tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15133926.post5217802025667261751..comments2023-10-10T06:51:06.526-04:00Comments on Ryan's Take: No "Hack" Alliance, PleaseRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04523572927796479670noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15133926.post-9565683328714017802009-06-01T09:21:23.696-04:002009-06-01T09:21:23.696-04:00Look on the bright side, they'll be a new Purple l...Look on the bright side, they'll be a new Purple line from downtown Boston to the casinos, and it'll probably be free.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15133926.post-36264109825241568882009-05-31T22:30:46.697-04:002009-05-31T22:30:46.697-04:00Ryan,
Ms. Norbut has made a good point about the ...Ryan,<br /><br />Ms. Norbut has made a good point about the Commonwealth being overrun with gambling industry dollars, P.R., media coverage, articles proclaiming <B>"It's INEVITABLE!"</B> (just as we saw in Middleboro), amidst a flood of well paid lobbying and the glitz and glamor of the <B>POT OF GOLD</B> to solve all problems.<br /><br />Ooops! They neglected to tell you that for every $1 the state gains in revenue, it will cost you $3.<br /><br />Such a deal!<br /><br />Will you fall for it?<br /><br />The cost of <A HREF="http://middlebororeview.blogspot.com/2009/05/gamblings-dirty-little-secrets_06.html" REL="nofollow"><STRONG><EM>Gambling's Dirty Little Secrets</EM></STRONG></A> is BIG!<br /><br />Ryan, <br /><br />Unfortunately, the <B>Gambling Industry</B> has lied to us about the rate of addiction.<br /><br />It's not 5%.<br /><br />It's much, much higher.<br /><br />Gambling addiction is seriously under estimated. (About 3% of people with gambling problems self refer, compared to about 15% for alcohol and 25% for drugs)<br /><br />That tells you that there are some significant issues about gambling addiction that prevent self referrals.<br /><br />There is a secrecy involved -- borrowing money or stealing from relatives on a pretext, lying to friends, stealing, maybe cheating employers and so on.<br /><br />Of <B>ACTIVE GAMBLERS</B> --<br /><br />-Pathological gamblers about 4%<br />-Problem gamblers about 9%<br />-At Risk gamblers about 18%<br /><br />That's <B>31%</B>.<br /><br />About 1/3rd of the population does not gamble. These people, indifferent to gambling, help to statistically keep the projections used by the gambling industry (and their psychologists) on the low side.<br /><br />If we eliminate that 1/3 of the population, when we discuss <B>"problem gambers"</B>, aren't we really talking about 50% of the remaining population?<br /><br />The National Gambling Impact Study Commission-1999, demonstrated that the numbers of pathological and problem gamblers <B>DOUBLE</B>, within a 50 mile radius of new gambling sites.<br /><br />This is a far greater problem than the Gambling Industry wants you to talk about.<br /><br />Slot Machines, as you know, are designed to <B>ADDICT</B>.<br /><br />90% of revenue is generated by 10% of customers. Only customers who play to EXTINCTION create the profits needed for SLOT MACHINES.<br /><br /><A HREF="http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyh48o/carlscasinoquotesampcommentary/" REL="nofollow">Take Every Last Penny</A>or check out what my friend, Glady had to say --<br /><A HREF="http://gladyskravitz.blogspot.com/2009/05/sucker-zone.html" REL="nofollow">The Sucker Zone</A>Middleboro Reviewhttp://middlebororeview.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15133926.post-42225155708524970992009-05-31T20:24:47.936-04:002009-05-31T20:24:47.936-04:00Bear in mind Ryan, that State House News is suppor...Bear in mind Ryan, that State House News is supported by advertising sponsors including the lobbying firm of O'Neill Associates. They have an agenda of their own....<br /><br /><b>Mohegan Sun Palmer Office<br />1426 Main Street<br />Palmer, MA 01420<br /><br />Please RSVP by Friday, May 15th to:<br /><br />O'Neill and Associates<br />617.646.1032</b><br /><br />The above information in bold is from an invitation to the open house in Palmer (a bland storefront in a SMOC rehab. housing project) by Mohegan Sun.<br /><br />The invitations had apparently been sent to local government officials' email addresses. It appeared to be a lobbying event.<br /><br />SHN is sponsored by a political lobbying firm with business currently before the legislature. <br /><br />There seems to be an appearance of a conflict of interest. I questioned Craig Sandler if this is ethical. He did not directly answer my question. He stated that they are advertisers on SHN.<br /><i>"O’Neill is a subscriber to the News Service and of course an ad customer, and that’s the extent of our connection. They did help us with one other thing – an endorsement for our promotional video,</i>"<br /><br />I was wondering how many businesses in Massachusetts get billing on SHN when they open a little storefront? No one I have ever met had the privilege reserved for Mohegan Sun.Kathleen Conley Norbuthttp://cfotruthtopower.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com