A Funny Article About Slot Machine Assault

[TheLastCylon]

Please. Think of the slot machines.

"Police officers from the 106th Precinct have been a familiar sight, arrests frequent and acts of violence disturbingly common. There is, in fact, a crime wave plaguing the cavernous halls of this mega-casino: people punching gambling machines."

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(Via New York Times)

 

[vinylweatherman]

Fruit machines here run the same risk. I have seen a few with the glass punched in, but unlike casino slots, they DO cheat their players. Also unlike casino slots where the author of this article complains about the 7% going to the house, fruit machines have up to 30% going to the house (unless a clever player with an "emptier" comes along). Even the latest video slots have 10% going to the house, and they eat money much faster (although not as fast as at a casino).

It may be that legal online casinos will be seen by many as get another example of greedy states abandoning their moral stance and going after the money. The problem with such "sin" is that prohibition doesn't work, as many states found out the last time in the 1930's. Different sin, but similar results. Prohibition just drove it underground, and into the hands of organised crime. The current prohibition on drugs has also not worked very well (unless you are in organised crime).

If prohibition can't work, then a legitimate and controlled outlet is needed, and part of the profits will at least cover the negative consequences. Technology can help too, with the usual "player card" being made compulsory, and necessary to unlock a slot. A compulsory card can then be programmed with gambling limits so that people who can't afford it cannot shove $5000 into a game in a day. The states would have to impose this, and the federal government would have to strongly encourage the states to implement such a system. Online options would have similar robust enforcement.