As efforts to expand gambling beyond a state-administered lottery continue to pick up steam in South Carolina, three distinct pro-gambling camps are beginning to emerge from within the cabal of lobbyists, lawmakers and politicos that gather annually beneath the State House dome to chart the state’s policy direction.
One camp (the well-funded one) wants to bring back video poker throughout the Palmetto State, reversing a 2000 Supreme Court ruling that effectively banned the games. Supporters of this plan say bringing video poker back would produce as many as 50,000 jobs (and as much as $1 billion a year in revenue for state government) – but there are legitimate concerns about the social costs that accompany the creation of new problem or pathological gamblers.
In fact, we addressed some of those concerns in a post on this same subject last month.
A second camp (the well-organized one) is pushing for the legalization of all forms of gambling – including casinos – but only in Horry County. That’s the home of the world famous Grand Strand – a stretch of beautiful beaches that represents the heart of South Carolina’s $18.4 billion a year tourism industry. This group believes that establishing Myrtle Beach as a “Las Vegas by the Sea” would not only create thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue for the state, but would also reduce the social costs to Palmetto taxpayers associated with video poker.
This group also believes that many social conservative lawmakers would be far more likely to support an expansion of gambling in South Carolina if it took place outside of their districts.
Finally, a third camp wants to legalize all forms of gambling throughout the state, operating under the assumption that Horry County shouldn’t have an unfair competitive advantage over municipalities in other parts of the state. This group consists only of a handful of ideologues, however, and lacks any real organization at this early stage of the debate.
Now … who’s aligning against these groups?
Social conservatives – although their clout has been on the wane for the better part of the last decade in South Carolina. On top of this diminished evangelical presence is a ravenous desire on the part of state lawmakers to continue spending money hand over fist – which will obviously require new revenue streams. Legislators have proven that they’re going to find ways to keep their favor factories up and running even during the worst recession in decades, and revenue from gambling is a quick and easy solution to the looming revenue shortfalls.
We have yet to take a concrete position on the issue of expanded gambling operations in South Carolina, but we certainly don’t have a problem with it conceptually. Having said that, any money that government raises from new gambling taxes must – we repeat, must – be offset dollar-for-dollar by a decrease in taxes elsewhere. South Carolinians simply cannot afford to continue pumping billions of additional dollars into an already bloated state government that consistently produces some of the worst outcomes in the entire nation. That would be insanity – and it would also mean squandering a rare opportunity to begin prioritizing core government functions in this state and eliminating dozens of unnecessary ones.
Based on its direct impact on job growth, capital investment, expanded consumerism and higher income levels, we would suggest reducing the state’s income tax with revenue generated by gambling – although to be clear we support income tax relief without any corresponding “revenue enhancements.”
By eggaday August 12, 2010 at 8:38 am
you know, these same people should humor MADD, or Mothers Against Drunk Driving. let’s make alcohol illegal like back in the prohibition times.
social conservatives shouldn’t have a problem with that either , right?
let’s make conversation illegal.
let’s punish everyone for the sins of one.
By Florida Watching August 12, 2010 at 9:09 am
Nikki – just go ahead a apply a 50 percent “fun” tax to this…..
By Todd August 12, 2010 at 9:09 am
Name names of the lobbyists. Got a feeling it’s the same ole gang.
By Crooner August 12, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Sad part of politics today: as long as the debate continues the money keeps flowing to the campaign coffers of those who decide.
By Byrdscuz August 12, 2010 at 5:11 pm
i like to handicap horse races. i would like to see parimutuel wagering be allowed. our state could charge a fee every time a call/bet is made. the legit on-shore entity taking the bet can collect/forward the fees. the players will not balk so long as the fee is withing reason. it’s a win-win. the state makes money with minimum effort, and we in south carolina will finally be able to place a bet on a horse race with a reputable on-shore entity.
By Stumpy August 12, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I like it. A casino in Myrtle Beach, on Lake Murray and in the Greenville/Spartanburg area.
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By GreenvilleGirl August 12, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Gambling is nothing more than an industry, and if our state plays the right hand (no pun intended) we could score a windfall for the state. Myrtle Beach already has a reputation for having a “let’s party, let’s have a great time” style, especially to out of state tourists. Just look at the number of out-of-state license plates you see on the Grand Strand. OH, IN, MI, NC, VA and Canada. OH and Canada probably send the most tourists here every year. They all spend a lot of money. Let the out-of-town people foot the majority of the bill through gambling/toll taxes. You play and win, you make a contribution to a poor state.
If we reinstate, PROPERLY legislate and tax all forms of gambling, we could increase employment, improve highways (we all bitch about out of state toll roads, but we pay the tolls anyway, because we want to reach our destination) and SC could have $$$ left to, oh, PAY OFF OUR STATE DEBT. As we know, it would all have to be properly structured, because otherwise our corrupt SC government will steal it and earmark it to projects that don’t exist or benefit more than 25 people, if even that many**. My gosh, I think accountants call it “budgeting” and “not living beyond your means”! What a novel concept.
**Memory check: SC State’s $50 million transportation degree center, and the insane “bypass” around Andrews. The only people who prospered from the Andrews bridge to nowhere are the people who built the road and the people who sold the timber and the land. Can you imagine what we could have done with all those funds?
It will take all of us working together to get the good ol’ boys out of OUR State House. Only after we get rid of some of the elected/appointed garbage in Columbia will we be able to lay the foundation for bringing SC into the 21st century rather than being held hostage by those still yearning for the 19th century.
We live in a state which subjects us to a monetary slavery of sorts. However, SC government doesn’t discriminate; it’s screws over all of us, regardless of race, sex, religion, familial status, or sexual orientation.
By Pluvlaw August 13, 2010 at 7:20 am
If the social conservatives really sat down and thought about it, they would realize gambling would be the biggest boom for them in decades. Think of the fundraising potential to help combat the “demons of dice.” Nothing raises money like a cause. Like Colonel X said in JFK: the greatest organizing principle in any society is its capactiy to wage war. You sell gambling to the Reverends & Preachers by pointing out how it will make the donation plates overflow.
As far as the creation of pathological gamblers, simple solution. Family Court. Daddy keeps blowing the paycheck at roulette, momma hauls his ass in front of family court judge and has him declared a spendthrift. He’s put on a list (like the infamous black book that Vegas has for cheats). No one with a gambling license is allowed to let him gamble. They do, they pay a hefty fine to the state, part of which is reimbursement to the family. You don’t think casinos can regulate who they allow to gamble? Casinos can keep you from doing math in your head…so stopping Bubba from blowing his Boeing paycheck is gonna be childs play.
One of the main reasons SC is always at the bottom, is this delusional moral supremacy the state has embraced for decades through its blue laws. If this is “clean living” where has it gotten us? Time to fornicate*! Legalize it…
*The use of the phrase “Time to fornicate” should in no way be taken as an endorsement of Nikki Haley for Governor.
By Jeffy01 August 13, 2010 at 9:59 am
Uber lobbyist/holloywood movie star/campaign director to the stars Oneil Compton has lined up ……3 votes in the Senate.
By Mark LaSalle August 13, 2010 at 10:29 am
Gambling is either “fun” or a tax on the stupid. We pay enough to support stupid people and it’s time we got some back.
“One of the main reasons SC is always at the bottom, is this delusional moral supremacy the state has embraced for decades through its blue laws.If this is “clean living” where has it gotten us? ”
The answer is “laughed at for accomplishing nothing”.
By Hmmmmm August 13, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Isnt the state run lottery system yet another form of gambling? Except in this case all (or most) of the money collected goes to the state coffers….
By GreenvilleGirl August 13, 2010 at 1:14 pm
To Pluvlaw & Mark LaSalle:
I agree 100% with your comments. Well written!
Now if we can get a decent bill drafted. No pork, no barrel, no nothing. Just the necessary language as it relates to gambling, the generation of revenue and . . . most importantly, the MANAGEMENT of the revenue stream.
It could be a windfall for our state, if it’s done right.