Is state gambling a tax on the poor?

[Jon Miller]

no

it is a tax on the hope of getting rich

so it is a tax on the poor, as they don't have much hope otherwise.. and so gamble even if they know it is not likely

/jm

[Lancer]

Jon. One of the best posts I've ever read.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Dissident
are you saying poor people lack mathematical ability?

Well if they had mathematical ability, that would help them get a job .

[Lawrence of Arabia]

its as much a tax on the poor as is sales tax.

[MarkG]

so you're saying that the rich dont gamble?

[Jon Miller]

the rich gambe because they are bored

JM

[Dis]

the rich gamble where I live.

We had a guy put in $12,000 in just one night. He's dropped millions of dollars in the machines in just 2 years.

[Jon Miller]

and generally gamble in different ways..

Jon Miller
(show me lifelong millionaires who buy lottery tickets)

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Dissident
the rich gamble where I live.

We had a guy put in $12,000 in just one night. He's dropped millions of dollars in the machines in just 2 years.

Vegas

And don't forget horse racing... though the odds are usually better on that sort of thing .

[Dis]

that's why I support Vegas style gambling over lotteries. As I said above, there are decent numbers rich people who gamble.

And I'm not talking about just in casinos. Since IGT has the multi-denom games all the bars, grocery stores, drugs stores, and convenience stores now can have higher denominations. Like $5 denomination, which is $25 a hand for video poker. Or even higher if they allow you to bet more than 5.

If you really wanted to take the poor out of the equation, you can mandate that all gaming devices have a $25 minimum bet. That'll keep the poor out of there.

[Az]

better legal state gambling than illegal mobster gambling.

[MarkG]

doesnt the state get some % from the vegas casinos? if yes, are casinos a tax for the rich?

[Lancer]

Ming, Markos is threadjacking!

[Lancer]

Markos, the theory is that since the state lottery players are mostly comparitively poor that legal gambling is a tax on the poor. This ignores the fact that the individuals involved don't have to gamble but do it by choice. As Jon said, it's a tax on hope.

If the rich are gaming away their money in Vegas it's not a tax, it's justice.

[MarkG]

it's a tax on hope

and what about tax on cigars? is it a tax on pleasure?