Don’t let gaming industry sneak in through computers
who are not as interested in traditional gambling.
With two granddaughters nearing young
adulthood, we are very concerned.
Does gambling solve fiscal shortfalls?
The Rockefeller Institute of Government
studied this issue. Its April 2016 Blinken Report concludes: “If history is any lesson, gambling is only a short-term solution to state
budget gaps. Gambling legalization and expansion leads to some revenue gains. However, such gains are short-lived and create
longer-term fiscal challenges for the states as
revenue growth slows or declines …. Gambling is not a reliable and sustainable source
of revenue for the states.”
By David & Eileen Pratt, Springfield
June 7, 2016
Hampshire County residents live miles from
the coming Springfield casino, but the gaming
industry will be coming to them via computers
and devices, if we allow it to legalize online
gaming and sports betting.
They aren’t wasting time. The industry’s
bills are before 20 state legislatures this spring.
In Massachusetts, Senate Bill S191 would allow
the state lottery to implement online gaming for
fantasy sports, poker and other games.
It’s obviously the first step towards full implementation in the Commonwealth. The bill is
under study for the remainder of this session
but will be reintroduced.
If gains are unreliable and difficult to sustain, do we really want to expand into gamThe state treasury wants it because it ex- bling 24/7 with the potential of hurting so
pects to lose lottery revenue to new casinos. Ca- many young people? Contact your state senasinos want to tie in and target younger people tor and represenative. Enough!
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