Paul Seago: Decoupling aids gambling – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By Paul Seago, Guest Columnist

The Herald-Tribune editorial on Feb. 7, regarding the gambling debate taking place in the Legislature, argues for decoupling at Floridas pari-mutuels and specifically urges a straightforward bill on this subject.

A straightforward gambling bill in Tallahassee is something of myth and legend like Bigfoot or a unicorn that people claim its real, but of which there is little evidence.

Many things hailed as reforms when it comes to gambling are held hostage by those seeking to expand gambling in order to argue there is somehow a reduction.

Throughout Florida history, every limited, seemingly simple, decision related to gambling leads to more gambling than originally intended. It is a phenomenon we call gambling creep (and is the subject of a video we have posted on our website at http://www.NoCasinos.org).

This gambling creep is most on display when one looks at Floridas pari-mutuels industry.

Since horse and greyhound racing and jai alai were legalized in Florida in the 1930s, pari-mutuel owners have engaged in an almost ceaseless yearly pilgrimage to the state capitol to beg, cajole and lobby for more and more gambling with the same mantra, give us more gambling so we can compete

Over the years, the Florida Legislature has given pari-mutuels simulcast wagering, poker rooms, higher poker-hand limits, and no-limit poker over the years without a vote of Floridians and without competitive bids.

Now, pari-mutuels have their sights set on slot machines, essentially making each one a casino.

Recall that Florida voters rejected the idea of turning every pari-mutuel in the state into a casino in 1994 by a 2-to-1 ratio. That didnt stop the pari-mutuels from continuing to ask lawmakers for more gambling, finally receiving card rooms in 1996.

At first their arguments were that people loved racing and jai alai but needed new forms of gambling to enhance prize purses so they could continue to offer their races and live performances.

Now they argue no one wants to watch racing and live jai alai so they need more gambling to continue to exist and they no longer want to offer races and live events.

We take exception to pari-mutuel owners feeling that their license gives them a birthright to whatever forms of gambling become fashionable over time.

If the free market had been allowed to have its say, the way it has for other industries like travel agents, video-rental stores and TV repair stores, many of these pari-mutuels especially greyhound racetracks would have gone the way of the dodo, meaning they would have become extinct.

If pari-mutuels no longer wish to do the only thing the Florida Constitution authorizes them to do, they should turn in their licenses and find another purpose for their land.

Instead, the Legislature has given each of these license-holders the idea that their permit is a Willy Wonka-style golden ticket that will one day transform their ancient track or fronton into a Las Vegas-style casino.

That is not following the free market, or the wishes of Florida voters. Its giving into crony capitalists looking for another round of corporate welfare.

Paul Seago is the executive director of No Casinos, which opposes the expansion of gambling in Florida.

See the original post:

Paul Seago: Decoupling aids gambling - Sarasota Herald-Tribune