As I learned earlier today, that’s PDA shorthand for “You can’t make it up.” (It was used by Jon Ralston in reference to a certain governor’s claim to 11-plus years of celibacy … but I digress.)
Actually, maybe you can make it up. In Massachusetts, a group called United to Stop Slots (U.S.S., geddit?), has issued a Casino Math Workbook for Beacon Hill whose facts and figures, at first glance, look suspiciously like they emanated from someone’s hindquarters. “The report said that for every $1 generated by casinos, it costs taxpayers $3 to deal with increased crime, bankruptcies and other ill effects,” declares The Republican, a western Massachusetts newspaper. “The total increased costs of casinos on social services and regional police and other services is not known, showing a need for an independent analysis of the costs and benefits, the report said.”
Proving that it could talk out of both sides of its mouth, USS’ Workbook also bemoaned the loss of lottery dollars to casino play. So I guess some forms of gambling are OK-er than others. But back to this matter of $1 of casino revenues = $3 of social costs. Gee whiz! We’ve just figured out how to balance the Nevada budget: Close all the casinos (and slot routes, too)! Why, gosh darn it all, we’ll just be rolling in dough. Who knew?
