FLORIDA ALLOWING POKER GAME STAKES TO BE RAISED IN JULY!

[soulvamp]

I think what the state is afraid of is that this is going to open the door to full-bore Class III gaming, which is what they desperately do not want. I don't think slot machines are the issue. I believe that the Seminoles are taking the position that Class III gaming is Class III gaming and they can't be limited to just slots.

[Legislurker]

[ QUOTE ]
I think what the state is afraid of is that this is going to open the door to full-bore Class III gaming, which is what they desperately do not want. I don't think slot machines are the issue. I believe that the Seminoles are taking the position that Class III gaming is Class III gaming and they can't be limited to just slots.

[/ QUOTE ]

Which blows my mind. Look at where people are most vulnerable to problem gaming. Older, mostly single, adults on a fixed income(pension plus SS). Most of them play slots because its easy and fast. Same people who walk in the gas station and take 15 minutes picking out scratch off lotto cards in states without slots until they are broke till next check or payday advance. I wish we had good hard data on what forms of gambling most problem gamblers indulge in the hardest. Someone should grab one of those FLa state senators by the ear and show them who plays what, and how fast you can lose it. Losing everything at poker takes a real [censored] idiot. Even $1 slots or $1 video poker can break a retiree with a paid off 150k home and 40k/yr pension in a few months. At least poker has socialization to it. You have to interact with people to lose it, face criticism, talk to cashiers, chip runners, dealers, hosts, etc....you can be totally anonymous and lose your life savings at slots or VP.

[Fishhead24]

I know a woman here in Tampa who has dropped over ONE MILLION bucks at the Hard Rock in the past four years........playing slots.

[Legislurker]

I knew a woman once who did nothing but look for people like that, make friends with them, keep them company playing slots, and have them play on her player's card. She would sell poker players rooms and suites at decent rates. Amazing how many of them drive themselves, play alone, NEVER ask for a comp, or use a card. Sad too.