State lawmakers who face a $3 billion budget deficit likely will look again to expanded state-sanctioned gambling to increase state government revenue. Possibilities include slot machines at six airports, casino-based internet gambling and online sports fantasy gambling.

Before the legislative croupiers base even more of the state budget on vice to get around tough budgetary and taxation decisions, they finally should seriously consider the negative aspects of gambling.

State law now funnels a small share of gambling proceeds to programs that fight gambling addiction, but the lawmakers clearly consider gambling-caused social dysfunction to be incidental damage. They rarely have hesitated to expand gambling in search of new classes and generations of gamblers.

About 7 million Americans are addicted gamblers, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Whereas casinos exclude known gambling addicts and the state offers treatment, the states relentless gambling expansion inevitably creates more addicts. That likely will become even more of a problem if the state facilitates internet and sports fantasy gambling.

March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and it would be a good time for lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf to consider that gambling expansion is about much more than state revenue.

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Consider effects of more gambling - Standard Speaker