Turns out, legal fights between competing casinos may be the best way to limit the relentless spread of gambling. A Indian tribe casino in Rhode Island went to court to block a private casino from expanding.

The Narragansett Indian Tribe sued to stop the Twin River slots parlor from expanding into a full-blown casino with blackjack and poker tables. The tribe sites the state Constitution prohibitting such gambling. “All lotteries shall be prohibited in the State except lotteries operated by the State,” which has been broadly interpreted to include most traditional games of chance at a casino. 

Hypocrisy alert: The Indian tribe has itself tried to add table games in the past, but has been thwarted by the same provision in the state Constitution. Translation: the tribe didn’t have any qualms about challenging state law when it wanted to expand. Now that a competitor wants to expand, the state Constitution is the tribe’s best friend.

Of course, state lawmakers are even bigger hypocrats. The tribe can be forgiven for trying to maximize its profits. But the lawmakers are supposed to uphold the Constitution, not help casinos evade the law. Rhode Island lawmakers are not alone on this front. Other states have rewritten their laws prohibiting gambling to enable casinos, slots parlors and lotteries. New York is considering doing the same thing. Apparently, gambling money trumps smart policy.