sl@van-bc.UUCP (Stuart Lynne) (11/29/89)
In article <1989Nov28.170119.718@eci386.uucp> clewis@eci386.UUCP (Chris Lewis) writes: >odds, aren't violating the laws of physics, and are usually regulated >by the government, ostensibly, again, to avoid fraud. (BTW: lottery >winnings aren't taxable in Canada, so there isn't a revenue incentive >for the govt. Alcohol, on the other hand, is entirely different :-() Certainly there is. They run them. Or at least own the companies that run them. Ostensibly here in BC the fund's generated go to fund things like sports, culture etc. Seems to me that if they didn't get funded by lotteries they would end up being funded by taxes. Lotteries in Canada are really an alternate form of taxation. A fairly regressive one in that the funds are generally solicted from the types of people who can usually least afford it. And are hyped by slick mega buck advertising campaigns. -- Stuart.Lynne@wimsey.bc.ca ubc-cs!van-bc!sl 604-937-7532(voice) 604-939-4768(fax)
clewis@eci386.uucp (Chris Lewis) (12/02/89)
In article <75@van-bc.UUCP> sl@van-bc.UUCP (Stuart Lynne) writes: >In article <1989Nov28.170119.718@eci386.uucp> clewis@eci386.UUCP (Chris Lewis) writes: >>["get-rich-quick" schemes] are usually regulated >>by the government, ostensibly, again, to avoid fraud. (BTW: lottery >>winnings aren't taxable in Canada, so there isn't a revenue incentive >>for the govt. >Certainly there is. They run them. Or at least own the companies that run >them. Lotteries (and raffles) being legal far predate Government sponsorship (or profit taking for whatever purpose). So, my point still holds. Even now, non-governmental lotteries outnumber (but don't outgross) governmental ones. Generalized gambling (card playing, casinos and the like) is outlawed for a number of reasons, partially because of attitudes such as yours (ye olde "rent money" argument - which I don't intend to denigrate per-se), and partially because it's too damn difficult to monitor, and is *far* too likely to attract the criminal element. Race-track gambling is permitted, inspite of similar "rent money" arguments for the precise reason that it *is* possible to monitor and regulate. And the government gets taxes paid on the profits of the race track (but not the lucky winners...). Of course, certain jurisdictions (eg: Nevada, and some noises being made here) recognize the potential revenue from casinos (and ancillary ones like tourism etc.) as outweighing the other costs. >Ostensibly here in BC the fund's generated go to fund things like >sports, culture etc. Seems to me that if they didn't get funded by lotteries >they would end up being funded by taxes. Or, more likely, not funded at all. -- A fanatic is one who can't change his | Chris Lewis, Elegant Communications Inc mind and won't change the subject. | {uunet!attcan,utzoo}!lsuc!eci386!clewis [Winston Churchill] | Ferret mailing list: eci386!ferret-list | psroff mailing list: eci386!psroff-list
sl@van-bc.UUCP (Stuart Lynne) (12/02/89)
In article <1989Dec1.202156.13727@eci386.uucp> clewis@eci386.UUCP (Chris Lewis) writes: >Lotteries (and raffles) being legal far predate Government sponsorship (or >profit taking for whatever purpose). So, my point still holds. > >Even now, non-governmental lotteries outnumber (but don't outgross) governmental >ones. > >Generalized gambling (card playing, casinos and the like) is outlawed for >a number of reasons, partially because of attitudes such as yours (ye olde >"rent money" argument - which I don't intend to denigrate per-se), and partially I have no problem with gambling, I have a problem with the government saying it's illegal to gamble and then setting up lotteries *AND* hyping the hell out of them to raise funds. It's an alternate form of taxation. It certainly isn't gambling. If gambling casino's tried to take the same percentage as the government lotteries people would call them criminals. >Or, more likely, not funded at all. If it's worthwhile the government will find money for it. They find money for things that arn't worthwhile all the time. -- Stuart.Lynne@wimsey.bc.ca ubc-cs!van-bc!sl 604-937-7532(voice) 604-939-4768(fax)