Gambling can help Pennsylvania

It will interest those who have ever dropped hundreds of dollars on plane tickets to Nevada… It will interest those who have ever dropped hundreds of dollars on plane tickets to Nevada that they may be able to gamble in Pennsylvania sometime in the near future. The prospect is new and very preliminary, but public support for casinos in the Keystone State is growing. The idea is practical, and gambling can help the local economy without Pittsburgh necessarily turning into Las Vegas.

Among the hot topics being discussed by gubernatorial candidates this fall is the issue of property tax in Pennsylvania. A recent poll of prospective voters – conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research – shows that while most voters support property tax reform, 48 percent are unwilling to support an increase in other taxes to offset a cut in property tax.

Voters are adamant about reducing the property tax and equally committed to the idea that money will appear out of thin air to cover it. That’s where the bright lights and playing cards come in. Both Ed Rendell and Mike Fisher are eagerly seeking ways to appease the troublesome demands of their idealistic voters. The answer from both camps has come in the form of a proposal for slot machines at Pennsylvania racetracks.

The candidates have warmed to the notion that legalized gambling can provide the state with funds that are lost in tax cuts. If popular sentiment continues to push them toward the craps, Pennsylvania’s economy could get a fresh and flashy boost.

Every weekend, citizens from around the state travel to West Virginia and Atlantic City to play the odds and take a chance at winning big money. They take with them cash that could otherwise be spent in Pennsylvania. If their love for games of chance can help carry the state’s financial burdens, they should. At the very least, legal, regulated gambling would prevent Pennsylvania money from getting to West Virginia and New Jersey.

The poll showed that 50 percent of people support the legalization of gambling forms such as riverboat casinos. If the state decided to let casinos travel its rivers, the result would be more jobs, more money and more entertainment options for the locals. Pittsburgh, for instance, has three rivers and thousands of students to offer.

If Pennsylvania residents continue to demand lower taxes without any side effects, they must agree on a method to raise state funds. Slot machines and casinos present one such option, and it deserves serious consideration. It could have its drawbacks, but when it comes to gambling, many voters are willing to take a chance.