60 Minutes – The Big Gamble

Bill Beatty
Bill Beatty
January 7, 2011
2 Comments

Ed Rendell 60 minutesThis Sunday the CBS news magazine program “60 Minutes” will feature gambling prominently. Leslie Stahl will report on the proliferation of gambling in 38 American States.

Reading the summaries of the show, it doesn’t look like it will show the American land based casinos in a positive light. The feature will focus on the expansion of slots machines and how some scientists believe they are designed to create gambling addictions.

The show will look at Instant Racing machines, the machines that allow bettors to bet on past horse races.
The Instant Racing machines were approved in Kentucky just last month but are subject to a court case in Kentucky. In other news, my attempts to get friends to bet on last year’s Super Bowl have been unsuccessful.

It’s doubtful that the show will be something people in the industry are looking forward to, as it’s unlikely to portray the positives of the gaming industry but there is one moment that could make it must see TV.

During an interview with outgoing Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, apparently Rendell explodes, calling the 60 Minutes staff “idiots” and “simpletons”.

In the clip first reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer shows Stahl pressing Rendell about the proliferation of slot machines throughout Pennsylvania. Rendell was saying that the upsides far outweigh the negatives, saying the “biggest downside is people lose their paychecks.”

Rendell clarifies his statement, “They’re not losing their paychecks because Pennsylvania instituted gaming. These people would (otherwise) be going to Atlantic City or the racetrack.”

Stahl continues pressing with the questions and Rendell said, “You guys don’t get that. You’re simpletons. You’re idiots if you don’t get it.”

As I said, I doubt the 60 minutes feature will give you a fair assessment of they gaming industry as a whole like you get CalvinAyre.com but it might be worth watching a politician lose his nuts on national TV.

If you have any further information related to this story that you would like to share with us privately please click here.

Can't get enough CalvinAyre.com? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, then you'll never miss out on the latest gaming industry news.

Share
Tags: 60 Minutes, Article, Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania, slots
Views and opinions expressed are those of the Author and do not necessarily reflect those of CalvinAyre.com

  • Pingback: Tweets that mention 60 Minutes – The Big Gamble -- Topsy.com

  • Randy Ferree

    What our Governor doesn't get is that we did indeed add to the problem. You wouldn't expect an alcoholic to live above a bar and remain sober for long. When something like the slots go from being a four or five hour trip to being in your back yard, you will go a lot more often. Near all of our casinos are billboards offering help once you are addicted. Why weren't these needed ten years ago? The economic downturn has given poor people another reason to head to the casinos and lose their paychecks trying to save their houses and feed their families. These were all arguments we made before we were blessed with the casinos, but I guess we were idiots and simpletons back then too.