Cook County Sheriff Misses Mark On Video Machine Gambling
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is always at work trying to raid establishments that carry illegal video gambling machines. The raids have been something that Dart can hang his hat on at the end of the day.
Recently, however, lawmakers in the state have been discussing the possibility of legalizing these video poker machines in order to raise revenue for the state budget without having to raise taxes. Dart believes this is a bad idea.
Dart has pointed to the mob connections to these machines as a reason for not wanting them legalized. He also has claimed that problem gambling would be harder to keep track of, both of his points have been disputed.
"Right now, Sheriff Dart is making a living by busting places that offer these video poker machines," said observer Harry Breeler, "But if video machine gambling was legalized, he (Dart) could focus his efforts, and the money taxpayers are paying him, on ridding Cook County of more socially dangerous crimes."
Lawmakers have also disputed Dart's assertion that organized crime would increase if the machines were legalized. In fact, Representative Jim Durkin believes the opposite will occur.
"Every two or three years, we read of a large video poker bust and investigation in the suburbs that's run by some arm, or whatever's left of organized crime, and we're taking them out of business," said Durbin, as reported in the Chicago Tribune.
The video machine issue in Illinois is far from an easy one. There are passionate people on both sides of the argument. The one thing that proponents have on their side, however, is the economy.
Illinois needs to raise more money in order to cut the budget deficit they face. Video machine gambling is looking like a healthy alternative to higher taxes, but there is still plenty of room for debate.
May 20, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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