New Hampshire has had it's first State of the State address from our new Governor Maggie Hassan. One big change that Hassan has introduced is to drop all of the resistance to legalizing big gambling in the state. So we shall soon have our first casino. Not just one either, but probably two and maybe three. All of the concerns about this have been swept aside in favor of the great benefits. Jobs will be created we are told, tax revenue generated and poor areas of the state will be revitalized.
I disagree with the pro-gambling spin. Yes, I am likely to be prejudiced because I believe gambling is morally, theologically and reasonably wrong.
It's morally wrong because the house always wins and the gambling public almost always looses - sucking hard earned and much needed money away from families, children and reducing human flourishing. There is a reason casino's are opulent - you pay for it.
It's theologically wrong because God gives us the material resources to live well land bless each other so that we might exercise wise stewardship over it. Gambling is taking some of those resources and dis respecting them by undervaluing them - as it they were ours to fritter away on a momentary exercise in avoiding boredom. Such a view of money disrespects the blessing and thereby disrespects the Blessser. Those who are faithful in a little will be given much and those who are faithless with a little will have even the little they have taken from them, says Christ. That's not so much a threat as an observation of what happens to people who disconnect their material wealth from the God who provided it.
It's reasonably wrong because, as I've said,m the house always wins and you always loose. That one time in a hundred you end up winning does not counteract all the times you loose. If you want a swanky night out that costs you money - buy expensive tickets to a high class charity ball. At least you'll be mixing it with classy people and contributing to some real good.
Then consider the communities, the smaller venues for entertainment and arts that will have the life sucked from them as the big casino stage takes all the entertainment dollars and books all the big acts. Community arts will diminish in scale and reach. If you think Walmart hurt downtown, the casino will do so as much.
Then consider the hundreds and hundred - thousands of families that are flourishing now. Those who don't know that Dad or Mum will take the family budget and piss it away at the slot machine or the table. The addiction to short term 'thrill' that decays into chronic dependence. Before you dismiss this thought, take an evening and visit any Gamblers Anonymous meeting you like (they're anonymous!) to hear the stories of heartbreak from teachers, bankers, business owners and tradesmen and women whose lives were destroyed by this insidious industry.
Big Gambling doesn't care about you, your family, your community or your state. It only cares about your money. It will give you a show and toss a bone to the education system to justify it's existence. And it will suck the breath right out of your lungs, one little gasp at a time.
