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PhillyAccount t1_je9d1j5 wrote

Just wanted to extend another 'thank you' to all the big brains who thought opening a bunch of casinos in Philadelphia were an economic panacea.

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trashpandarevolution t1_je9j5yi wrote

Sports betting will be similarly disastrous for people and their livelihoods

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cold_toast t1_jedzzvy wrote

Let’s give people a casino on their phone what could go wrong??

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randompittuser t1_je9iaw8 wrote

They know it leads to blight. Everyone knows casinos are a bad idea. But the local officials are paid & go along with it.

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oliver_babish t1_je9srf1 wrote

The problem is that once Foxwoods opened in CT and broke the Vegas/AC monopoly, it was more or less inevitable that everyone else was going to compete for that revenue and not lose it to other states.

The best we can do is keep the casinos in places that won't impair better development -- and I think we're okay on that front in Philadelphia -- and tax the shit out of it. And we do: "Total tax revenue generated collectively through all forms of gaming and fantasy contests was $188,976,155* during February 2023."

Obviously, they can be doing better on gambling addiction, especially given how much is spent to promote sports betting at this point, and probably should be more aggressive at banning people from gambling who ever pull shit like this.

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ModeratingInfluence t1_jeeidnf wrote

No. We can do better. We did better for decades and decades before we started populating the east coast with casinos.

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GooFoYouPal t1_je9o0jn wrote

and the local officials get a few key neighborhood people on board who then convince the local mouthbreathers that the casinos will bring MoAr JoBs! to the area. The shit that old school Towners and that stupid fucking FACT Org were pushing when they were pushing to build Sugarhouse was appalling. What an absolute waste of prime riverfront space to build a palace of degeneracy.

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AlVic40117560_ t1_je9j2m5 wrote

I too enjoy when the government tells me what I can and can’t do. Ban casinos! Protect me from my own free will!

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Edison_Ruggles t1_je9jxco wrote

You sound smart. Most people are not. That's the problem.

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AlVic40117560_ t1_je9ktru wrote

Totally agree. I need the government to tell me if gambling, prostitution, abortion, guns, being gay/trans, or drugs are ok. If they say it’s legal, I will then fully participate. If they say it’s illegal, I’ll simply say no thank you. The government serves as my moral campus and their opinions should be forced onto me so I don’t have to make decisions for myself.

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Denki t1_je9vr9f wrote

You’re one of those sovereign citizens aren’t ya? Like you don’t go driving, you go “traveling”. Probably have one of those fake license plates and everything.

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AlVic40117560_ t1_jeals5q wrote

I don’t really see how those two things relate. You think the government should be the one choosing if those activities are ok or “moral”?

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Denki t1_jeaqj0v wrote

Without getting into a checklist, yes I do think that. The government has the obligation to take care of its citizens and often that includes making a moral choice. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but fortunately we have cultural shifts and realize things like “slavery bad” and “women should vote”. This isn’t some weird libertarian free-for-all, which is just anarchy without the cool stuff and usually a lot more racism.

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AlVic40117560_ t1_jeb8rla wrote

But you understand that people still gamble where it’s illegal right? It’s 2023. It’s very easy to illegally do it online. When it’s legal, we can put programs in place like 1-800-gambler to assist those that have trouble controlling themselves. When it’s illegal, it’s shady and there is no oversight. Gambling addiction is very real, but the legality of it doesn’t stop anybody from gambling. It certainly makes it more accessible, but it doesn’t stop anything.

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Denki t1_jebcvly wrote

Of course. Never said ban them; I think cities should definitely think real hard about opening them. A healthy city doesn’t open them. But anyway, I think we do exactly as you said; put programs in place. Programs typically funded and regulated by the government.

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AlVic40117560_ t1_jebh61b wrote

Maybe we’re agreeing on the same premise here. Because I definitely don’t think it should just be a decision made lightly. There are definitely downsides to gambling. Some people can’t handle it. Some shitheads leave their kids in the car for hours at a time. There are risks. Those risks can be mitigated through those programs with funds raised by gambling taxes. There should be oversight and regulation. But at the end of the day, the government shouldn’t be the ones telling people that they can or can’t gamble. People should be able to make their own decisions at the end of the day, but for the few that can’t handle it, there should be programs in place to help them.

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OnionLegend t1_jed7zrs wrote

You need a license to drive a car and you have to drive on the roads the government tells you to. Sounds like they already tell you what to do.

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AlVic40117560_ t1_jed852x wrote

You’re entirely missing the point. You can still drive. It’s just regulated.

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