I’ve never seen Jack Markell pull the handle on a one-armed bandit or for that matter even buy a Powerball ticket, but it’s pretty obvious our governor is a gambling man.
In this issue of the Post, staff writer Doug Denison explores Markell’s Sept. 14 decision to go ahead with a legal maneuver that keeps the possibility of single-game sports betting alive, at least for the foreseeable future. That issue apparently was decided Aug. 31 when three judges of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled a 1992 law permitted only parlay betting on NFL games.
It was a major blow to Markell’s efforts to shore up the state budget with new revenue.
In the story, Markell is quoted as saying the entire 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — all 12 justices — should hear the case because of “important legal and factual questions” he feels were not addressed last month. The governor wants his day in court.
It’s pretty apparent Markell is shooting for the moon here. Although I personally do not feel using gambling money is a good way to fill budget holes, the fact is the fiscal year 2010 budget has been built around such revenue. Not to have it means more cuts (not that the budget couldn’t stand some, but that’s another issue) or finding new sources of revenue.
The problem is we don’t have the time. We’re already more than two months into FY 2010 and there will be major problems if the cash runs out before the calendar does.
And speaking of money, some may criticize the governor for how much is being spent on the private attorneys working on the case, but apparently Markell feels the gamble is worth it. If he wins, the issue goes away. If he loses, he can say he went all-out in the interests of the citizens of Delaware. That might blunt some of the political fallout that’s sure to come if things don’t work out.
I don’t know what chances the Vegas bookies are giving this latest attempt to bring full-fledged sports betting to Delaware, but it doesn’t appear the odds are in our favor.
But don’t go by me. Unlike Jack, I’m not a gambler.
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Don’t be alarmed that there’s a copy of the Dover Post in your driveway this Saturday morning: the Earth hasn’t suddenly slipped into another space-time continuum. What you’ll find is the first issue of the Dover Post’s weekend edition, a part of our continuing effort to bring the news — good and bad — as well as many other items of interest to our readers in and around Dover.
