$1 Billion on Video-Poker

In Terrebonne and Lafourche, Louisiana, players spent over $1 billion dollars over a four year period on video-poker machines which have cause large amounts of controversy since their legalisation.

Between 2005 and 2009 over $1 billion was spent by gamblers in Terrebonne and Lafourche, Louisiana, on video-poker machines. There was about $600 million spent in Terrebonne, about $150 million per year and $435 in Lafourche, about $110 million per year.

To give this a sense of perspective, in Terrebonne people spent $75.8 million on clothes and $138.7 on furniture and equipment.
Organised electronic gaming was first legalised by the state in 1991. Since then there have been many fierce local elections where the issues of the machines, land use and construction expansions have divided the community. Furthermore, according to health officials the legalisation has caused a huge gambling problem. A local professional counsellor, Vicki Harrison from the Terrebonne Addictive Disorders Clinic says that she has seen numerous cases of compulsive gambling which has put homes, livelihoods and families at risk.

However, many defend the machines saying that they have boosted small businesses, generated construction jobs and also millions of dollars for local public services ranging from mosquito control to sheriff’s office patrols.

Whilst the gambling was legalised in 1991 by 1996 there was a public backlash as machines grew in popularity and there were a number of corruption scandals. There have been about 24 convictions over charges about a mob scheme which attempted to infiltrate the video poker industry. As a result the state’s voters decided to make gambling a parish-by-parish issue.

As a result, elections were held on November 5th 1996 which resulted in 33 parishes banning gambling and a large number of the state’s machines being removed. However, the number of machines in Terrebonne and Lafourche has continued to rise and they continue to make significant amounts of money for businesses and the local and state governments. Over the last ten years Lafourche has generated about $60.6 million in revenue and Terrebonne has generated about $105.3 million. This money goes to support a range of causes including local district attorneys, the Louisiana State Police, a fund for education, recovery for gambling problems and other general funds.

There are also a huge number of local businesses which are profiting, especially restaurants and pubs. Owners have found that customers like to come in, order and whilst waiting for their food enjoy playing a few games which earns businesses an average of $500 extra dollars a week after taxation.