Loopholes

[RouletteGhost]

Airball is here in my state due to loopholes
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The same goes for roulette, which has a real ball bouncing along on a real wheel. Ditto for baccarat, where actual cards are dealt â€" under plastic â€" by a robot to each player.

In 2005, the Lottery Division sought a court ruling that “any game of chance â€" including such casino games as poker, blackjack, craps and roulette â€" could be a lottery if operated by the state.”

But a judicial appeals panel wrote: “Such a broad interpretation would expand the constitutional exception permitting state-run lotteries to such an extent that it would swallow the general constitutional prohibition on gambling.”

Then, the top bench, the Court of Appeals, stated definitively: “Clearly, the limited constitutional exception for state-run lotteries cannot be read to allow any casino game (such as poker, blackjack or roulette) to constitute a valid lottery if operated by the state.”

No matter. The Lottery Division has blessed the introduction of table games. They are huge moneymakers at Aqueduct and racinos in other areas of the state.

At Aqueduct, each table game brings in an average of $21,790 a day in bets, as opposed to an average of $4,383 wagered daily on the VLTs. Collectively, the table games see bets of $19.9 million a day while operating 20 hours a day. That came to $7.2 billion bet in the last fiscal year, more than the $6.5 billion bet on the VLTs.

Cuomo is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would legalize casino gambling in New York. What’s the point? It’s already here â€" regardless of what the law may say.

[Steve]

Laws are bought. Gambling is very bad for society. Gambling will spread a lot more before any breaking point. I expect the only time it will change is when money becomes less important. ie a more self sufficient community. Thats quite a long way off.

[DoctorSudoku]

Airball is here in my state due to loopholes
___________________________________

The same goes for roulette, which has a real ball bouncing along on a real wheel. Ditto for baccarat, where actual cards are dealt â€" under plastic â€" by a robot to each player.

In 2005, the Lottery Division sought a court ruling that “any game of chance â€" including such casino games as poker, blackjack, craps and roulette â€" could be a lottery if operated by the state.”

But a judicial appeals panel wrote: “Such a broad interpretation would expand the constitutional exception permitting state-run lotteries to such an extent that it would swallow the general constitutional prohibition on gambling.”

Then, the top bench, the Court of Appeals, stated definitively: “Clearly, the limited constitutional exception for state-run lotteries cannot be read to allow any casino game (such as poker, blackjack or roulette) to constitute a valid lottery if operated by the state.”

No matter. The Lottery Division has blessed the introduction of table games. They are huge moneymakers at Aqueduct and racinos in other areas of the state.

At Aqueduct, each table game brings in an average of $21,790 a day in bets, as opposed to an average of $4,383 wagered daily on the VLTs. Collectively, the table games see bets of $19.9 million a day while operating 20 hours a day. That came to $7.2 billion bet in the last fiscal year, more than the $6.5 billion bet on the VLTs.

Cuomo is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would legalize casino gambling in New York. What’s the point? It’s already here â€" regardless of what the law may say.

Many state governments in this country are severely budget-strapped.

Raising taxes (like income and sales taxes) that affect the general population is a big no-no -- they will hurt your re-election chances !

On the other hand, gambling-related tax revenues are a good source of additional income that only affects a small segment of society (the segment that goes to casinos on a regular basis).

Most people (i.e. who don't gamble on a regular basis) are fine with it, so the politicians won't suffer any backlash at the voting booth.

So that is why politicians in many states are in favor of increasing the number of gambling establishments in their states.

Incidentally, taxes on cigarettes also fall in that same category and can be raised without suffering any bad publicity or backlash at election time.