A wink here, a nod there, a knowing smile and turning a blind eye -- sometimes -- should not be how the law is enforced in Pennsylvania. Especially when the issue is the legality of video poker and slot machines.
Gamblers may play favorites. Government must not.
Grants by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board that could total $5 million to help law enforcement shut down illegal video poker and slot machines are generating confusion and resistance among some officials in Western Pennsylvania.
The board, which has shown questionable judgment and lack of transparency handing out casino licenses, is gaming the system. It quibbles with local authorities about legal definitions and how to enforce the law regarding such machines.
Poker machines generate tens of thousands of dollars for small businesses. That income surely helps some struggling bars and shops stay in play. The machines are legal as long as there are no payouts (wink-wink); municipalities can place a tax on machine revenue.
Little wonder local law enforcement might not be as enthusiastic as the state to enforce a law with a double standard. State government and the well-connected can cash in from "legal" gambling (like lotteries and casinos) but not the little guy.
If private citizens operated in the same fashion, they'd be charged with racketeering.
