State makes money from dishonest slots

State makes money from dishonest slots

Editor:

On Jan. 25, Craig Hammond, former mayor of Bluefield, penned a commentary to the Gazette admonishing the Lottery Commission for readying the public for online poker and other youth-oriented games.

Hammond didn't go far enough. Here's the real deal on slots:

Slot machines (gambling) were illegal before they were made legal by the legislature.

Gambling is still illegal unless one has a license.

The state created an industry that doesn't produce a product, that is very addictive and where people have very little chance to return to normalcy once addicted.

Some time in the future when it so devastates the economy, it will have to be repealed. Slot machines are manufactured to systematically take your money, and that's illegal and the reason gambling was illegal from Day One.

Every machine tallies money in and money out. Forget any other number the Lottery Commission makes public, like free plays, and do the math. How can the state and casinos amass fortunes if the machines are honest by design?

Steve Kopa

Weirton