A way to make video poker palatable

When I first read Scott Roscoe’s letter enthusiastically approving video poker, I had my doubts. After some thought I have come up with a palatable way of implementing video poker.

All winnings would be subject to the individual income tax. In case of a winner, a portion would be held back as either a tax or perhaps we could call it a “user fee.” So if you won $100, the machine would hold back, say, 1 percent, or one dollar. Today’s machines are very sophisticated and can be programed to do most anything. The state gets its cut off the top, so the money goes out of one pocket into another.

D.O. Lipensky

Wheaton