Poll: Should casinos provide patrons free alcohol if they are gambling? / LJWorld.com

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Response		Percent	Votes
Yes		62%	946
No		37%	570
Total	1516
Note: This is not a scientific poll.		Vote in this poll

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No,because it is unethical. If the casino wants people to play more, than they should increase the payouts. Serving alcohol is nothing more than a ploy to dupe people into getting drunk so that they will play more than they normally would under sober conditions. Futhermore, it increases the chances of the patron doing something reckless such as drinking and driving, or perhaps even comitting suicide once the patron realizes that they have lost everything.

Casinos are not customer driven. They are profit driven and any attempt on the casino's part to promote itself as such as just hypocrisy.

Dena

mdfraz 2 years, 11 months ago

And every one of those people are adults who can make up their own minds to sit and play and/or to drink. When will we expect people to take responsibility for their own actions? If I go to the casino, which is fairly rare because I know the odds are stacked against me in basically every game, I will play a game where I have slightly better odds. I also don't drink the free alcohol precisely because I know I will probably lose more money if I do. But, as a private, money making company, if the casino knows they can make more money by offering free drinks, why should anyone step in and tell them it's "unethical". Again, free will for adults. Let them make their own choices, whether good or bad.

I'm so sick of the nanny state idea..........

Fatty_McButterpants 2 years, 11 months ago

Dena... all businesses are "profit driven." To ignore that is naive.

Liberty275 2 years, 11 months ago

Why not? As long as they are giving the booze to adults, it's no different than getting a fortune cookie after eating at a chinese restaurant. If people can't control their urge to gamble, drunk or not, that's their own problem to deal with.

grammaddy 2 years, 11 months ago

Until they kill someone you love on the drunken drive home.

chzypoof1 2 years, 11 months ago

Oh come on Liberty, we have to do what Dena says and protect people from their own stupidity....

Isn't that what the government is good for?

poof

whats_going_on 2 years, 11 months ago

or protect other people from their stupidity. Aka driving drunk...wrecking...killing someone...etc. They might do it anyway, but might as well not give the drink to them for free, might as well ask them to do it.

jajacut 2 years, 11 months ago

Of course. People should be able to come away feeling like they came out ahead. "Well, I lost but I did have great time. And free booze all night."

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 2 years, 11 months ago

I think they should comp drinks, meals and "company" like they used to do.

Mister 2 years, 11 months ago

Til' 5 in the mornin'.

somedude20 2 years, 11 months ago

Went to Vegas a few years back and enjoyed the comp drinks. They were cheap with the liquor (small glass filled with lots of ice, coke and a little rum) and took a while for them to come around with another so I decided to hit the bar thinking the drinks would be cheap (as they want you to get drunk and spend more money) boy was I wrong. Ordered a double captain 'n' coke and it was $26 when ole boy told me that, I said no thanks and waited for the free ones

Bring on the dancing girls and put the champagne on ice, I'm goin' in - to Sin City

whats_going_on 2 years, 11 months ago

the only difference in Vegas though is that you pretty much walk or take a cab, bus, or limo to the different resorts.

tellitlikeitis 2 years, 11 months ago

The casinos around here have hotels you can stay at.

whats_going_on 2 years, 11 months ago

true but it's just not probably as common as somewhere like Vegas, so I don't know if the two can be compared for this reason.

hedshrinker 2 years, 11 months ago

If you saw the devastating effects on families that I do everyday from the deadly combination of compulsive gambling and substance abuse , you wouldn't be so cavalier in endorsing this completely transparent ploy by bloodsucking casinos to separate people from their money, sanity, and stable family life. Yes, personal responsibility is an issue here as it is for all health issues, but that's why we call it "public health"...if we don't pass certain restrictive laws AND provide certain kind of safety nets to help people do the right thing, the general public will eventually bear huge societal costs from drunk driving, domestic violence, homelessness, etc. especially in this economy where many people are struggling and may be more vulnerable to the temptations to make a fast buck. Businesses have responsibilities too not to be predatory. To compare free booze in a casino to getting a fortune cookie in a restaurant is beyond absurd.

Liberty275 2 years, 11 months ago

If you saw the devastating effects on families that I do everyday from the deadly combination of compulsive gambling and substance abuse , you wouldn't be so cavalier in endorsing this completely transparent ploy by bloodsucking casinos

Don't be so sure of that.

if we don't pass certain restrictive laws

Don't ever think you and you nanny state knows what's best for me. Butt out.

Businesses have responsibilities too not to be predatory.

Businesses have one responsibility. Making money.

Not all of America wants you and your kind trying to run our lives. We have no use for you.

whats_going_on 2 years, 11 months ago

and we have no use for people like you, who don't give a sh*t about anyone else but yourself.

Liberty275 2 years, 11 months ago

Were you supposed to have a use for me?

notajayhawk 2 years, 11 months ago

"If you saw the devastating effects on families that I do everyday from the deadly combination of compulsive gambling and substance abuse , you wouldn't be so cavalier in endorsing this completely transparent ploy by bloodsucking casinos to separate people from their money, sanity, and stable family life."

I see it every day (it's what I do for a living). The compulsive gambler, once he's made the decision to enter the casino, really isn't staying for the drinks.

By the way, how have those laws against drugs worked out at getting substance abusers to quit?

whats_going_on 2 years, 11 months ago

we're not giving free crack to the 'heads...

jrswift 2 years, 11 months ago

No such thing as a "free" drink. OK, maybe one but, if you don't tip, they don't come back. On the other hand, if you are generous, they get generous too. Vegas again next month...better than our little casinos anyway.

whatadrag 2 years, 11 months ago

People shouldn't be responsible for their own actions...

morroray 2 years, 11 months ago

I live in Calif & visit Lawrence a few times a year. I spend many days a year in Reno & at South Lake Tahoe. Free drinks in a casino is just part of the gambling world. Like with everything a person needs to be responsible for his or her actions. Too many free drinks or too much gambling, etc., is not other peoples problem.We don't need the govt to tell us how to live our lives if though various govts are trying to. We don't need the food police, the drinking police, etc. The first time I was at Harrahs in North Kansas City I was surprised that free drinks were not allowed in MO or KS although you can buy a drink at the bar & carry it around. Free drinks ADD to the gambling experience.

Pywacket 2 years, 11 months ago

Well, that's the best reason I've heard yet. Free drinks are part of the "gambling culture." So is organized crime, fixed games, and a host of other vices.

You are extremely naive if you think that it is not anyone else's problem when someone gets sucked into the black hole of irresponsible gambling. The casinos (it should be obvious to anyone) push free drinks for one reason only: they are cynically aware that getting people drunk will destroy their judgment and cause them to lose even more money at the establishment. They're not giving away drinks as a friendly way to make sure patrons have a good time. Booze is cheap and the payoff is guaranteed.

Casinos and gambling is legal. Drinking is legal. That's quite enough leeway for people (especially those vulnerable that way) to ruin their lives--and, buddy, you are sadly mistaken if you think any of them go down alone. A moderate level of regulation is not going to result in a soviet state and you know it. If people have to pay for their drinks, some of them may drink moderately enough to retain some modicum of common sense at the blackjack table. That's exactly what the casinos do not want.--and why it's a good idea.

Those most at risk have underlying dependency issues--throw free booze at them, and you're feeding their alcoholism. Do it at a casino and you're encouraging the additional addiction of gambling. Once they start losing, they feel they need to keep going and "win it back," which doesn't happen. It's a vicious circle.

And I can just bet, you (like most people who start spouting about "drinking police" and "the govt" telling us "how to live our lives," are quite happy for the government to tell accidentally pregnant women how to live their lives or when the government decides it should use our taxes for missiles instead of education. The gubmint is the enemy unless it's wielding an iron fist in areas of which you approve, no doubt.

Liberty275 2 years, 11 months ago

It's ironic that men have been using free drinks to help women accidentally get pregnant since the dawn of civilization. As for the government telling women to murder their fetuses or not, it's none of the government's business what women do with their bodies (for free or for money).

OTOH, the government is constitutionally mandated to provide for the common defense (ie missiles), but not to provide an education. Funny how things like that work out.

whats_going_on 2 years, 11 months ago

pretty sure that most of the alcohol induced "accidental" pregnancies aren't because guys secretely wanted a girl to get knocked up. I know you probably read that in some book outlining excuses as to why men do what they do (I mean, it's natural!) but...no.

Pywacket 2 years, 11 months ago

Seriously?! Yeah, why not?

We should also give sharp knives to toddlers to make it more fun on the playground, supply depressed and suicidal folks with big bottles of barbiturates, and pass out angel dust at high school dances.

Sure, if they really want it, they can get it themselves, but there's nothing more heartwarming (not to mention brilliantly logical) than actively enabling and encouraging people to ruin their lives.

whatadrag 2 years, 11 months ago

Work on your comparisons. It's illogical to relate casino-goers to toddlers, suicidals, and high schoolers. Also, illegal drugs and knives aren't quite the same as alcohol and gambling. There's a reason you must be 21 or older to legally drink and/or gamble.

Liberty275 2 years, 11 months ago

When you have no logical reasoning to back up your argument, you turn to logical fallacies. pykwacket is just using every trick he/she can come up with to justify handing more of his/her rights over to the nanny state. Don't expect anything more from him/her and you won't be disappointing.

Pywacket 2 years, 11 months ago

I'm afraid you will both continue to be disappointing... It's your comments, not your expectations, that make you so.

I stand by my analogies, which were offered not to illustrate mirror comparisons (as whatadrag incorrectly assumes) but to illustrate the absurdity and ignorance of contributing to a disaster in the making.

Oh--and don't you ever grow weary of regurgitating standard wingnut catchphrases, Lib? "Nanny state"? Yawn....how very original.

whats_going_on 2 years, 11 months ago

t's illogical to relate casino-goers to toddlers...

if you think about it, is it really THAT illogical? People with little brains (in other words...drunk) constantly pushing bright, colored, musical buttons.

denak 2 years, 11 months ago

No where in my posts did I advocate government intevention in a person's private life. The article pertains to casinos and how they run their business. I think some of you just post as a knee jerk reaction to try to get a dig in. Sorry but you made yourself look stupid, not me.

Furthermore, nowhere did I say that a person was not responsible for his or her behavior. Of course they are. However, again, the article is not about a person's behavior but the casino's behavior.

There is a liability issue I'm sure some of you did not think about. The same way a bar can be held responsible for someone drinking and driving, so should a casino be held responsible, especially if they are pushing drinks onto a customer in a reckless and negligent manner

Dena.

whatadrag 2 years, 11 months ago

In what manner are these drinks being recklessly and negligently pushed onto customers? I'm pretty sure the customers spending money would be offered a periodic drink. The customer could choose to accept or decline. If the person has to drive and they choose to drink, that is entirely their own responsibility.

I don't think free drinks at a casino will add to the list of people who ruin their lives at a casino.

LarryNative 2 years, 11 months ago

In Kansas, a bar is not responsible for someone drinking and driving. That is called a "dram shop clause" and Kansas does not have one. Also, you are stating you want the govt to regulate a business to stop serving the public. The public has free will not to consume the free alcohol. Your law will take that free will away from the public. The law is to control the business to take something away from patrons. I think it is very plain to see the law effects a person's private decision which caused the "knee jerk" reaction.

Agnostick 2 years, 11 months ago

Legislatures should provide legislators free alcohol when they are legislating.

Seriously... how could it not be an improvement?

Liberty275 2 years, 11 months ago

That would have saved the kennedy's a small fortune.

notajayhawk 2 years, 11 months ago

Remember where old Joe made the family fortune in the first place?

filapino 2 years, 11 months ago

They also should put a limit on how much you can gamble if you're drinking ..

Wallythewalrus 2 years, 11 months ago

Free Market, Free Enterprise, Free drinks. Sounds good to me. Just would want those served by a gal in a short dress and a long jacket.

MacHeath 2 years, 11 months ago

Its a come-on. If you just stand around, they won't give you free drinks. I really don't see how one could regulate that. I wasn't too crazy about making gambling legal, in the first place.