Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said he is not sure that lawmakers will vote to change the constitution to legalize casino gambling in New York.
Hopefully, Silver isn’t just posturing and really means that lawmakers will weigh the pros and cons before taking the major step of changing the state constitution. If there is a real debate about the economic and social costs of gambling, lawmakers would understand that casinos are a bad bet. Sorry to be skeptical, but usually these casino deals are wrapped up in the back room of state houses.
The argument that other states have legalized casinos is hardly a compelling one. Same goes with the argument that casinos are the way to create jobs. Yes, there are casinos jobs but most of them are low wage. And the costs that comes from casinos is not worth adding a few low wage jobs. There are much better ways grow jobs than getting taxpayers to dump their hard-earned money in slot machines.
Casino supporters, including Gov. Cuomo, should produce the independent economic evidence – not studies funded by the gambling industry - that shows casinos are really a net benefit for the state and not just a way for the state to line its coffers.