蘑菇视频

In March of 2015 state Rep. Ron Stephens (R- Savannah) introduced legislation that would allow six casinos into 蘑菇视频鈥檚 borders. While the legislation did not gain traction in the 2015 session, there is a renewed and aggressive effort by casino interests to bring gambling to 蘑菇视频 through a ballot – by changing the 蘑菇视频 State Constitution, which currently bars nearly all gambling.

Some believe that by having its own casinos 蘑菇视频 will recover money currently going out of state. They also project that 3,500 jobs will be created and significant new revenue will be provided for the HOPE scholarship. At face value, this seems like a win-win for 蘑菇视频; however, the economic costs that accompany gambling will do more harm than the new jobs and HOPE funding will do good.

Gambling addictions create problems for individuals, their families and, by extension, society at large. Many people in 蘑菇视频 are already being affected by the economic and social challenges that are brought on with gambling. With several casinos within driving distance, many have chosen to go out of state to gamble with their money. Some have returned to 蘑菇视频 with a gambling addiction. According to the 蘑菇视频 Council on Problem Gambling, 鈥淭he hidden social and economic costs of gambling addiction in 蘑菇视频 is annually per gambler, while problem gambling costs the state $715 per gambler. Total costs: over .鈥� This is the price tag on gambling already plaguing the state and that鈥檚 before 蘑菇视频 even has its own casinos.

Bankruptcy is common among gambling addicts, with a national average of . According to the National Bankruptcy Research Center in July of 2013, 蘑菇视频 had the of people filing for bankruptcy. By allowing casinos to come into the state, more people will fall victim to a gambling addiction, which will increase their odds of filing for bankruptcy. The 蘑菇视频 Council on Problem Gambling found that each bankruptcy filing costs creditors an average .

The impact to families of problem gambling can be catastrophic. Approximately of pathological gamblers use family savings to continue their addiction. The 蘑菇视频 Council on Problem Gambling found 鈥渙ver to avoid credit problems; while 20 percent borrowed money from loan sharks.鈥� Money problems are notorious for adding stress to families; gambling addiction magnifies and exacerbates this source of conflict in families. Not surprising, then, is the fact that families face a greater risk of suffering from a divorce when one of the spouses has a gambling addiction. While non-gamblers have a divorce rate of 18.2 percent, the .

While the promises of jobs and HOPE scholarship funding sound appealing, the costs of bringing casinos to 蘑菇视频 – in terms of the human suffering they will cause – far outweigh any potential benefit they will have.