弗吉尼亚州赌场计划是一次风险很大的赌博

　　参议员路易斯·卢卡斯在2013年会议中，书面提出立法将允许在朴茨茅斯和列克星敦进行赌场游戏。卢卡斯的建议要求在这两个地方，至少有40％的土地财产免除房地产地税。例如，朴次茅斯的一些军事、政府和其他设施。

　　该城市旨在不损害居民利益的前提下筹资。该地区业主交付最高的房地产税率，也国内最高的城市之一：每100美元评定值交付1.27美元。

　　除了卢卡斯异常的洞察力，我还很赞赏她的勇气。难道她真的认为联合国大会的长期反对已经改变？

　　卢卡斯的建议将使一些赌场税收成为本地的和其他收入成为国家的。朴茨茅斯民主党主张对这些国家资金投入到运输。弗吉尼亚州的道路和桥梁建设的资金已经无影无踪，新的资金诱惑可能动摇一些国会议员对这一想法的支持。

　　卢卡斯，2014年批评市中心城隧道的收费，星期一表示：“我不想收费成为修建道路的标准。”

　　卢卡斯说，其他许多国家已冒险试行赌场。她解释道，他们只是另一种形式的娱乐，“在汉普顿路地区建立一个没有意义吗？”

　　或许如此。但是，立法成功的可能性很低。肯尼·怀特市长甚至似乎对前景不置可否。

　　赌场提供了就业机会和收入，但他们也可能会导致赌博成瘾和对杠杆、掷骰子、加倍下注欲罢不能的赌徒。这些游戏天生就是减轻玩家的钱包。毁灭性使家庭无法承受而失去来之不易的钱。

　　显而易见，尽管如此，本地区的人们还是喜欢赌博。

　　法律的模糊允许朴茨茅斯扑克厅五年内任其发展时，人们峰拥而至。2010年，全市联合体的律师威胁起诉，随后有一半的厅被关闭。

　　几年前，在警察和检察官突击搜查该地之前，网络游戏吧引发了弗吉尼亚州的兴趣。2011年联合国大会通过立法声明，带有赌金的行动是非法的。

　　曾经的尝试，使弗吉尼亚的赌博形式扩大有了一个半身像。在20世纪90年代河船赌博法例失效。两年前诺福克官员再次提出这个想法，但却被搁浅。

　　博彩业的持续饱和，使社区要赚得可观收入变得更加困难。飞行员朱利安·沃克日报道，现在有24个州法律上允许商业赌场。

　　如果你住在南汉普顿路，你就没有必要远行去赌场。朴茨茅斯市政厅，距海洋唐斯138英里。赌场靠近马里兰州大洋城，2011年1月开业，并提供数百台老虎机。

　　176英里，从市政厅到哈林顿，特拉华州，设有1800插槽，游戏和现场线束赛车。

　　哈灵顿以北20公里的北唐斯，特拉华州多佛酒店赌场拥有每日扑克锦标赛，老虎机和现场娱乐表演。半年举行一次轻驾车赛马。

　　如果在朴茨茅斯有赌场，我们可以使那些美元保留在这里。但是，在闪光灯和广告支出是没也不是灵丹炒药。

　　不管如何不顾一切，赌场都是一个风险很大的赌注。

　　译文：

　　State Sen. Louise Lucas has floated legislation for the 2013 session that, as written, would allow casino gaming in Portsmouth and Lexington. In both localities, at least 40 percent of property is exempt from local real estate taxes - a requirement of Lucas' proposal. Portsmouth, for example, has several military, government and other facilities.

　　The city would like to raise money without hurting residents further. Homeowners pay the highest real estate tax rate in the region and one of the highest in the state: $1.27 per $100 of assessed value.

　　I applaud Lucas' moxie - if not her clairvoyance. Does she really think the General Assembly has changed its longtime opposition?

　　Lucas' proposal would send some casino taxes to the host localities and other revenues to the state. The Portsmouth Democrat favors putting some of those state dollars into transportation. Money for road- and bridge-building in Virginia has practically vanished, and the lure of new funding could sway some lawmakers to support the idea.

　　Lucas, who has criticized the tolls coming to the Downtown and Midtown tunnels in 2014, told me Monday: "I don't want tolling to be the standard to get roads built."

　　Lucas said many other states have taken a chance on casinos. They're just another form of entertainment, she reasons: "Doesn't it make sense to have one in the Hampton Roads area?"

　　Maybe. The odds of legislative success, however, are low. Mayor Kenny Wright even seemed noncommittal about the prospect.

　　Casinos provide jobs and revenues, but they also can lead to gambling addictions and debt for patrons who can't stop pulling the lever, rolling the dice or doubling down. The games are designed to leave players lighter in the wallet. That's devastating for families that can't afford to lose hard-earned cash.

　　Clearly, though, folks in our region like to gamble.

　　People flocked to poker halls in Portsmouth when the law's ambiguity allowed them to flourish for five years. In 2010, the city's commonwealth's attorney threatened to prosecute, and about a half-dozen halls shut down.

　　Internet gaming cafes sparked interest in Virginia a few years ago, before police and prosecutors raided the sites. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2011 to clarify that the sweepstakes operations were illegal.

　　Previous attempts to allow expanded forms of gaming in Virginia have been a bust. Riverboat gambling legislation failed in the 1990s. Norfolk officials raised the idea again two years ago, but it ran aground.

　　The ongoing saturation of casino gaming makes it more difficult for communities to reap a sizable take. The Pilot's Julian Walker reported Sunday that 24 states now legally permit commercial casinos.

　　If you live in South Hampton Roads, you don't have to travel far for a casino fix. From Portsmouth City Hall, it's 138 miles to Ocean Downs. The casino, near Ocean City, Md., opened in January 2011 and offers hundreds of slots.

　　It's 176 miles from City Hall to Harrington, Del., which features 1,800 slots, games and live harness racing.

　　Twenty miles north of Harrington is the hotel-casino at Dover Downs, Del., with daily poker tournaments, slots and live entertainment. Harness racing takes place half the year.

　　If we had casinos in Portsmouth, we could keep some of those dollars here. But the blinking lights and advertised payouts are no panacea.

　　No matter how desperate the situation, casinos are a risky bet.