If I were a rich man...

...all day long I'd say, "When did I turn into a dude and where did all this money come from?"

Or maybe more accurately, "Woo-hoo! Money! But where the heck did *this* come from?"

Touchy subject
I have to say something about this whole Iowa Lottery Touch Play controversy. For those of you unfamiliar with the topic, Touch Play are lottery machines that play like slot machines. The state has allowed local businesses (gas stations, grocery stores…etc…) that currently sell lottery tickets to have these “pseudo” slot machines in their stores. No one under 21 is allowed to play so the machines are roped off and there are signs posted, but they are still in plain view to anyone else, usually right by the cash register.

Several complaints have been filed; some from recovering gambling addicts who walked unknowingly into the stores where the machines were located. They say the machines are so much like regular slot machines it caused them a great deal of distress and in some cases were responsible for set backs in their recovery.

Click here to see the Touch Play machines

Other complaints come from parents who don’t want their kids exposed to what they say amounts to gambling in a public place. Lawmakers are now discussing increasing fines for minors who are caught gambling.

Task force targets retailers, minors for underage gambling

The truth hurts
Now I feel bad saying this because I know people who work for the Iowa Lottery, and if the lottery took a hit they would certainly feel it as well. However…

1. The Touch Play machines are slot machines and should not be in grocery stores and gas stations.
2. The lottery itself, while a cash cow for the state, is simply a tax on the poor and has few if any social redeeming qualities.
3. I’m sorry that businesses now depend on the increased revenue from the machines, but someone really should have thought this through a little more. Instead we are now having to increase the fines for underage gambling, and create a whole new batch of silly rules to try and create “buffer zones” around the machines.

In the interest of full disclosure, yes – I have bought an occasional lottery ticket (estimated 5 tickets in 10 years). I’m not saying we need to dump the entire lottery system but somewhere along the way the Touch Play machines crossed an invisible line. Was walking to the counter and buying a lottery ticket so inconvenient? Do we really need a Las Vegas casino atmosphere in every gas station and grocery store?

No – I don’t have a lot of dollars in my pocket but am I the only one with any common sense?

Touch Play logo from www.oasisgamingusa.com