Following a three-month investigation, the Cook County sheriff recently busted 11 taverns and restaurants for illegally paying out on 46 video poker machines. These indictments expose the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this form of illegal gambling.
There is a consensus among those who pay attention to this issue that illegal payouts on video poker are the rule rather than the exception. Few customers continue to play for amusement only. Consequently, video poker is a lucrative form of gambling in which organized crime is involved, but state and local government do not get a share of the profits.
There are only two solutions to the problem of illegal video poker gambling: Either ban the machines, or else legalize payouts and regulate the industry.
There is no problem with illegal payouts in the Village of Schaumburg and other towns that completely ban video poker machines. A statewide ban would similarly end widespread illegal video poker gambling. The other option would be to legalize payouts, tax the profits, and institute careful state regulation to monitor this common form of gambling.
The status quo is unacceptable, with thousands of businesses and employees violating state law and organized crime raking off profits. Lawmakers should solve the problem this year by outlawing or legalizing gambling with video poker.
http://pokermag.com
There is a consensus among those who pay attention to this issue that illegal payouts on video poker are the rule rather than the exception. Few customers continue to play for amusement only. Consequently, video poker is a lucrative form of gambling in which organized crime is involved, but state and local government do not get a share of the profits.
There are only two solutions to the problem of illegal video poker gambling: Either ban the machines, or else legalize payouts and regulate the industry.
There is no problem with illegal payouts in the Village of Schaumburg and other towns that completely ban video poker machines. A statewide ban would similarly end widespread illegal video poker gambling. The other option would be to legalize payouts, tax the profits, and institute careful state regulation to monitor this common form of gambling.
The status quo is unacceptable, with thousands of businesses and employees violating state law and organized crime raking off profits. Lawmakers should solve the problem this year by outlawing or legalizing gambling with video poker.
http://pokermag.com
