For me, a lot of this past week at the Capitol revolved around HB1249 and HB1250. I am the prime sponsor on these bills that seek to cure our state’s addiction to video lottery. You see, South Dakota was ranked again last year as the “2nd most addicted state.” Video lottery is the culprit. 

Here are some facts few know. We have 1,324 video lottery “casinos” in South Dakota. In every town and almost every C-store, they are unavoidable and far too convenient. On average, each one took $87,000 out of the local economy last year and sent it to Pierre. That’s money that if left in our towns would have bought groceries and paid rent, or purchased clothing, appliances, pizza or anything else. South Dakotans lose $630,000 per day playing video lottery! We have an estimated 19,000 problem gamblers in South Dakota, and economists say each one costs the state over $15,000/year. Combined, that’s $285 million in cost and almost three times the revenue the state gets from it. Financially, video lottery is a business we can’t afford to keep.

One testifier on HB1250 works for Keystone Treatment Centers. He said that of the problem gamblers they work to rehabilitate, most have engaged in criminal activity to support their addiction, and almost all have attempted suicide, some multiple times. South Dakota ranks No. 7 in the number of suicides, at 22 per 100,000 people. Many problem gamblers are also addicted to meth. This same testifier said that of the hundreds of meth addicts they have asked, where did you get the drugs? –  The most common answer is “at the casino” – and they mean the video lottery casino. I find these facts shocking, don’t you?

I have always held that the primary purposes of government are to do the things that individuals cannot do for themselves – and to protect the weak, the vulnerable, and the innocent. In the case of video lottery, South Dakota promotes the most addictive form of gambling known – so addictive, it is called the “crack cocaine” of gambling. And then we extract money, $115 million last year, mostly from those who get addicted. I am ashamed of our “2nd most addicted” rank and ashamed of this dirty money we use to support government.

Because of the crimes committed by problem gamblers and the drug infusion video lottery casinos support, our courts are clogged and our jails and prisons are filled. We need to stop fueling this destruction. We cannot buy, tax or program our way out. If we are serious about stopping meth and reducing suicides, shouldn’t we first stop promoting addictions and return to protecting the weak and the vulnerable?  

In service to God and you,

John Mills, Representative, District 4 

John.Mills@sdlegislature.gov