What kind of financial consequences would legalizing gambling add? Sure there's an increase in revenue, but would there be hidden (and obvious) societal costs that the gov't supports?
As an example, we know that smoking doesn't hurt just the smokers themselves, but also those around them. Secondhand smoke can also cause illness. In Canada, there are heavy tobacco taxes, which (we think) offset the healthcare and social care (what happens when a parent dies of cancer?). So, there's a clear revenue source through the tobacco taxation, but there are other costs attached to allowing it to continue.
Surely there has to be a 'cost' to this gain in revenue. Cost to administer and license these business? Legal and taxation enforcement? Bankruptcies and debt support?
I would hope that report considers it's not all rainbows and lollipops, with only a fiscal upside.
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Give with one hand, take with the other
As an example, we know that smoking doesn't hurt just the smokers themselves, but also those around them. Secondhand smoke can also cause illness. In Canada, there are heavy tobacco taxes, which (we think) offset the healthcare and social care (what happens when a parent dies of cancer?). So, there's a clear revenue source through the tobacco taxation, but there are other costs attached to allowing it to continue.
Surely there has to be a 'cost' to this gain in revenue. Cost to administer and license these business? Legal and taxation enforcement? Bankruptcies and debt support?
I would hope that report considers it's not all rainbows and lollipops, with only a fiscal upside.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by bassfreq.
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