Gambling

Broompilot

Veteran Expediter
I just do not get it Post, Rich M told a great story about its affect on some drivers and WE are suppost to bail out the addict.


How many signs do we see promiting this Industry? What is its true cost to Society? I do not have the answer but I know its BIG, bigger than any of us could comprehend.

This is one thing I know about Gambling and you may dissagree and than I will tell my story on a personal expirence. Gambling creates no jobs beyond the table and the person who counts the $ after you throw it on the table.

In short someone builds a shed in there back yard, $ was spent on Materaials that supported the local lumber yard, that employed several people, the truck that transported the lumber, from the Mill, the driver who and lumberjack who transported and cut the tree down and the owner of the property that invested into the land and trees, the metal mfg that made the nails, and the shingles all transported by TRUCKs, now all that $ was either invested back into the local economy or spent on groceries, fuel, etc....

Casinos reinvest into nothing beyond its emplyees and advertsing, thus the BUCK STOPS THERE is the simple way to explaine it. This is a cruel way to make a $ stripping people of the pay that should go into raising there families, but since thats not possible ME AND YOU get to support the difference for them since they cannot support themsleves due to the Gambling Addiction that sucks them in. Think this is a joke what I writing? Look at any Gambling sign in small print it states "those with a gambling problem 1-800 XXX XXXX) like this relieves them from the slime they bring to society.

I love Casinos, for entertainment, food, and watching all of those deer in the headlights pulling the lever every time they put another hard working dollar into the machine and LOOSE over the long term you cannot win unless your a cheating professional or card reader.


Now for my expierence, 15 years had a great set of Tennants outside of Detroit, never late on a payment never any problems. Than Windsor came alone so did late rent payments. Than Detroit opened its Casinos and it just stopped, I was forced to Evict these people and there children from what had become HOME. And guess who the bad guy is? Me the owner of the property, heck its all my fault they spent every last dime in the Casinos I did it I threw them out, but was suppost to be sorry.

I cannot fault anyone for enjoying dropping a couple of bucks, but the additciton that this industry wants us to consume is sickening. Build it bigger, better, brighter, feed em drinks and they will never know who much they threw away. Sound familar?

And our States are even in on it, heck we call it EDUCATION LOTTERY? Yeah right its called DIVERSION or better yet stealing from the uneducated, who plays lotteries over and over? College Educated well established people right?

Did you know that people who win a Lottery are 4 times more likely to get divorced. I wonder what the same odds for those who Gamble who cannot afford or should not do so are?

Sorry for the lenght and the topic.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I saw a billboard in southern Missouri last week that pictured an old guy with a V.F.W. hat and said something to the effect that state casinos contributed over a million dollars to the V.F.W.

Who could argue against that? Of course they failed to mention all the poor morons that are dumping their rent and grocery money into the casinos.
 

Mudflap

Expert Expediter
It is just like everything in life. If done in moderation with dicipline, going out to the casino for a night can be a lot of fun. I might go 2 or 3 times a year, and bring only $100 cash with me, and with that it is win or lose. And as the odds are, it's mostly lose, but for me it is a fun an entertaining night out. But then of course like with everything else, you get the abusers. The ones who gamble away their paychecks every week. They are just like alcohlics, six pack a day smokers, pill poppers, or ones at the all you can eat buffet line every day. Where when it is out of the dicipline or moderation range, it catches up to you eventually. Mudflap
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
When you think about how much money the casinos spend, for those luxurious places, headline entertainment, elaborate buffets, free food, drinks, and even rooms for 'high rollers', it should really make you think: they aren't LOSING money, by a long shot.
The hypocrisy of the state governments, with the lotteries, and the church, with bingo, is enough to make you sick. Why let morals get in the way of profit, right?
 

Mudflap

Expert Expediter
Sure it is a business, just about everything public related is. As one's truck operation is a business, so are churches. Nobody forces you to do anything. Nobody makes you go to the casino, put a cigarette or drink in your mouth, eat bad food, etc. Morals are one's personal beliefs. Should everything on earth be outlawed based on the morals of people in government office? If that were the case we would all die or commit suicide. I'm sure we have all met at some point in our travels the holy roller who was every bit as bad if not a worse hypocrite than the average high roller. Mudflap
 

jeffman164

Seasoned Expediter
They say that the michigan lottery $ goes for education. What kind of morals is that teaching the children. NEVER liked casinos and will keep NOT liking casinos.
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
I don't have a problem with casinos. I don't gamble. Doesn't bother me a bit if someone else does.
 

Mudflap

Expert Expediter
Excellent reply! If one does not like something, it is their choice to not partake in it. It is up to parents to teach their children morals, not the government.

For instance I do not like guns or hunting. Never have, never will. But I understand the beliefs of those who do, and their rights to own guns and their enjoyment of hunting according to the laws, and do not feel that guns or hunting should be made illegal. Should gambling, cigarettes, alcohol or anything else done in moderation be any different or outlawed because some people obsessed with religion and church want them to be? America was originally based on FREEDOM. It is being taken away, piece by piece, by a lack of that understanding.

Mudflap
 

PalletJack

Expert Expediter
when they started the countys first state lottery here in New Hampshire many years ago, it was ok because the money was going into the schools. well the lottery money went into the schools but the other tax money stopped going into the schools so nothing was gained except the lawmakers got to use the old school money for their pet projects and the kids lose out on a great education while the parents just lose their money

PJ
 

Broompilot

Veteran Expediter
Mudflap you brought up RELIGION not I. I also said nothing about Morals YOU DID.

What I am saying and your not understanding is this simple point. CASINOS invest nothing back into a COMMUNITY it only takes. Beyond its employees, and advertsing its ALL PROFIT.

Other business recycle the dollar over and over and over again keeping the wheels of our economy going. NOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND? Its not a perfect World, but if the dollars are turned over and over and over Society Benefits ME, YOU, right on down the line. Never said anything about OUTLAWING gambling either or Ciggerettes, or Liquor now did I. Seen what Trumps done for Atlantic City.


PS I do not think the Govertnment will ever stop Lotteries cause some people will always wana try to get rich with out working for it. It is not place to judge everyones Morals, but I love standing behind someone using food stamps for the food in the grocery store, and than see them pull out a $50. to buy Lottery Tickets Yeah BABY there went my subsidy.
 

RichM

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
I am not into casino gambling in a big way. I usually get bored after a hour or two. But what I have found is that most casino's have a few high roller slot machines. These machines take $100 or more to spin them,but if you just sit in front of one,make believe you are playing one the serving staff is all over you with constant free drinks etc.
 

wallytrucker1

Expert Expediter
O.K. I'm guilty; I LOVE TEXAS HOLD EM. IT's my money, not your's, so climb off the high horse. I'm sure some of you may have a source of entertainment that I don't care for or approve of, but who the heck am I to pass judgement on what you do. Isn't that the job of the "big guy". If you want to comment on someone's inability to take care of himself causing others to care for him, that's a different animal. Don't kid yourself about the money going no further than the casino. I do quite well hauling those one arm bandits around. Those thousands of casino employees spend their paychecks on everyday stuff just like you and I. Ok I'm done, think I'll go gamble away my fuel check and call Rich to bail me out:) :D
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
I was told a long time ago;

Lotteries are to get money out of willing participents into the states hands without taxes; the elderly, the poor and the desperate.

Casinos will offer you bright lights, a lot of noise and easy entertainment but are created to get money out of willing participents into the pockets of the casinos; the elderly, the poor and the desperate.

I have learned a very important lesson that drives my wife up a wall; set a limit, win and go home or lose you limit and go home. Too many people can just feed their entire SS check into the slot machine.

We were up in Mt Pleasent about 5 years ago and I won a lot of money. My wife was jumping up and down and all happy, I was getting p*ssed off because the slot machine was taking too long to count out the amount of coins I won. When the attendent came around, I took the slip with the payout and put in another .50 just to see what would happen and I won again. I had to sit through another 5 minutes and another wait for the attendent. I then went to the window, cashed out and started to walk towards the door. My wife wanted to play more, but I told her I am done, I am taking their money home with me and if she wants a ride home, let's go then.
 

Broompilot

Veteran Expediter
Church's are a business? So this is why they accept Donations and have a tax free #. I know of no business that is not for profit with a tax free #. What goods would a church produce and sell? Thats what a business is producing a service or item to be sold. Ever seen a Casino do as much good as Sister Theresa did with so little since others brought Church into the subject?

Amazing just amazing everything I wrote I explained very clear, some of you read it once and twist it into something else. I never once said I hated gambling, but I realize what it has done to our Society to benefit so few and destroy so many. Now that after posting this I think that some of you could care less about others.

Not just those who utilize the Casinos and make so few rich, but those of us who will have bail out the wife and children left homeless. Hint (government paid homeless crises centers). Now this is the exterme I know, but its still happening everyday. I choose not to put my $ on the Green Velvet, if you do that it is your business. I just feel an obligation to myself, my family, and society not to give them any $ they do not earn.

Some feel I am a radical, I can accept that. What I don't accept is you appear not to be able to accept a different view point from abstaining from Casinos based on what I have posted. Critizing when I said nothing in refrence to Smoking, Drinking or the Church. Freedom of Religion, is this not also protected under the Constitution? Has God not been removed from the Pledge of Allegiance? Prayer in School long dissipeared and now some want it removed by holding your hand on a Bible while being Sworn into office or by being sworn in before tesitifying.

Reading some of these posts its against nature to have any Values tied to the Bible. This was about Gambling, but since you brought it up thank you.
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Calm down, Broom. :) I don't think anyone brought up church because of you, but because the most vocal opponents against gambling tend to be the churches. They were just giving their opinions is all.

It seems that you don't like casinos much, and that's fine. I'm not sure it's necessary to paint them in the worst possible light just to get that message across, though. Casinos do give something back to society. They pay taxes, and they pay a lot of it. Some of the largest casinos in Nevada pay 40% of their revenue in taxes. They employ a lot of people, who also pay taxes and spend their paychecks. They built these big buildings, some, maybe even most, using union labor to do so, and they built them with materials delivered by trucks. The larger ones have hotels and restaurants, which have to be supplied with supplies delivered by trucks, and those supplies came from farmers, manufacturers, and distributors. It's hardly fair, or accurate, to state that, other than paying their employees, everything else is pure profit for the casinos.

Yes, it's true that their main function is to take you money. They don't pretend anything different. When they look at you they see dollar signs, and you're only good to them as long as you keep giving them money. Strip joints and gentlemen's clubs are the same way. So are insurance companies, and check cashing places, and toll booth collectors.

Yet casinos do provide a service. Entertainment. Some are entertained by it, some aren't. There are some people who over do it, just as there are some people who will watch 60 hours of television a week. And while it may sometimes only be short term, casinos do provide hope and dreams, excitement, happiness and the feel-good.

Heh, funny, churches do the same thing. Don't kid yourself that churches and religion isn't big business. There is a lot of money to be made in non-profit businesses, churches in particular. You asked what goods would a church produce and sell. Well, they sell the dreams, they sell hope, and faith, they sell the brass ring of utopia, of happiness, the feel-good. Just as in the casinos, there are people who go way overboard with their churches, devoting far too much of their time and income to it. And it could be argued, quite convincingly, that organized religion has done far more damage to society than casinos could ever hope to.

At least the casinos pay taxes.

And no, I've never seen a casino do as much good with so little as Mother Theresa. They aren't really in the same business, though. Comparing the two, well, that's not even apples and oranges. That's comparing apples and sweatshirts.
 

Pappy

Expert Expediter
A Poker machine, just like the old pin-ball machines will stand with their back against the wall and challenge the whole world. Even at my age, I still consider myself kind of tough, and if necessary will scrap or brawl at the drop of a hat. However, I seriously doubt whether or not I would ever be able to whip one of these machines.

Pappy

x( x( x(
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
You can't. Poker machines, the slots, they are all computer controlled and they (as a group) will pay out x-number of dollars only after they (as a group) have taken in a predefined x-number of dollars.

A few years ago a real nasty storm slammed into Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi, taking out the electrical power at the casinos, including the power to the computers and communications links.

400 miles away in Tunica, MS, the slot machines suddenly went dark.
 

Paul56

Seasoned Expediter
Up here in Canada the large casinos are run by the government who also happen to gather up millions in profits from the operation.

Something wrong with this picture.

If prostitution is legalized, will the government start running brothels?
 

hedgehog

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
What about the largest Casino(s) in the world ???

The stock markets. The American, European, Asian, farm commodities markets, oil and gold markets ??

I see no difference between somebody dropping money into a slot machine or buying shares of stock hoping to get "money for nothing".

Be safe
 
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