The state has forced casinos' hands

Your great series, "House advantage," prompted me to write.

As a patron of the Grand Victoria Casino since it opened, I know the machines are much "tighter" over the last few years, ever since the State of Illinois raised the tax on the casino's profits to over 50 percent.

What business could sustain such a huge bite from the government?

Now with the smoking ban and the overall bad economy, the casinos are trying to extract as much profit from those few who are playing there just to survive. They do have large payrolls and expenses.

I'm not holding a tag day for the casinos, but I think the State of Illinois is killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

And just what does the State of Illinois do with all these billions that it wouldn't have if it were not for gamblers and lottery players?

The state is hopelessly broke, our roads and schools are a mess.

When the lottery started 30 years ago, the profits were only to be used for education. If that were the case, our school parking lots would be paved with gold.

Rick Coker

Chicago