There is still a long way to go in terms of regulating slots gaming in the US. One of the biggest arguments anti- gambling activists have is the fact that the rise in legalized gaming brings a natural rise to criminal activities. This isn’t completely proven, but they still do have a point. It only stands to reason that if you increase the pool, you are going to have more problems. Anti-gambling activists believe that Illegal activities are connected to gambling and as people realize how much money is available, they naturally will try to make their own push for it. They know that the game are lucrative so why shouldn’t they offer them if they can get away with it? There have been incidents of illegal gaming throughout the US, but for a lot of pro-gaming activists this is all the more reason to legalize games. They reason that if the US legalizes the games in mass, then people will have legal outlets to wager and won’t gamble in secret. Plus, it will cut illegal slots parlors off at the knees because they will have to follow the rules or be shut down. They believe that if these kinds of laws are instilled, they can easily push out illegal activities and eliminate the need for task forces specifically targeting the slots parlors without approval from the state. Remember that every game operated unknowingly is a game that is denying the government tax money. This is why police want to shut down locations offering illegal gaming. Not only does it put a strain on the police task forces working in states, but it also keeps money out of legislators’ pockets because the revenue isn’t taxed at all.

The other issue with illegal slots is that they are highly lucrative for businesses willing to take a chance with them. For example, a small gas station can have just one game located on its floor that takes $1-per spin. If ten people wager on the game throughout the day but spend $30 each, then the business has made an additional $300 that day with no added work. If you multiply that by seven days a week, it’s up to a total of $2,100! Just think how much they can make with a full month’s worth of operations!

Part two coming next.

The Australian government is in the midst of arguing the virtues of slots gaming and if it can be regulated within their market. No one can argue that slots are huge money makers for the market. All over the world operators are using the games to build up their accounts. Since the recession businesses all over have had problems with staying on track with their budgets and finding ways to supplement their coffers is a priority. There are few options beyond gambling that can help them but now Australian officials are considering slots and what they can do. The sides are divided still though because of the normal arguments. On one hand, anti- gaming activists are positioning themselves as advocates for the ‘big picture’ mentality. They believe that though gambling could potentially bring in millions of dollars, it would not be implemented without a huge price to pay in the form of a rise in criminal activity. They cite money laundering, theft and addictions a three of the huge repercussions the changes could potentially bring. Though this isn’t completely proven to be the case, there is a logical basis to their position. If you increase the number of gamblers, inevitably there are going to be more issues to sort through and crime is one of them. Anti- gambling activists believe that if legislators don’t have a grasp on what could potentially happen, they are going to have insurmountable problems to work with later and those problems could be costly. For example, if the number of addictions grow thanks to the rise in slots gambling and its increase then the states would have to create additional resources for them to manage with.

Slots gambling is a godsend for many countries, but not all are welcoming it with open arms. Though there are a lot of financial benefits, that doesn’t mean that legislators are turning a blind eye to the issues that it would bring up. The country of Australia though is looking into it. There is a $20-million advertising campaign that some funding right now to get the word out on what slots can bring to the country and the benefits it would provide. Whether or not this will be effective has yet to be seen but pro- gambling activists are not ready to lay down their own arms.

Pennsylvania has been a state in the midst of a lot of debates over slots gaming. The state’s legislators have been debating the issue for some time now. Of course the games bring in huge dollars and are highly popular with the gambling market and this alone makes them hard to turn down. Legislators all over the country are trying to come up with ways to keep on expanding their gambling initiatives, knowing that’s a great way to shore up their own state coffers. Part of the draw of slots gaming is that anyone can play the games due to their affordability. If you walk into any good casino floor and venture over to the slots parlor you’re going to find games that take just one penny to run and other games that take upwards of $50 and even $100 to spin. That means that the variety of people can wager on the games is larger than ever which is exactly what casino operators are striving for. They’re trying to make it viable for as many people as possible to come in and comfortably wager on their games. One of the easiest ways to do this is to have a good variety of games to offer to the gaming public. Most casinos understand what kind of competition they are dealing with today – fierce. They know that if they don’t answer a gamblers gaming request another casino easily will and they’re going to lose that customer. Pennsylvania casinos operators understand is full well and are trying their best to open up the market to as many people as possible. They’re getting a lot of help from legislators too because they understand the benefits they can reap if they support gambling in their state and put their efforts into developing a good slots gaming plan.

Valley Forge Convention Center is the newest location to get slots games in and experts are hoping that it’s going to bring in the revenue needed for the state come out of its huge deficits and financial strain. Gambling companies are going to be instrumental in the future of states turning things around post recession. There are few other options when it comes to bring in billions of dollars needed to overcome the financial problems most states are now under. Pennsylvania officials are thinking the exact same way and hoping that they can use a good gambling initiative to bulk up their own revenues thanks to slots gaming.

There’ve been a lot of debates over the legalities of slots gaming in the past few years. Massachusetts legislators have embarked on hefty gambling debate wondering whether the games are good enough to turn around their economy. Slots of course have a power that few other games in the gambling arena do. When casino operators in Las Vegas realize that the games were bringing in over 60% of their overall revenue from gambling casinos immediately took stock of the games and decided to do their best when it comes to developing them and using them as a means of shoring up their state coffers. Most likely this is a great idea because of how popular the games are and how over the years they have so easily stood the test of time. Since the 1940s slots game and held a huge market share and have done nothing but speed up their growth in the world of casino gambling. The world of gambling has not been the same since the mass production of the games and how prolific they have become over the years. Part of the appeal of the games is their flexibility and how they cater to such a wide variety of gamblers. If you have a small bankroll then the slots parlors the perfect location for you to still play games and keep on winning if you get lucky. Your can have a lot of problems finding games in the high roller category either. If you have a big bankroll then you can easily find numerous games that allow you to spin huge amounts every time you hit the button. This mass appeal is what’s pushing the games even more notoriety than they’ve ever had in the past.

Massachusetts of course is in the midst of one of those debates over the games but this time it’s whether or not they are legal. Representative Daniel Winslow states that according to the laws the games are legal and can be operated throughout the market. He says that due to the state’s Las Vegas Night bill slot machines are already legal. This bill states that the machines can be used to generate money for charity and that alone makes the games legal for everyone else, according to Winslow.

The other benefit of allowing racetracks to have slots machines is for the state. Slot machines bring in huge dollars per state economies. If they can be placed in that many more locations, it will only increase the number of games generating revenue. If a racino has say 100 slot machine games and each one brings in $95 a day in additional revenue, that means the racino will be bringing in almost $300,000 thanks to their slots per month. If you look at that revenue throughout the entire year the racino will be bringing in about $3.6 million part of which of course is going to go directly back to the state. State legislators have to negotiate the percentages they want but traditionally they take between 5 to 12% of revenues that gambling centers produce. That means if Pennsylvania officials allow one racetrack 100 slots games they can increase their own revenue by anywhere from under $180,000 to about $400,000. State courts are not quickly discounting new methods of bringing in money because they know that they are currently operating with less than opportune budgets as it is. The possibility of bringing in a couple hundred thousand dollars more passively is a lot to pass up for most state legislators. They understand that every dollar counts right now especially with the huge deficits they are burdened under.

There is another side to the argument though. Gaming companies that have already established a gambling presents in states are worried about the change. If racino’s are allowed to bring in slots gaming then what does that mean for their own slots parlors? If you introduce that many more games than customers can be a lot more selective and spread their dollars around dinner for businesses. Gambling centers ready understand that slots gaming brings in about 60% of their overall revenues and that means that the graphite hard to keep it to themselves. Sure slot games most likely would benefit racetracks but there’s a lot more to the question. If they are allowed into race tracks, what kind of additional strain may that put on other gambling entities? What does it mean for the state and their revenue? All of these questions are being debated right now to see what the best option is.

A lot of states right now are looking to slots gaming as a means of revival. Most states are under a huge deficit strain right now thanks to the recession. No one saw full turnaround as of yet and that is posing a problem for them. The deficits per state are well into the billions for almost every location and legislators are at a loss of what to do to turn things around. They want to recover of course, but there are few activities that can perform enough and bring in enough money for them to even contemplate change. That is where slots come in though. The games have already brought in millions of dollars for the states that are working with them. A good mid-level slots parlor can easily bring in $3 to $5- million in revenue per month. That is a huge amount and can considerably aid states in shoring up their coffers. The only way to come up with change for the huge deficits is to chip away at them little by little and hope for money- generating activities that allow for it. Slots’ gambling is one of the few things at legislator’s disposal right now to help them do just that. Now the state of Washington is debating the games and what they can do. This is an investigation that has gone on for many other states and Washington legislators have a great time to join in on the arguments. There are two sides to the issue but the money is a huge reason why a lot of states have already opted to approve the games.

The Recreational Gaming Association of Washington has already pushed for the slots to be brought into smaller gaming facilities and they see it as a positive move. The games are projected to be able to generate more than $180- million in gaming revenue. That is a huge amount and most likely legislators are more than willing to work with them as a result. The games they are installing are also varied and that means that they maximize the amounts of gamblers who can take advantage of them. This most likely will be another example of how slots’ gambling is changing state’s finances for the good.

Texas legislators are continuing their debates over slots gaming, but the last nail may be getting ready for its nailing into the coffin. For years the state has taken a conservative stand against the games. Not only legislators but taxpayers were not keen on the idea of gambling coming into the state. They were too concerned about the negative aspect of gambling in general. A lot of anti- gambling activists believe that the games inevitably bring rise to crime, corruption, money laundering and theft. They are concerned that once people get wind of the amount of money that passes through a casino they are going to be tempted to take over and make their own petition for illegal gaming. This argument is not without merit. There has been a rise in incidents of illegal activities in cities where gambling was introduced. Though gaming companies have done all they can to keep the activities out, it has been a tricky situation. There also have been growing numbers of establishments offering the games illegally. Bottom line for slots is that they are money-makers and people know it. If the games are set up in a truck stop, for example, the owners can easily bring in a few hundred extra dollars thanks to them every day. Games can also be set up at convenience stores and other places that have high traffic, but don’t have the proper approval for the games.

Recently slots in Texas took another turn at the approval desk though. The Nueces County Commissioners just came together to find out what their feelings on the games are and take an official vote. The vote was pro- slots games with the exception of one board member. He cited the overall performance of the games in other markets and noted the problems with their money- generating over the long haul. Though he stated his opinion, the other members were in favor of the games and most likely that is going to speak volumes on what is going to be happening with slots in the state of Texas. Watch closely and the state is going to continue debates and then make the most viable decision for them at this time.

Massachusetts is in the midst of debates over the legality of slots gambling. There are some interesting happenings in the arguments though. Representative Daniel Winslow recently stated that slots are already legal and the state should recognize this. He believes the debates over the games are moot because they are already more than ready to serve the state and its money- generating initiatives. There are stipulations though. Winslow believes that the games are legal for non- profit organizations to operate and if the money is going to charity organizations. Right now the laws are sketchy and he states that because there is no delineation of what the games can be for, charitable organizations do not fall into that category. The law does not state whether or not the games are legal, but it offers them to charities to utilize for their own purposes. This window in the law is what Winslow is focused on. He states that broad law is what legislators should focus on and let it open the door for gambling to be brought into the state. The state already uses its Las Vegas Night and has a bill built around it. This bill opens the door for the machine to help charities out. His argument is that if the games are allowed for charity, then they have to be allowed- period. This is a critical time for the state because of the hefty debates over the games and gambling in general. State legislators are fighting it out though to see whether or not that argument holds up for them to approve the games fully.

Of course the governor has been fighting against slots gambling in the state. Governor Duval Patrick has made no secret of his own feelings on the games at race tracks. He would however, allow them at the resort casinos in the state. Right now the debate though is in the hands of Attorney General Martha Coakley who may have to step in and look at the argument to see if the games are already legalized, or if they are not. Coakley thus far has not made a determination but Winslow is confident that the law is the law and will sustain his argument over time to allow slots legally into the state as a whole.

In the state of Texas there are a lot of debates going on right now. Part of the problem though is that there are a lot of different illegal activities going on in the market right now. The state is pushing forward with a task force to thwart illegal gaming. More and more companies are coming into the state and setting up shop. Business owners see the benefits of gambling and want to immediately capitalize on the games. Also, because the games are popular and the state’s residents are so open to the thought of gambling it is creating a demand. Some illegal operators are trying to meet that need. They are opening up slots parlors in the various cities within the state and hoping to let them operate under the radar of authorities. Of course the games are huge money makers and illegal operators feel that they have enough of a draw in revenue to overcome the chance of getting caught. This is an issue though for the state. They are pushing for laws to keep illegal gambling out of the market. Right now there are record numbers of incidents going on in the state. The police recently shut down four illegal operating slots parlors or sots games. The games were set up at locations without the proper authorization to operate the games or have them in their establishments. It is a difficult thing to monitor, but state police are getting better at creating anonymous tips to help them.

In the coming months you should expect Texas officials to revisit the issue. Although they may not immediately embrace the games, they are going to continue to critically think on the problem. They are going to see the benefits of legalizing gambling and explore the disadvantages too. It may take some time for them to come up with a great gambling plan, but it is something that is a priority now. Though the residents within the state are for the most part in favor of slots gambling, that doesn’t mean it is a done deal in terms of legislative change. That will take some more months to sort out for the Texas market.

Texas is still on the fence when it comes to slots gambling. It is no secret that slots gaming is a huge money maker for markets. The games perform well and that is evidenced thanks to recent research done by analysts. They realized quickly that at a slots parlor, about 60% of the overall revenue comes in thanks to the slots parlor. It was formerly believed that the bigger table games were the ones paying out the most. They thought that this was where gamblers were putting most of their money. It only stood to reason though—if you ask for a high-wager buy-in you naturally believe that the game it is built around is the one that is going to perform for you. Plus the games that normally have those high-wagers are directed by dealers. That high-wager and the dealer involvement build a game that most casino operators believe are going to be the most popular. On the other hand you have a self-contained slots parlor where games operate on their own. the games come with a wide wager range that moves from one-penny on up to $50, even $100-per spin for slots players. Slots games are the most “under the radar” games you are going to find in the market right now. Under the very noses of casino operators the slots games took over and created the biggest revenue the casinos bring in.

Though the games are performing well, Texas legislators are still not convinced that they should allow them into the market. Yes, they are money makers and yes, a good casino can create jobs for the market, but that is not enough for them. They still question whether or not the games are right for the state. It will take time for the games to be contemplated though. Legislators on both sides are arguing the issue and wondering what the best decision is. Recent surveys have already shown that more of the state than anticipated is ready to embrace gaming. The state taxpayers are more than welcoming of gambling in the majority. They see the value of the games and are going to continue to push them to the market for their own benefit. Whether or not legislators are listening has yet to be seen though.

Part two coming next.