THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY

BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted February 10, 2005)

It's not my intent to defend illegal poker games, or clubs. It's gambling.... it's against the law... and that's a fact.

But I must say I'm often amused, if not amazed, at the way we contradict ourselves as a society.

We in the news media cover stories about the small-time numbers racket, sometimes showing pictures of the players and operators being hauled away in handcuffs for petty, though illegal, games of chance.
Some of the players spend nothing more than pocket change -- less than a dollar -- on the game.

Then, in our next commercial break, we're likely to see an advertisement urging everyone to play the lottery..... maybe you'll win big.

We have, in the past, featured stories of bingo games being busted by police..... or, tour groups being arrested for gambling on the buses, as they travel to Tunica or some other gambling destination..... or, of illegal pinball and gaming machines being packed up, hauled away, and destroyed.

And then, during the next commercial break, you might see an ad telling of the wonderfulness of Tunica, or Las Vegas, or Atlantic City, where you can play your game of choice with a clear conscience.

We now know for sure that the state is not concerned about our "moral values" when it comes to gambling. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a lottery. Call it what you will, the lottery is gambling.
So it must be all about the money, or the "revenue".

It makes me wonder whether that piddly little amount the illegal numbers players put down is worth the time police spend stopping it, when there's not enough manpower or time to try and solve the city's "cold cases", which involve terrible cases of murder.

I have no quarrel with the lottery. It's a wonderful thing for the students getting the scholarships, though I've always thought the money would be better spent on public education, with enough in reserve to provide college scholarships for a smaller number of deserving youngsters who need help.

I offer no solution to this seeming contradiction.... I just offer up the food for thought.

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