Gambling’s a tax on stupidity. I’d suspect that all the local stupids are happy to lose locally. Why waste any gambling money on travel and a hotel?
Not only what you said, but every local government salivates over gambling. They get their cut off the top with minimal collection efforts. Gambling is sold as a way to spur development, but, as Atlantic City as exhibit A, this is just a crock of shiite.
I hear that bandied about a lot but not necessary true. For many (who aren't addicted), it's just another form of entertainment.
For example, you can take a few hundred dollars and blow it on a day at Six Flags, standing in line in the hot sun for a cold drink and an overpriced hamburger or waiting an hour or so for a 90-second ride on a roller coaster. And it costs you something like $54.99 just to walk through the gates!
Some may say that is stupidity but I guess some people actually enjoy the experience of a day at Six Flags.
Not for me however. I'd rather take the couple hundred to a casino and try my luck at the blackjack tables or a slot machine or two. If I lose it all, I'm no worse off than the guy at Six Flags except I have no sunburn and my feet aren't tired from standing in lines all day. Sometimes, I might even walk out of there with more money than I walked in with like I did at Empire Casino in Yonkers a few days back. Dropped $100 in slot machines and hit a $275 jackpot. So last night I take the wife to dinner and paid with a crisp $100 bill. Still have $75 left from that night to do something else with.