Never A Sure Bet


 

Publication Date: October 2009

Publisher: National Institute on Money in State Politics (U.S.)

Author(s): Anne Bauer

Research Area: Politics

Keywords: dog racing; slots; gambling; ballot measure

Type: Report

Coverage: Oregon Ohio Massachusetts Maine Alaska Alaska Missouri Maryland Colorado California

Abstract:

As the country's economists debated what to call the economic downturn, in 2008 nine states debated whether to replace declining revenues with money from gamblers. The stakes were high. Opponents foresaw high societal costs and were skeptical about economic benefits, while gambling proponents spread around big dollars and promised more--often earmarked for education--for little effort.