Letter of the day (Feb. 3): Vikings stadium

Updated: February 2, 2012 - 6:30 PM

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Pulltabs

Photo: Joel Koyama, Star Tribune

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Consideration is being given to funding the state's portion of a new Minnesota Vikings stadium with the receipts from electronic pulltabs. However, sales of pulltabs have been declining for years. What has been the effect of going to electronic pulltabs in other states?

Have sales doubled or more for an extended period? If so, have other gambling revenues such as lottery ticket sales declined? People have only so much money to spend on gambling, and we've known for some time that we're at its saturation point.

This is the main reason why the tribes have reacted so negatively to talk of racinos and nontribal casinos.

The pulltab plan assumes that sales would be to players who don't currently gamble and to those willing to double or triple their purchases without decreasing their spending on other forms of gambling -- both highly questionable assumptions.

This choice seems to be attractive more for its lack of resistance by the tribes than for its ability to generate revenue.

RAY ROSSBERG, EDEN PRAIRIE

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The Opinion section is produced by the Editorial Department to foster discussion about key issues. The Editorial Board represents the institutional voice of the Star Tribune and operates independently of the newsroom.
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