Ban gambling on foreign bases

[CommunityEditor]

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.

“It brings a touch of home to the service member,” Melnyk said, adding that if the base didn’t allow gambling in countries where gambling is legal, soldiers could do it off the base.

Providing gambling opportunities to soldiers on military bases allows the government to offer a higher payout percentage in a controlled, safe environment, and to funnel the money back into programs that benefit soldiers, he said.

“Obviously, we are aware of and concerned with the possibility of gambling addiction,” Melnyk said. “We have programs in place and counseling for those with addictive personalities.”

The chances of Davis’ bill are uncertain as Congress prepares for its holiday break.



Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...ingban_071212/

A pompous and irresponsible congressional type wants to ban gambling on foreign bases --- a symptom of a dictatorial (power-hungry) person who naively deems himself "qualified" to determine what's best for our military personnel. Bull! Someone should clue that idiot on what congress should be doing FOR the troops --- not AGAINST the troops. I believe they have the capabilities to determine what's best for themselves --- on a more rational and intelligent level than numerous congressional types..

[Shrike]

Thank Jeebus that I have congress to save me from myself. Whatever would I do without my elected nannies to mollycoddle me?

[technomage1]

Doesn't congress have anything better to do? This is nothing more that a cheap ploy to say that Rep Davis "helped the troops" without actually doing anything useful. I wonder if he's up for re-election?

If you don't want to gamble, don't. I never have, it's not my thing. But other people enjoy it, don't take it away.

[Shrike]

I'm at Ramstein, and if I want to gamble, there are probably a dozen or two places I can do it, all on the economy, within a 20 minute drive of my house. I don't need to go to the base at all.

Could it be that a congressman is proposing do-nothing legislation only to make himself look better to the less well-informed members of his constituency? Naaaaah, that never happens!

[Measure Man]

I agree...having congress think they need to babysit us by banning activities that are "bad for us" is condescending and disrespectful.

I am tired of people, like the Congressman who means well, who ruin it for the 99% responsible people. I use the slots as a recreational outlet every so often. I use it responsibly. Just because a few have a problem is no reason to ban it for the rest of us. Same with alcohol. I don't drink, my choice, but i have no problem with drinking in moderation for enjoyment. Hopefully this bill will die as quickly as it was proposed.

Anyone else tired of the continual money raising schemes? I've been around for almost a career, and we continue to increase in money drives, from selling beer at stadium to support a command Christmas party that everyone has to pay for anyway to the gas station outside base being more expensive than Sam's club. I'm afraid the real reason we would be so against getting rid of gambling....someone in our leadership is probable getting kickbacks. If this really helps our junior folks out, I'm all for it....I have seen much more of the money used otherwise....hopfully I'm all alone on this island of not knowing what I'm talking about!

[ringjamesa]

Odd. Things must have changed a lot since I was overseas. When I was at Sembach, they had slots in the club in their own separate room. I'll admit that as a young Airman I played the one armed bandit a time or two. Never more than $20 or so. Some of my friends who also worked at the club (enlisted and family members) would play some tip $ and usually come out ahead. However, the vast majority of the people that were playing on a regular basis were retirees and older family members. It didn't seem like any young Airmen were going there and blowing their paychecks. In my personal opinion, all this would do "for" the young Airmen/Soldiers/Sailors/Marines would be to decrease revenue at the clubs. I could be wrong and may very well be but I don't really see the issue. Are they going to tell all Jr enlisted in the states that they can't play the lotto or go to Vegas? Another attempt to legislate morality in my personal view.

[MACHINE666]

Heh. Any updates on this topic? If it passes, I know there will be alot of angry Koreans at Osan and Kunsan - seemed like every time I went to the clubs there, adashi was behind the one-armed bandit with his bucket full of coins. Some of them cleaned up rather nicely with their winnings too.