Sen. Robert Ford's bill would revive video poker and introduce gambling ships similar to the ones in Louisiana and Mississippi and Missouri.
As bad as South Carolina needs money to finance services such as education, Medicaid, mental health, roads and raises for state employees, the state doesn't need additional forms of gambling.
When the South Carolina Supreme Court put an end to video poker on July 1, 2000, many residents thought they were rid of this addictive form of gambling. In its place South Carolinians voted to implement a state-run lottery, which can be just as addictive as video poker and take control of people's lives.
Ford makes his pitch for gambling by saying that it is a bonanza of a revenue source to help the state overcome a $350 million to $500 million shortfall next year and the fifth year that the state hasn't met revenue projections.
"This is an industry that would generate a lot of money for the state, a lot of it from tourists," Ford said. "We are in serious financial trouble, and we need to find new revenues. I don't think we can ignore this."
The senator is correct. The state is in serious financial trouble and gambling could bring $1.3 billion to state coffers based on the 25 percent tax that he would institute.
Regardless of whether gambling is heavily taxed and whether tourists would contribute, South Carolina has enough problems without capitalizing on citizens who can least afford to gamble.
The state has invested its fate in a lottery. It doesn't need more gambling.