Slots for Kids!

The title is completely fanciful. But I read this morning's report about Jack Wagner's argument about gambling and an arena proposal with equally complete revulsion. He makes the case that "the state Gaming Control Board should award the lone Pittsburgh slot machine casino license to a gaming company that promises to fund a new arena for the city." Why? Because "a successful slots applicant must help the city in its time of economic need." (Quotes are from the story and not necessarily from Jack Wagner's comments.)

Jack Wagner is an experienced Pittsburgh politician. I don't know enough about him to know what he has up his sleeve. But if the paper reported his comments accurately, then he has the bargaining dynamic backward. Maybe he thinks that this is a way to ensure that the slots licensee kicks in millions for the benefit of the city. What it really does is give the slots licensee an unhealthy degree of leverage over the city's future. If Pittsburgh is party to a deal that brings an arena in exchange for slots, you can be sure that Isle of Capri, or whoever builds that building, will be looking to the City for favors for a long, long time.