Nothing is All Good

Some people are upset about the casinos that are coming to Ohio. Really? Ohio is surrounded by casinos so what’s so bad about having a few in state? I read an article that discussed how the casino in Cleveland is going to hurt the city. The article explained how people with gambling addictions would now have easy access to casinos. I guess whoever wrote the article has missed the rise of “sweepstakes” businesses throughout Northeastern Ohio. People with gambling addictions now have easy access to unregulated establishments and stopping the casino won’t do anything about that. Police have tried and failed to shut down “sweepstakes” businesses.

The article also pointed to the church as a big opponent of Ohio casinos. Everyone knows that it isn’t because the church wants people to stay away from gambling, but rather, because the church only wants people to gamble with them. Church sponsored bingo tournaments are all over the city of Cleveland. An organization that sponsors gambling and then stands up and speaks out against other people gambling is the equivalent of the pot calling the kettle black. If gambling is bad, then stop raising money through gambling. Stick to bake sales and other non-gambling related fundraisers.

Another argument against the casinos was that the proponents of casinos lied and overemphasized the “positive” things that a casino could do for this region, such as jobs and more money for the city while downplaying all of the “negatives” such as gambling addiction and increased crime. To that I say: Well duh! What successful campaign succeeds by highlighting its shortcomings? The Mega Millions was added to Ohio under the argument that it would bring even more money to education. Well, um, the pennies that are actually contributed to education aren’t worth it in the big picture, but that doesn’t mean that having the Mega Millions is a bad thing.

There are pros and cons for any and every thing, and that includes casinos. I know casinos aren’t all good or all bad. I hate casinos when they take my money, but I love casinos when they give me some of theirs. The risk is mine and I choose to take it. I don’t plan on going to the local casinos too much because I don’t want to see people I know. I will check out the casinos when they open and then I will return to taking my money out of state because I prefer casinos where no one knows my name. That way, I can hit a jackpot without worrying about outstretched hands from extended family, friends or random people who know me from somewhere.

Status: Wondering why some articles are written.