Online Gambling Not a Good Government Solution

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Updated: Oct 25, 2012

Online Gambling Not a Good Government Solution

File this story under really bad ideas: The government never has enough of our money, so now states have decided to try to get more of it -- beyond the high taxes and fees too many of them are already charging -- by instituting online gambling.

Many states already have lotteries that take in $18 billion a year, but it's not enough. It's never enough. That's because governments are a bottomless pit that rarely cut spending, but demand more amounts of money to feed the beast.

Nevada and Washington, D.C. have already taken steps to authorize online poker and state officials in Iowa have been studying the issue. Lawmakers in bankrupt California and New Jersey are redoubling their efforts to legalize and license online gambling.

Think about this. The purpose of gambling is to make money. Gambling creates more losers than winners. It robs people of their rent and food money, destroys families and creates addicts. Should government be contributing to the destruction of the social fabric in its never-ending pursuit of money? Doesn't the question answer itself?

I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.

Publication date: January 30, 2012



Online Gambling Not a Good Government Solution