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Of course, they never tell you about the 9999 other guys who blew that last 75 cents and contemplated armed robbery or suicide...


I can't blame the news organizations for running this sort of story. It's a natural angle to work, and it makes good filler for newspapers and news broadcasts. Still, it irks me when these jackpot stories (be it for a casino or lottery) are run, as they feed a desperate hope in so many people who should be looking for a better way out of their circumstance. That this might encourage even one person to risk all of his finances in a bid for riches troubles me.

Years ago, shortly after gambling was first legalized in Atlantic City, I went with a friend's family down to a casino on an impromptu Sunday trip. One of the things I most clearly remember were a few of the faces with dark semi-circles under eyes brimming with desperation.

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