Monday letters: S.C. should make gambling legal

Monday letters: S.C. should make gambling legal

Columbia, SC — South Carolina needs to legalize some of the following: horse racing, dog racing, casinos, poker machines, which the state can control very easily with computers. Look at how much money a few companies made off the poker machines when they were legal (or not). The state could make all of this money plus more.

We have two famous horse races, the Carolina Cup and the Colonial Cup; any bets placed on these races out of state means that money leaves South Carolina. Thousands of our citizens are going out of state to Indian reservations or other tribal lands to play at the casinos. South Carolina gets none of this money. We are losing out.

In the Grand Strand, we have one of the finest stretches of beach in the country. Tourism would be as strong year round as it is in summer. Hotels and condos would rent more. Businesses would hire more employees. More golfers would come to play the Strand’s golf courses. With all the millions the state would make, there should be more money for road repair.

People are spending millions on a slim chance to win the lottery. Citizens have more chances of winning if gambling is legalized on a larger scale.

Our legislators need to approve a referendum so the people can vote. I know legislators think if they would favor gambling reform they might lose votes, but I believe they would receive more votes. If gambling is legalized in South Carolina, it would be a win-win situation for the state and its citizens.

Mike Skinner

Columbia

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2014/11/17/3812269_monday-letters-sc-should-make.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy