Dear
Mark,
I was on the Internet looking for information on
casino gambling for a school project. My topic is
called “Should the United States Promote Casino
Gambling?” I found your column called “Covering
All the Bases” very helpful. I was wondering
if you had any other material that might help. Lynne
T.
Because
of limited space, Lynne, allow me to temporarily stand
neutral on the proliferation of gambling across America
and the government’s active participation in
it. For those who want a phenomenal research treatise
on your legislature’s relationships with the
gambling industry, look to Robert Goodman’s book
The Luck Business, subtitled, “The Devastating
Consequences and Broken Promises of America’s
Gambling Explosion.” Besides your school project,
policymakers
and voters alike who will decide in the future whether
the fastest growing industry in the nation (gambling)
belongs in their neighborhood.
With half of America now living within two hours
of casino gambling, it’s sooner than you think.
I would highly recommend this solid study to all
government.
Dear Mark,
On a recent trip to Branson, Missouri, I stopped
along the way in Kansas City and gambled for the
first time. I was surprised to see both loss limits
and two-hour cruises. Is that common? Bill K.
The loss limits and
cruise times are in place to prevent problem gamblers
from spending more than they can afford to lose.
Currently Missouri is the only state with these
restrictions. It is the wisdom of the Missouri legislature
that by setting limits you won’t blow your
trip bankroll, you will have time to get religion
and still have enough money to see Wayne Newton
in Branson.
