem gambling.

The industry needs to think more carefully about that bigger reputational issue and recognise that those who are thoughtful can see through some of this selfish behaviour, he said.

There are a lot of people who have a problem so we need to have a better discourse. A narrow focus that gets very shouty between campaign groups puts people off having a more grown-up more mature discussion.

The row over the role that FOBTs play in addiction reflects the limited amount of hard evidence on problem gambling.

One of the most comprehensive studies, by research group NatCen, looked at whether people who hold loyalty cards with bookmakers changed their behaviour over time, in an attempt to show whether FOBTs coincide with a slide into addiction.

It found a correlation between the use of machines in bookmakers and a descent into problem gambling, with the unemployed and ethnic minority groups worst affected.

But NatCen associate research director Heather Wardle, who sits on the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, is wary of drawing too many conclusions from this.

It shows an association, we just dont know whats driving that association. In all likelihood there are some people for whom the machines are causing them difficulties.

Others have immense problems with all types of gambling and happen to play machines.

She points out that similar research has not been done into amusement arcades, fruit machines or online betting, so it is difficult to compare the risk of addiction.

This raises the possibility that while FOBTs do pose a risk, a blinkered focus on them could allow other forms of betting whether its amusement arcades or online poker to escape scrutiny.

Like Etches, Wardle is concerned by the tendency of the warring factions to highlight data that suits their cause.

There is a lot of energy expended on different interest groups trying to make a case that one activity versus another is the most harmful thing, she said.

You end up with a polarised debate that misses the complexity of whats causing people harm and what you do about it.

I can perfectly understand why different stakeholders do that but its not particularly helpful. Id like to see people combine their energies into really thinking about how we help people and stop the horrendous problems they experience.

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Betting turf war is torpedoing efforts to help problem gamblers - The Guardian

Though states often pledge to fund public schools with taxes levied on lotteries and casinos, that money tends to get funneled elsewhere.

In 2008, after years of political squabbling over whether Maryland should host casino gambling, the question came up before voters in a referendum. The state government and the gambling industry lobbied hard for the votes, pledging that taxes levied on the gambling establishments would go to public education. TV commercials promised that casinos would bring hundreds of millions of dollars directly into our schools, and warned that if Maryland missed this opportunity, those stacks of cash would instead benefit students in the bordering casino-friendly states of West Virginia and Delaware.

The referendum passed. In 2012, after the most expensive political campaign in Maryland's history, a ballot question expanding gambling to table games also passed, narrowly. Maryland now has six casinos, including the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Baltimore, which opened in 2014. In the last seven years, these facilities have welcomed tens of millions of visitors and generated around $4.5 billion in profits. That has translated into $1.7 billion in funds for education, including $200 million from Horseshoe.

Yet Baltimores schools are in dire straits: Last month, city schools CEO Sonja Santelises announced that, due to a $130 million budget deficit, she is considering laying off more than 1,000 workers, including teachers.

That same week, the Baltimore Sun reported that the casino money the state had promised for public schools is instead being siphoned to pay for other government expenses, such as salaries and roadwork. As a result, Maryland schools have received the same amount of money they would have without the casino tax. And Baltimore schools have received less state money than they did before the casino opened.

The casino pitch that Maryland voters went for in 2008 is one that was honed over decades, as one by one states agreed to host the gambling industry. Its been a big turnaround for an industry that was all but banned nationwide in the early 20th century. Though Nevada legalized casinos in 1931, most states began to allow them in the 1990s. The promise of reaping economic benefits has driven the trend: Statistics from the American Gaming Association show that casinos bring thousands of jobs to host communities, and they also have a multiplier effect, in which new businesses then open in the surrounding area. This is particularly helpful, says Erik Balsbaugh, the associations VP of public affairs, for struggling post-industrial cities like Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Springfield, Massachusetts.

To win support, casino boosters often emphasized that a percentage of these benefits from lotteries and casinos would be funneled directly into public education. They countered fears of gambling with this emotional reference, says Patrick Pierce, a professor at Saint Marys College in Indiana who has studied the topic. Americans, at least on a symbolic level, place a great deal of emphasis on public education.

The tactic did the trick: Today, you can play the lottery and/or bet at a casino in most states.

Experts on gambling and state funding say that Maryland is only one of dozens of states taking gambling revenue meant for education and using it for other purposes.

In almost every case states either earmark the funds for education but then decrease the general fund appropriations for education by a similar amount, or, in more cases, they simply put the money in the general fund, says Denise Runge, a dean at the University of Alaska Anchorage and editor of Resorting to Casinos: The Mississippi Gambling Industry.

In the first year of operation, taxes from lotteries generally do go toward education, according to a study Pierce co-authored that looked at the period 1966 to 1990. You saw an initial bump in education spending by about $50 per capita, he says. But after a number of years, the practice of using the money for other expenses became commonplace. After eight or nine years, says Pierce, states with lotteries were spending less on education than states that didnt have the lottery tax.

State lawmakers welcome the lotteries and casinos for this very reason: The tax revenue gives them the flexibility to fund other programs or even cut other taxes. If youre a state legislator and youre telling citizens that you supported gambling because it improves childrens education, and then you used the money someplace else, you did a bait and switch, says Pierce.

And politicians become dependent on the moneysomething the gambling industry understands well. Pierce notes, for instance, that while Nevada is famous for its casinos, it doesnt have a state lotterycasino operators dont want the competition. The industrys pull with Nevada lawmakers is a major reason why we havent seen an effective push to put a lottery in place, he says.

Earl Grinols, an economics professor at Baylor University, says this relationship between government and gambling amounts to crony capitalism, in which the industry and state politicians stand to gain from each otherand do. The public system should be designed so that it leads people to do the right thing, he says. When you set up a system in which the gambling industry and state government have interests in common, you do the opposite. You create a system that encourages back-room deals.

But not all gambling-sourced school funds are fated to disappear: The exception are scholarships like Georgias Hope Scholarship program, which provides merit-based funding to students pursuing an undergraduate degree. The program didnt exist before Georgias lottery, which began in 1992, and so wasnt financed through a general fund that could be monkeyed with.

Every dollar from the lottery that comes in for the Hope Scholarship program goes to that program, says Ross Rubenstein, a Georgia State professor who studies lotteries and education funding. Whats more, Georgias model spurred states such as Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida to create similar lottery-funded scholarship programs.

Still, because these scholarships are merit- rather than need-based, they often benefit middle- and upper-income students rather than their poorer counterparts. Thats particularly problematic, because virtually every study on lotteries shows that lower-income households spend a larger amount of their earnings on lotteries or casino gambling than higher income households. Youre redistributing wealth from poor people to wealthier people, says Pierce. (Rubenstein notes that Georgia also straightforwardly distributes lottery money for pre-kindergarten programs. Benefits for pre-K are a little more even across income groups, he says.)

Politicians also like taxes from casinos and lotteries because theyre voluntary: However regressive these taxes are, no one has to pay them. As a result, theyre less likely to complain to state legislators about them. But this also makes these revenue streams unstable.

Runge of the University of Alaska notes that over time, casinos tend to make less money, as general interest drops off. Baltimores Horseshoe Casino, for instance, has seen a 14.5 percent decrease in its revenue in the past year. Rubenstein says theres a similar trend with lotteries. Everyone wants to play them when they are first available, he says, but then many people start to realize theyre not going to win, or they get bored with the games. So even if public schools were benefiting from these taxes, the revenue stream is not reliable.

The key, then, is not to reform this flawed system, but to scrap it for a better one. Pierce wants politiciansstate governors in particularto have the courage to tell constituents that taxes from stable sources, such as income or sales, are needed for education. And then they need to actually raise taxes.

If everyone really wants to support our schools, we need to make a public commitment to them, says Pierce. The way to do that is not through gambling.

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For Schools, Gambling Funding Is No Jackpot - CityLab