To generate more revenue Gov. Malloy and state Democrats are planning to expand the Connecticut State Lottery with the addition of keno. There is no doubt that gambling is addictive and is detrimental to individuals, especially those with limited incomes.

By expanding state-run gambling with keno the governor and Democrats are imposing overt taxes on the poor, for they are much more likely to gamble not for recreation but out of desperation. This is demonstrated by the highest concentration of Connecticut lottery players being in the poorest cities including New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport.

The governor expands, advertises and promotes the lottery with little warning of its consequences to its consumers. We demand bold print on cigarette packages warning of its ill effects, but fine print is allowed under the state-run ads for the Connecticut state lottery. During the height of the recession, in many states including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut they set sales records, showing that people are not gambling as recreation but a means to escape from a bad situation.

And all this extra revenue goes to fund, among other things, the $230,000 salary of Anne Nobles, the head of Connecticut State Lottery.

Connecticut being able to profit from something as addictive and detrimental to those most vulnerable seems fundamentally wrong. And while Malloy and Democrats are backing down on taxing billion-dollar corporations, they are all in on taxing Connecticut's poorest residents. 

Philip Brose

Norwich