Moral roadblocks aren't necessary

Though many other memories from my adolescence have been buried in favor of annoying song lyrics and clips from sitcoms and Marvel movies, I’ll never really forget the time I took the long way to New Mexico.

My parents were driving me down from Montana for my freshman year of college, and my dad put together a trip that allowed for a few fun stops on the way. One was Phoenix, where I went to the sports bar owned by former NBA star Dan Majerle (mar-lee) and got his autograph. He was the first NBA player I ever saw in person; it was like seeing that one guy who lived at the gym and lifted all the time, but he was also 6-foot-6.

The day before, I had a more unforgettable experience — my first time in Las Vegas, Nevada. We stayed at a casino called the Golden Nugget. We arrived to see somebody yelling at the front desk staff because they discarded luggage that was mailed to them the day before. He forgot to tell the hotel he was coming or that he was sending bags in advance, and security recommended tossing them.

I remember being excited because I found the largest NBA Jam video game I’d ever seen, especially because the only thing an 18-year-old can really enjoy in Vegas with his parents watching is NBA Jam. I also remember my dad getting upset because they lost track of me the minute I found the game.

The most unforgettable experience, though, was when we walked into Caesar’s Palace. The architecture and the displays clearly cost millions. “I don’t think,” I said to myself, “they built this place by giving money away.”

Going to Las Vegas for the first time, and not being able to gamble, gives you a very clear head at a simple concept: The House Always Wins. You’ll find somebody who wins a few hands of blackjack, sure. And there are professional card players who make millions, but I’ve seen more NBA players.

As I’ve leafed through the proposals by many of these racino applicants, I keep on thinking, “They’re not going to build this place by giving money away.” Sure, when somebody wins big, expect that person to be the face of a marketing campaign. But if somebody’s got a gambling problem? Call this 800 number and go away.

I did finally go back to Vegas this year for a friend’s wedding. I threw $2 into a slot machine and won $40, and immediately cashed out. That’s the other rule of Vegas — move on as soon as you’re in house money.

I remember hearing about all of the horror a bingo hall was going to bring to Clovis, and I haven’t experienced any of that. Of course, I haven’t thrown any of my money into bingo games, either. Something about the house and winning quite often.

I expect the house is going to win, and it’s going to win a lot of local dollars. But as long as everybody who walks in there knows that risk, I don’t see the need to put up roadblocks based on some conditional definition of morality.

I just want to know if they’ll have NBA Jam.

Kevin Wilson is managing editor of The Eastern New Mexico News. Contact him at:

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