While everyone continues to voice their concerns about legalities, economics and morals, in Texas. Thousands of people continue to track across the TX-OK border to wager their money in what they presume to be a legitimate venue. What really is the definition of gambling?
American Heritage Dictionary states: (A) To bet on an uncertain outcome, as of a contest. (B) To play a game of chance for stakes. (C) To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit. In the case of the people heading from Texas to the Winstar Casino all most all of them will have gambled and lost by the time the idea to go there first entered their mind. Problem is they don’t know it. Since the definitions here make no references to fair game, fair play or any of that I would have to say (c) would be the best answer since it uses the word "Hope" (A) Says "Uncertain Outcome" (B) Says "Game of chance". When the outcome is already determined how could it be a game of chance. There are many who would dispute this theory but I contend that if casinos have the option of altering the out come by manipulation, resetting, voiding or other forms that affect the random probabilities of winning a game then the outcome to some extent is defined. Statements such as 93% percent daily payout could only be made true by manipulating the machine to assure such a payout occurs.
The point here is this particular casino has engaged in some pretty unethical practices some of which I have observed myself. Other issues have been featured in news investigations while employees of the casino have admitted others. All anyone has to do is just go in there take a seat at a blackjack table and ask them why they charge you 50 cents per hand to play. No it’s not illegal but it certainly is immoral when they tell you the State of Oklahoma mandates that the casino charges this fee. Then to further add such BS as the money is used to buy Native Americans schoolbooks and such. They have continued with this lie for 2 years now. Some of the dealers who are obviously told to say this actually believe it.
Unfortunately a large majority of the gambling public are unaware of just how unregulated some Native American casinos can be. At Oklahoma's Winstar Casino they are a class II type operation, which for them pretty much means self regulating. The NIGC doesn’t seem to care much, Oklahoma's Attorney Generals office stated there is not much they can do about irregularities involving Native American Casinos and that was in response to a death threat sent by the casino to a customer challenging the casino regarding a jackpot win they voided. With nobody policing such establishments and the fact the casino knows that, why not cheat the people. Hell you almost have to feel sorry for them. The casino that is, being put in such a tight spot, talk about a rock and a hard place, on one hand if they do; their immoral, unethical, well just down right cheaters. On the other hand if they don’t well their stupid, honest but stupid. As someone who has been there for extended periods of time and not seen one jackpot, for any amount, hit by anyone, where they advertise over 2,200 slots is criminal. Stupid, no, no they’re not stupid. According to the projected figure I last saw advised of $200,000,000.00 from their casino operations this year and all in a cash business. Yikes, who really knows what the actual take was. Here’s one way you can look at it. It might start getting to be a little tougher to fill that collection plate on Sunday when the Winstar swindles you out of all your money on Friday night. At this rate I’m just going to skip the idea of having to learn Spanish as a second language and just learn Iroquois or Cherokee.