[hoosierskypilot]

Anytime any activity is made available, be it gambling, alcohol, drugs, etc., people will be prone to become addicted. Availability, alone, can cause it.

[Falcon4.0]

Sounds like it's time for a Class Action Lawsuit against States that profit off of legalized gambeling.

[shrinkermd]

Casinos couldn't survive without compulsive gamblers. Like alchoholics 50% of the money spent is by the compulsive gamblers.

[Capt. Tom]

(but it's) an issue that's going to have to be addressed.''

This is the next trial lawyer bonanza.

"I have a gambling problem and the casino gave me free chips and when I lost them I continued and lost all my money." Woe is me.

Its like a liquor store giving free alchohol to an alcoholic to get him started again. I need a lawyer. The casinos must pay up, just like the tobacco makers. - Tom .

[RKV]

Adults ought to be responsible for themselves. They shouldn't expect the state to protect them from their own vices. The rest of us shouldn't pay to protect them from their poisons and we shouldn't pay if they poison themselves. This may sound cruel, but humans have free will, which they exercise every breathing moment. Private charity to the victims, but stop taxing the productive and responsible citizens to pay for the mistakes of the irresponsible. We create moral hazard when we prevent others from experiencing the consequences of their actions.

[TightSqueeze]

people will be prone to become addicted. Availability, alone, can cause it.

Lock up all people, now, for their own good of couese. God save us from the friggin' 'Do-Gooders',please.... Or allow an open season on their ass!

[Dan from Michigan]

Availability, alone, can cause it.

No it doesn't cause it. People cause it themselves by making the CHOICE to gamble. No one holds a gun to their head and force them to put the dollar in the slots. Legal or not it will always be around too. Anyone here play squares? Over under? Poker games? NCAA Brackets? Despite being illegal, it's still done by 99% of the people at one time or another.

That said, I learned my casino lesson by dropping $90 at Soaring Eagle when I was 18. The East part of Mt. Pleasant wasn't built on gamblers winning.