Congressman: Ban gambling on foreign bases

[unhappycamper]

Congressman: Ban gambling on foreign bases
By Malia Rulon - Gannett News Service
Posted : Wednesday Dec 12, 2007 17:56:35 EST

WASHINGTON — A bill that would ban government-sponsored gambling at foreign military bases was introduced Wednesday by Rep. Lincoln Davis.

Gambling is not allowed on domestic bases — only foreign facilities where the host country allows the practice. The military raises about $150 million each year from gambling machines on foreign bases, Davis, a Tennessee Democrat, said.

Most of that money goes to pay for solider recreational activities, but Davis said that doesn’t make government-sponsored gambling OK. He said some soldiers have become addicted to gambling because of its presence on bases and at least one soldier took his life after becoming addicted.

“We’re taking advantage of the time that our soldiers have when they are not on the battlefield,” Davis said Wednesday. “I think that’s wrong. I don’t think that’s the American way of doing business.”

Army Lt. Col. Les’ Melnyk, a Defense Department spokesman, said slot machines and video poker are offered as recreational activities to soldiers, along with movie theaters, bowling allies and arcade centers.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/gns_gamblingban_071212/



uhc comment: Davis is a dem - D-TN-04.

[saigon68]

1. Yikes

The Nannie state survives

They should come to my neck of the woods, where every tavern has at least 3 ILLEGAL video poker machines so these places can compete with the massive $100 Million dollar to construct INDIAN GAMING CASINOS

But then these nannies would probably put every place that has a roulette wheel or Crap Table off limits