Wisconsin Turns Blind Eye to Video Poker Gambling

While anti-gambling forces use an array of questionable arguments to lobby against casino legalization in states across the country, the true hidden agenda of governments seems to be not to prevent moral decay, but to grab the largest share possible of revenues.

One look at Governor Patrick's proposals in Massachusetts, legalizing licensed casinos but bringing the threat of jail against online players, shows that governments generally don't mind gambling as long as they are the primary beneficiary. Wisconsin has established a similar pattern in its laws and enforcement.

Bars and restaurants throughout the state of Wisconsin have legal video poker and other gambling-style machines, to the point that officials say very few establishments do not have any machines. As long as the number of machines is five or less, and no payout of cash or credits of any kind take place, the machines are within the law.

However, the laws regarding enforcement have been changed and watered down, essentially allowing discreet bar owners to run mini-casinos. The state doesnt mind as long as it gets its share; all the machines are taxed, equipped with internal tapes to record the volume of play for tax purposes, and the jurisdiction controlling the machines lies entirely with the state Department of Revenue.

In 2003, the state legislature voted to give Revenue total control regarding the games, emphasizing that the Department of Justice and local law agencies do not have the power to arrest suspects or confiscate machines. The previous law, which made paying on machines a criminal offense punishable with jail time, $10,000 in fines, and possible loss of liquor license, now is a civil charge with a maximum fine of $500, and no threat to the license of establishments.

Spokesman Meredith Helgerson of the Department of Revenue was quick to assure that the proper agents were doing their jobs, noting that over $10 million in taxes and penalties had been levied as a result of audits done since the 2003 law passed. "Compared to other crimes we prosecute ? sexual assaults, domestic violence, drug activity ? I can't think of anything that?s a lower priority than gambling, given how many people do it on sports betting or office pools, which are all technically illegal," La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke said.

So, all the uproar and rhetoric aside, Wisconsin has taken the path of many governments: gambling is not so bad, as long as the state gets its cut. The funny thing is, in all the years gambling was illegal, organized crime never took a percentage anywhere near what governments take.

January 7, 2008
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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