Gothamist: NY Lotto Under Pataki Just Keeps Raking It In

joe

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 23:21:20 -0500

Why is it that so many of you refuse to acknowledge that these are competent adults who choose to spend their money as they see fit -- be it on food for their children or on a scratch-off ticket. The state should not be the moral arbiter for the people. The sad reality is that a strong demand does exist for gambling, and simply abolishing state-sanctioned gambling will not stem this demand. I'd rather have the government reap the financial windfall from its citizen's weaknesses and turn it around to fund education and other social programs, than to have that money go into the pockets of some corporation or illegal enterprise.

Darrin

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 17:47:28 -0500

Three points: Does anyone here believe that it's moral for the state to be promoting gambling? The state still claims that the money is "earmarked for education" when it actually just goes into the General Fund. It would be just as honest to say that the money is earmarked for paying George Pataki's salary. Remember that this yahoo campaigned upstate by repeating that he would make sure that "no more of your hard earned money goes to THOSE PEOPLE in New York City." He also promised that he would never run for a third term.

Perry

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 17:02:34 -0500

Hey "Whats so bad about big government" guy.. This is what is so bad. The government effectively awards itself a monopoly on gambling, and then when other people try to break in on its turf, they send out a swat team to kill their ass. Government provision is monopoly provision. You wouldn't like Walmart being the only provider of goods in your neighborhoods would you? Theres not much of a difference.

priscilla

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 16:59:26 -0500

all of the money from the lotto should be used to fund education like in New Mexico and Georgia. Then it least the money goes back into the community.

dhex

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 15:19:06 -0500

"So, why is "expansion of government" inherently bad, again?" they have the monopoly on the legitimate use of force. just for that alone it's worthy of keeping an eye on before it gets to the uncomfortable "killing fields" stage. a better question is why government should be involved in gambling in any way in the first place.

the final word

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 14:57:39 -0500

Take away the lottery and people will just find other ways to gamble. Like most vices, the marketplace satisfies the demand. Some percentage of the population will always have problems with gambling. If it isn't the lottery it will be Atlantic City or Foxwoods or illegal sports books running out of Rich to Riches. The government could in theory shut down Atlantic City and Vegas but it could not now legally shut down Native American casinos. And if they could it would just then benefit the offshore gambling web sites. Think about how well government has done at controlling drugs and prostitution. And they print the odds on the tickets. If you can't figure that 1:really huge number means you aren't going to win then I'd wager that you probably weren't going to save your way to financial independence anyway.

timbnyc

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 14:56:50 -0500

If Pataki were in office another term the state would be pushing heroin.

Rico Starr

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 14:18:49 -0500

The lottery screws the poor. They are the ones playing the lottery. Why doesn't the state just create higher taxes for everyone and get rid of the lottery. State to poor: You have low taxes, now play the lottery and give us the money we are saving you. Why doesn't the state save money on the lottery ads, the employees, etc. and just give that money to the schools. The whole lottery thing should be banned. The odds in the New York lottery make slots look good. Screw that... they make gambling on sports through a bookie with hitmen look good.

Jason A.

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:52:39 -0500

Yes, it's pretty rotten that the lottery stands as a tax on the poor and stupid. And aggressive advertising/marketing of the lottery is outright indefensible... But it's the only form of joy in so many peoples lives. I have a relative who's very livelihood revolves around her silly scratch-offs. Admittedly, it is an extremely freaking sad commentary on her life. But again, it's the only thing she looks forward to in her day... The poor are grown-ups and they can make grown-up decisions too.

Aristocrat

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:45:30 -0500

I hope for a time when people are held accountable for their own actions, particularly when it comes to spending their own money. If someone is such a moron that he spends his entire paycheck on Scratch & Wins rather than buying food for the family, I feel no sympathy for his lack of basic common sense.

iceberg

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:40:26 -0500

Echoing what somebody else mentioned, "Lottery is tax for the stupid". No need to only villify the poor; I know many well-to-do individuals who can't get over the latest powerball or whatever it is these days.

Tim N.

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:35:03 -0500

The lottery is an immoral tax on the poor. (BTW, does anyone have Saturday's numbers?)

Joe Alexander

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:34:36 -0500

Lotto is effectively a tax on the poor and undereducated. Robin Hood in reverse. I agree there's something to be said for self-determination and freedom to choose to play the Lotto or not. But the fact of the matter is you will find more Lotto vendors in low-economic environments and you will find more people using these 'opportunities' as a way of grasping onto the 'hope' that they can change their fortunes. There's no such overriding temptations on every corner in bougie Scarsdale or the Upper East Side, neither is there an overwhelming desperation to be not poor in these areas. It's truly fucked up what the State is doing: preying on poor people.

Toby

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:06:44 -0500

Oh, original photo here.

Toby

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:05:41 -0500

There are also some, like the Kings County DA, who are suggesting that OTB parlors should also take sports bets replacing the criminals with the government (or other criminals depending on how you look at it). Historically, organized crime "ran numbers" which people bet on, then the state basically took it over rather profitably. The "numbers runners" seemed to die out from the legal competion. Is the lottery good? Debatable. Are the same people who would blow their money on illegal numbers the same who would play the lottery to excess? Perphaps. That said I do get a MegaMillions ticket when the jackpot is absurdly high, but I don't go oveboard, just buying one or two tickets.

sa

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:03:34 -0500

thats alot of money. mostly from the lower working classes, desperate for a gift of massive luck. what game could lure the rich? a state owned Masa!

Ryan

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 12:56:26 -0500

So, why is "expansion of government" inherently bad, again? Is it because government builds roads, educates children, funds beneficial scientific research, provides necessary social services, subsidizes public transportation, fights fires, provides our drinking water and polices our neighborhoods?

Rocknrope

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 12:44:58 -0500

That's a terrifying bedtiime story? The horrible Lotto guy? Maybe if you wanted to be an actuary at age 4, but doesn't measure up to Freddy Krueger or Keyser Soze, imo...