Gambling or Gaming?

"The safest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it in your pocket." ~ Kin Hubbard

I like to listen to Laura Ingraham's show in the mornings, but there is only one radio station in the area that broadcasts it and unfortunately it only broadcasts 2 of the 3 hours. So, I listen to it on the internet, on the same radio station that broadcasts Lores' show, "Just a Woman", KRLA out of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the two hours of Laura's program starts at 10:00AM here on WRNR in Martinsburg WV. And I have to be on my way to work during that 1st hour on Mondays. So that explains why I was listening to the local program instead of Laura's yesterday morning.

I really can't complain too much, however, because the local show that is on, hosted by Tom Tucker, is usually a very interesting show involving local politics and issues that concern those in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

Now. I said all that to say this:

On yesterday's program, Tom's guest was the president of Charlestown's (WV) Racing and Slots, the biggest "gaming" industry in the area. I put quotes around the word, "gaming" for a reason that I will go into in a minute.

These people look happy, don't they?

Usually, I agree with Mr. Tucker and his guests. He is a Conservative. But I have to object to the content of yesterday's program which glorified, in my opinion, legalized gambling. I believe gambling is very destructive to the family. I know it is supposed to create jobs, improve roads and schools and lead to the betterment of the quality of life in general. And I suppose, although I've never seen any proof of it, that it does do those things.

But at what costs?

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to take a cruise on a ship in the Caribbean. The ship had casinos on board and they were the most popular places on the ship. I had never gambled before, except for small friendly bets among friends, and I thought I would try my luck at the slots. I quickly won about 50 dollars more than I spent.

Sounds great, doesn't it?

But herein lies the root of the problem. This is how gambling sucks you in. I now understand why people get addicted to gambling. That big score seems right within our grasp. Just out of reach. Just around the corner. One more bet and I'll be set for life. Right?

Encouraged by the lure of winning more money, I continued gambling until I had lost all that I had won, plus another 50 dollars. That is where I stopped, and have never gambled again. Good for me, right?

Unfortunately, some people don't know when to stop. And then gambling becomes an obsession. And when it becomes obsession it destroys lives.

But gambling is fun, right?

I've heard a lot of people describe gambling as fun, and I suppose it is. Right up until the your luck changes. Then it's not so much fun. My ex wife became addicted to gambling. I'll never forget the evening she asked me for $50.00 and didn't want to tell me what she needed it for. (She didn't need to ask, it was just as much her money as it was mine) She didn't tell me why she wanted it, but I knew. I told her to just go ahead and flush 50 dollars down the toilet and stay home and save the gas. Of course, she didn't. She went. And she lost it all.

Today would have been our 16th wedding anniversary.

Gambling is fun, right?

I once heard a radio interview with an opponent to legalized gambling, who described the veritable plethora of pawn shops in the immediate vicinity of the casinos in Las Vegas. He spoke about interviewing some of the pawn shop proprietors, one of which produced, from under the counter, a box full of gold teeth. Collected from gamblers who were so addicted to gambling that they actually pulled gold teeth out of their mouths to pawn for more gambling money.

But gambling is fun, right?

A few years ago, back in Kansas City, which has river boat casinos, I was in a pawn shop looking for cheap electronic equipment. A woman came in carrying two shotguns in their cases. The clerks there knew her by name. One of them said to her, "Harvey's been to the boats again, eh, Mrs Jones?" (not their real names) I'll never forget the look of desperate resignation on her face as she nodded wordlessly in the affirmative.

I wondered if she was trying to gather together enough money to pay the rent, or utilities, or feed her family. How miserable that family must have been! How sad!

But gambling is fun, right?

And now, the government passes laws allowing gambling in many states in America. Saying the tax revenue produced will go to improve roads and schools and civic improvements of diverse kinds. The gambling industry's lobby is one of the most powerful in Washington, and in the various state capitols.

Oh, yes, state and local governments reap the benefits of the tax monies generated by the casinos and race tracks. While individuals lose every cent they have earned, along with their houses, cars, possessions of every kind, and their families.

But gambling is fun, right?

And while the casino owners line their pockets with money that might have paid somebody's rent, or bills, but instead, lost it to the dealers, or the slot machines, or the ponies.

But gambling is fun, right?

And these scum bags that promote this evil that destroys families and lives smile and call it "gaming". Does any one besides me see that as an intentional use of an innocuous word that has a more acceptable connotation than the word, "gambling"?

That's kind of like calling an unborn baby a fetus because it sounds less human that way, thereby making it something easier to kill with a good conscience.

Doesn't that tell us all we really need to know about the "Gaming" industry's real intentions? Does anyone really believe that gambling is good for people and families?

If gambling is so good for the people, why do they feel the need to call it something that sounds like fun instead of what it really is?

The gambling industry is required by law, in some states, if not all of them, to provide information to their customers (victims) about what resources they can contact in case gambling becomes a problem, such as Gamblers Anonymous.

If gambling is so good for people, why are organizations like Gambler's Anonymous even necessary?

But gambling is fun, right?

No, gambling isn't fun. Not really. It is destructive.