National political comedian John Oliver, a popular former cast member of The Daily Show by Jon Stewart who now hosts his own show on HBO called “Last Week Tonight,” took dead aim at the issue of predatory gambling. While public officials talk about changing those policies “pushing people toward poverty,” state government’s sponsorship of lotteries and casinos is the best example of such a policy. (There is not even a debate among scholars.) Perversely, many of the same “anti-poverty” public officials are the most vocal advocates for predatory gambling.
Les Bernal
Please share widely!
(Cross-posted at hesterprynne.net).
In our last episode we saw that, post-election, there are still many decisions to be made about about the gambling industry in Massachusetts, and there may be opportunities for the 840,000 or so of us who voted “yes” on Question 3 to express our views.
Here comes an opportunity now.
As the Globe reported Monday, the state’s Gaming Commission is considering whether the casino industry ought to assist gamblers who want to set limits on how much they gamble. The assistance would work this way: before sitting down in front of a slot machine, a casino patron decides that setting, say, a $50 limit on gambling losses that day would be a prudent idea. This amount is entered into a “loyalty card,” which tracks that individual’s gambling activity throughout the casino. As the losses mount, the patron is informed, through the loyalty card, that the $50 limit is approaching. If the the player reaches the limit, he or she can still choose to override it and continue to play, but at least there’s been a reminder.
This assistance is known in the industry as a “play management system.” Considering that it’s voluntary for casino patrons in the first place, you might be wondering what possible reasons the gambling industry would have for opposing it. Here they are. First, borrowing from the strategy of climate science deniers, the industry contends that there is no scientific evidence showing that a play management system works and a whole lot more study is needed before it is instituted here. Second, the industry wonders whether gamblers might respond inappropriately to a play management system. They might, for example, set very, very high limits so that they never hit them and end up losing more money than if they had never set a limit in the first place. Isn’t it sweet of the casinos to care about us like this?
The industry will be exerting its considerable power to try to convince the state Gaming Commission to abandon this very modest proposal to counter gambling addiction. So what can you do?
The Gaming Commission is asking for your opinion. You can send an email (ideally before 5 PM tomorrow, November 13) to mgccomments@state.ma.us, with “Play Management System” as the subject line, asking the Commission to require the companies with gambling licenses here in the state to make a play management system available to casino and slot parlor customers. It is, almost literally, the least the industry can do.
We’ll keep you posted.
I saw it on Sunday night and thought it was brilliant. I only wish it had been available before the vote, but it’s pretty convincing and accessible to the lay person.
One thing Oliver does better than Stewart or Colbert, in my view, is really looking at these problems objectively and with a long approach that asks ‘is this really the best course of action?’. That tone, rather than the faux right wing Colbert approach or lecturing liberal Stewart approach-is far more likely to educate and sway people. I’ve found conservatives responded very well to the Net Neutrality segments, and some of my libertarian friends responded well to this. Now they look at lotteries as a corporate subsidy-which they most definitely are-rather than a moral hazard tax the ignorant voluntarily pay.
Thanks for sharing this Hester. Everyone who hasn’t sent an e-mail, you’ve got til 5 PM today!
…for the heads up on this.
And asked a few friends to do the same. Here’s a template my friend Patricia said people could borrow as a starting point:
TO: mgccomments@state.ma.us
Dear Gaming Commission:
I’m writing to express my support for requiring “play management system” be made available to casino and slot parlor customers. It is an excellent way to build goodwill within the community and demonstrate your commitment to operating in a way that benefits the local residents.
If we are to rely on Casinos as a source of responsible revenue, we must provide patrons with tools to help them be responsible gamblers.
Your Name/Town
but “The Chimes at Midnight” is back….(and still agin’ Casino Gambling among other things…)
http://www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com
😀
Welcome back.
I like your post “Charlie Baker wants to…”
Oliver points out that NH implemented ted the first state lottery. Then near the end, he says “It’s as though a state was in the liquor business.” What a coincidence.