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As I See It, by Jimmy Vaccaro
October 9, 2001
It's just another nondescript Tuesday as I'm watching Maddux shutting out the Astros 2-0, heading to the bottom of the fifth, and cranking out my column.
Back east this is a really nice time of the year, and it makes me realize I wish I could spend more time there. But I did a little cleaning up around the house, and actually mowed the grass.
Living in the desert as I have for the past 25 years, the smell of freshly cut grass brings back fond memories of living back east. And it gets me to review events that have taken place in the gambling world, and what happened to certain legislation and well intentioned panels that were in the news not too long ago.
You know, our government spends a lot of money and resources trying to legislate how we live or behave. Meanwhile, most of these efforts deserve to wind up in the scrap heap, after about a week and a half of consideration.
The most obvious misuse of funds was former President Bill Clinton's creation of a panel that was known as "The National Gambling Impact Study Commission". This boondoggle was supposed to conduct a comprehensive study on such issues as betting on college sports, the spread of lottery games, and raising the age for legal gambling across the board to 21 years of age.
The leaders of the panel were diversity itself: Kay James, Tom Grey, and Terri Lanni. A college dean, a reverend with a nationally syndicated radio show, and a gaming exec who leads MGM-Mirage.
Here's a side note on Tom Grey. When the panel spent time in Vegas, the "Rev" got a Vegas welcome, that left a little egg on his face. Grey insisted that the gaming industry should be more assertive in funding programs to help problem gamblers. Jumping in with both feet to agree was none other than my main man Bob Stupak. Never one not to take advantage of the spotlight, he arranged a private dinner with Grey and announced he would like to donate $5K to the cause.
Then, accompanied by legions of press with flash cameras popping, the two walked into the Horseshoe casino where Grey would cash a $5,000 chip given to him by Stupak. But when he got to the cashier's cage, poor old Tom Grey was advised that the chip could not be cashed.
Stupak had neglected to tell the posturing antigambling zealot about a dispute between the Horseshoe and himself regarding the casino's large denomination chips Bob had in his possession.
Grey was embarrassed, the town had a good laugh and Stupak still couldn't convince Binion's to cash his chips. How he had obtained them was the crux of the dispute.
But let's get back to the panel that chewed up $15 million in taxpayer dollars. I believe they came up with 76 recommendations, not one of which has been acted upon as legislation or made into law.
Some of the earth shattering issues on which they frittered away our money, and the results of their efforts, follow:
* College betting ban. Never brought to a vote and not likely it ever will be.
* Internet gambling ban. Passed by the senate, but stalled in the House. Its future is about as promising as those of Marty Schottenheimer or Marty Mornhinweg, since MGM-Mirage and two other companies have been granted a license to operate an online casino from the Island of Mann.
* Restrict legal gambling to those 21 and older. The Senate Commerce Committee rejected a minimum wage.
* Bar ATMs in gaming areas. Defeated soundly.
* Require insurance companies to pay for treatment to protect problem gamblers. No states have even agreed to address this issue.
* Curtail state lottery games. Since the panel's proposal, we have actually added one, South Carolina.
Are you getting the picture? It would seem we are a nation that happily spends money buying locks for the front door but leaves the back door wide open.
To the distinguished, if less than achievement-oriented gaming panel, pardon us for saying the obvious . but do not you guys have better things to do? Maybe now they do.
One early play: laid 2 with the Cowboys over the 'Skins. Forgetting their records, I still have a team that has been putting forth an effort, something that boy wonder Daniel Snyder is waiting to see from his investment in the NFL. Look for Emmitt to have a productive day, as our side controls both the clock and the score.
Always interested in your comments, feedback, etc.
Stay loose, Jimmy V.
[email protected]
[ 10-09-2001: Message edited by: Jeff ]
October 9, 2001
It's just another nondescript Tuesday as I'm watching Maddux shutting out the Astros 2-0, heading to the bottom of the fifth, and cranking out my column.
Back east this is a really nice time of the year, and it makes me realize I wish I could spend more time there. But I did a little cleaning up around the house, and actually mowed the grass.
Living in the desert as I have for the past 25 years, the smell of freshly cut grass brings back fond memories of living back east. And it gets me to review events that have taken place in the gambling world, and what happened to certain legislation and well intentioned panels that were in the news not too long ago.
You know, our government spends a lot of money and resources trying to legislate how we live or behave. Meanwhile, most of these efforts deserve to wind up in the scrap heap, after about a week and a half of consideration.
The most obvious misuse of funds was former President Bill Clinton's creation of a panel that was known as "The National Gambling Impact Study Commission". This boondoggle was supposed to conduct a comprehensive study on such issues as betting on college sports, the spread of lottery games, and raising the age for legal gambling across the board to 21 years of age.
The leaders of the panel were diversity itself: Kay James, Tom Grey, and Terri Lanni. A college dean, a reverend with a nationally syndicated radio show, and a gaming exec who leads MGM-Mirage.
Here's a side note on Tom Grey. When the panel spent time in Vegas, the "Rev" got a Vegas welcome, that left a little egg on his face. Grey insisted that the gaming industry should be more assertive in funding programs to help problem gamblers. Jumping in with both feet to agree was none other than my main man Bob Stupak. Never one not to take advantage of the spotlight, he arranged a private dinner with Grey and announced he would like to donate $5K to the cause.
Then, accompanied by legions of press with flash cameras popping, the two walked into the Horseshoe casino where Grey would cash a $5,000 chip given to him by Stupak. But when he got to the cashier's cage, poor old Tom Grey was advised that the chip could not be cashed.
Stupak had neglected to tell the posturing antigambling zealot about a dispute between the Horseshoe and himself regarding the casino's large denomination chips Bob had in his possession.
Grey was embarrassed, the town had a good laugh and Stupak still couldn't convince Binion's to cash his chips. How he had obtained them was the crux of the dispute.
But let's get back to the panel that chewed up $15 million in taxpayer dollars. I believe they came up with 76 recommendations, not one of which has been acted upon as legislation or made into law.
Some of the earth shattering issues on which they frittered away our money, and the results of their efforts, follow:
* College betting ban. Never brought to a vote and not likely it ever will be.
* Internet gambling ban. Passed by the senate, but stalled in the House. Its future is about as promising as those of Marty Schottenheimer or Marty Mornhinweg, since MGM-Mirage and two other companies have been granted a license to operate an online casino from the Island of Mann.
* Restrict legal gambling to those 21 and older. The Senate Commerce Committee rejected a minimum wage.
* Bar ATMs in gaming areas. Defeated soundly.
* Require insurance companies to pay for treatment to protect problem gamblers. No states have even agreed to address this issue.
* Curtail state lottery games. Since the panel's proposal, we have actually added one, South Carolina.
Are you getting the picture? It would seem we are a nation that happily spends money buying locks for the front door but leaves the back door wide open.
To the distinguished, if less than achievement-oriented gaming panel, pardon us for saying the obvious . but do not you guys have better things to do? Maybe now they do.
One early play: laid 2 with the Cowboys over the 'Skins. Forgetting their records, I still have a team that has been putting forth an effort, something that boy wonder Daniel Snyder is waiting to see from his investment in the NFL. Look for Emmitt to have a productive day, as our side controls both the clock and the score.
Always interested in your comments, feedback, etc.
Stay loose, Jimmy V.
[email protected]
[ 10-09-2001: Message edited by: Jeff ]