Can someone please help me to understand our state's policy on gambling? We can have dog tracks, but not casinos, unless on Native American land? Churches and Shriners can have bingo games, but we cannot buy lottery tickets? People can play Texas Hold 'em poker tournaments all over town, but cannot play video poker machines? There are places even offering online gambling. What gives?
I understand the state government does not have a definitive law declaring gambling illegal. They even went so far not too long ago to tax all of the video poker machines in the state, which collected millions of dollars in revenue. The state then turned around seven months later and declared that the machines were illegal and that anyone possessing the machines would suffer prosecution.
It seems that with the state not taking a definite stand on the subject has allowed the politics of the county and city governments to take advantage of our civil rights and civil liberties.
This situation eerily reminds me of a past situation that involved taxation without representation. I believe we have already fought one war over this, which led to the creation of our great Constitution. Why should our educational system not benefit from a state lottery just as other state's educational systems do?
Steven Hudson
Hope Hull
I understand the state government does not have a definitive law declaring gambling illegal. They even went so far not too long ago to tax all of the video poker machines in the state, which collected millions of dollars in revenue. The state then turned around seven months later and declared that the machines were illegal and that anyone possessing the machines would suffer prosecution.
It seems that with the state not taking a definite stand on the subject has allowed the politics of the county and city governments to take advantage of our civil rights and civil liberties.
This situation eerily reminds me of a past situation that involved taxation without representation. I believe we have already fought one war over this, which led to the creation of our great Constitution. Why should our educational system not benefit from a state lottery just as other state's educational systems do?
Steven Hudson
Hope Hull