"During his campaign for governor, Charlie Crist promised to exercise his authority as Florida's chief executive to reform real-estate taxes, reduce insurance rates and fight to reduce crime. I believed him. My bad.

Now he is proposing to bet on Las Vegas-type casino gambling in order to shore up the state's sagging budget. Why not? State Senate analysts project that a "deal" with the Seminole tribe could ultimately result in up to $500 million a year in additional revenues.

Of course, that doesn't take into account the cost of countless ruined lives, dramatically increased personal bankruptcies, and residential and business foreclosures, the increase in violent crime, or the cost of rehabilitation and incarceration of those same gambling-addicted individuals."

Get the Story:
Patrick Dalsemer: Don't bet on gambling (The Orlando Sentinel 8/23)
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