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Gambling has druglike effects
The Gazette Opinion Staff
Feb. 22, 2013 11:33 pm
Vote no for the casino. Why? First, let's show the world that math literacy has not declined in Linn County. After all, I've heard it said, “Legalized gambling is just another added tax on people who are bad at math.”
Second, a May 2001 article in USA Today, “Gambling has druglike effect on brain,” describes what goes on in a gambler's brain.“The brains of people anticipating a win at the roulette table appear to react much like those taking euphoria-inducing drugs. …”
Do we want this in Linn County? Instead, let's create family entertainment opportunities that do not generate that euphoric “it could happen to me” mental state. If it could happen, why does the Riverside Casino have an extra $1.5 million lying around in campaign money?
I'm confident the citizens of Linn County will vote for better entertainment investment opportunities than a casino on March 5.
James
Klopfenstein
Cedar Rapids
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