Strengthening Families, Protecting Life and Promoting Health
>
Assisting Families to Self Sufficiency
>
Government-Sponsored Gambling
We continue to oppose government-sponsored gambling as a means of financing state government. Government-sponsored gambling has had a devastating impact on many Texas families. Moreover, we oppose any further legalization, government facilitation, or financial guarantees relating to any type of gambling including casino, riverboat, video lottery terminals (VLTs), slot machine, video keno, eight-liners, multi-state lotteries, and other games of chance including on Indian reservations. We support the repeal of the state lottery, and enforcement of existing laws and regulations related to gambling.
Reason: Conservatives do not regulate the rational choices of adults. Available evidence suggests no widespread damage caused by gambling:
- "2 million (1%) of U.S. adults are estimated to meet criteria for pathological gambling in a given year." (source)
- "A study by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the "British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007", found that approximately 0.6% of the adult population had problem gambling issues..." (source)
Nearby states have not fallen in the toilet because of of legalized gambling, and Texas wouldn't either.
Comments
Post new comment