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The lower your income, the more likely you are to play the Lottery

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This article from the Maryland Reporter details why the lower-income communities in Maryland play the Lottery disproportionately. For example, Park Heights, one of Maryland’s poorest neighborhoods with a median income of $35,000, gave the most money to the Lottery in the entire state- a whopping $34 million. A truck driver from Park Heights told the Reporter that, “We play to make some extra money… I want some extra money. We all do.”  Lower-income communities disproportionately believe the path to wealth is the Lottery, not responsible saving and spending. However, with every Lottery ticket, as this article explains, residents only fall deeper and deeper into poverty.

Low-income players drive lottery sales as a big source of state revenues

LesThe lower your income, the more likely you are to play the Lottery
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Florida Lottery shuts down more stores after fraud allegations

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This article by the Palm Beach Post documents the Lottery’s scramble in Florida to shut down certain stores after a previous investigation by the paper revealed fraud going on between store owners and Lottery players, allowing some players to win an incredible amount of times against all odds. The total of stores that the Lottery has closed down now totals 14 and some of those involved could face criminal charges if these allegations are true.

Florida Lottery suspends sales at 11 more stores after newspaper investigation

LesFlorida Lottery shuts down more stores after fraud allegations
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Study finds that disadvantaged youth may be more likely to become problem gamblers

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This article from The Baltimore Sun summarizes the findings of a new study from Johns Hopkins University that concluded that disadvantaged youth have a higher propensity to become problem gamblers, due in part to their increased level of participation in betting on dice in the streets or betting on sports games, which serves as a gateway to more serious, problem gambling when they are allowed in a casino. These discoveries come on the heels of an increased casino and gambling presence in Maryland, where the study took place.

Disadvantaged urban youth may be more likely to be problem gamblers

LesStudy finds that disadvantaged youth may be more likely to become problem gamblers
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Schools in Maryland aren’t seeing the funding promised from casinos

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In 2012, faced with a referendum on gambling on which voters would decide the fate of gambling in Maryland, Governor Martin O’Malley promised his constituents that casinos would bring in necessary revenue for education funding. He equated gambling with a win for education. Now, two years later, schools in Maryland are looking for the money they were promised because so far, it hasn’t come. Just as with other states, education funding from casinos has fallen far short of what was promised. This article from the Maryland Reporter explains how once again, schools are losing out on much-needed funding.

Despite campaign promises, casinos, not schools, are big winners from gambling profits

LesSchools in Maryland aren’t seeing the funding promised from casinos
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Nebraska Attorney General on instant racing machines

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Attached is a copy of the Nebraska attorney general’s opinion regarding  a bill that discusses whether or not instant racing machines are legal under the Nebraska constitution. In the end, the attorney general, Jon Bruning, concludes that, “LB 1102’s attempt to authorize wagering on the results of previously run horse races through the use of IRTs [instant racing terminals] resembling slot machines or other video gambling devices does not constitute a form of parimutuel wagering which the Legislature may permit”. In other words, according to the attorney general, under the Nebraska constitution, instant racing machines, or terminals, are not legal methods of gambling.

Nebraska attorney general opinion1

Nebraska attorney general opinion2

LesNebraska Attorney General on instant racing machines
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Maryland attorney general comes out against instant racing machines

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Below is a copy of the opinion of Douglas Gansler, the attorney general for the state of Maryland, wherein he explains that he does not believe instant racing machines are legal, due to the fact that they do not use pari-mutuel betting (betting against a pool rather than against the house) and are thus a form of slot machine, which is not allowed at Maryland race tracks. This opinion represents a large development because the legal arm of government has begun not to support these machines.

Maryland Attorney General Opinion

LesMaryland attorney general comes out against instant racing machines
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Watch an instant racing machine in action

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Many of the gambling interests have argued that instant racing machines are similar to betting on a live horse race and that they should be allowed in states where slot machines are not because they are different than slot machines. Others argue that in practice these machines are little more than slot machines in disguise. Watch for yourself and see what you think: Does this look like a horse race or a slot machine to you?

 

LesWatch an instant racing machine in action
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Proposal to withdraw rules for the installation of instant racing machines

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This attached letter is a proposal sent to the executive director of the Texas Racing Commission, Chuck Trout, asking him to withdraw proposals for the installation of instant, or historical, racing machines. The author argues that these machines are no different than slot machines, which are banned in Texas. Also included is the patent for these machines as well as an affidavit regarding an experience with these machines.

Letter_to_Chuck_Trout

LesProposal to withdraw rules for the installation of instant racing machines
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