[Nairb]

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These cops are heroes and true defenders of our nation.

- 72% of problem gamblers reported an episode of depression.
- 52% report alcohol abuse.
- 50% of problem gamblers abuse their children.
- In areas that allow casino gambling judges are reporting that 1/3 of the divorce cases they see involve gambling as a reason the marriage is dissolving. In these same areas spousal abuse has risen over 300%.
- After Mississippi legalized casino gambling pawn shops became the fastest growing business in the state. People are pawning their possessions in order to gamble.
- Problem gamblers are 150 times more likely to attempt suicide.
- Secular treatment of problem gamblers has only an 8% success rate. This is one of the lowest rates of any addiction. The reason the success rate for treating a gambling problem is so difficult is because it is not a disease - it is a moral choice

Consider these facts:
1. Each day, 88 million dollars are spent on lotteries alone, more money than is spent on food.
2. Ten million Americans have a gambling addiction.
3. When legalized gambling enters a new area, there is a 100%-500% rise of compulsive gamblers. At least 2/3 of compulsive gamblers turn to crime to finance their addiction.
4. Gambling causes a wide range of social problems such as increases in divorces, child protection cases, crime rates, domestic violence and child abuse. For every $1.00 the state receives from gambling revenue, it costs that state at least $3.00 in increased services such as criminal-justice, and welfare.

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100% CHANCE OF A BAN FROM THE MODS. This type of whimsical nonsense is what has kept the religious right powerful enough to influence things like the Senate to pass unconstitutional bills taking away my freedom in the middle of the night. So I can go spend my entire paycheck on lottery tickets and because it is hidden under the blanket of helping education yet firing up a $12 poker tournament from the privacy of my own home, or even having a friendly game with family and friends is seemingly illegal?

I for one do not need the esteemed members of law enforcement to tell me how I can spend a Saturday night with the money I earned, and paid the taxes that pay their salary with. I bet there is an operating meth lab within 5 miles of where this "aggravated gambling" offense occurred. But they got the real criminrl, right?

And if you thing poker needs to be looped into the same category with gambling such as craps, blackjack, and roulette you probably see no difference in possession of marijuana and manufacturing methamphetimine.

I hope this is a level but if not it is one of the most ignorant posts I have ever read on 2+2 and I feel dumber having read it.