THE PUBLIC MIND: GAMBLING IS A MONEY-LOSING PROPOSITION

To the Editor:

Bei~ng from an adjoining county it might be ~said we have nothing to say about gambling in our neigh~bor county. How~ever as a Christian I be~lieve gambling in such close proximity to us will have a great effect on all of us.

I have seen nothing in the paper or television news stating what t~he odds ~~will be of ~winning any great amount~ on these boats. And on "20/20" las~t night it was~ ~~very evident that this is a very addi~ctive habit. How many mother~s and fath~ers are going to risk and lose the mortgage money, the car payment, the gro~cery money and other bill paying money. In other ~words it see~ms to me a money-losing proposition for the merchants instead o~f~ a ga~in.

On the cruise ships ~that feature~ g~ambling the company sets the risk rate ~and it is certainly al~ways high enough to earn them a v~er~~y good profit. Didn~'t ~the promoter estimate ~a~~ y~early gross of nearly $37 million?

In other words, for any group it is evident it~ is a no-win situation.

G.R. Barker

Marble Hill