Casinos and video poker is PA solving its fiscal problems on the backs of the poor and addicted

Editor:

Gov. Rendell's proposal to provide tuition aid by legalizing video poker in restaurants, bars and private clubs represents a vast broadening of Pennsylvania's efforts to solve its fiscal problems on the backs of the poor and addicted - and is perhaps an end run around Philadelphia's resistance to housing two slots parlors.

Allowing totally unregulated slots that people can easily walk to should not concern just the individuals and families whose lives might turn into shambles, but also the taxpayers, who will have to pick up the bill for the resulting social costs and the bureaucracy to support this extension.

Norma Van Dyke Philadelphia