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Post by gato on May 26, 2024 5:05:15 GMT -5
My time in the Army was 1968-70. I spent time at Fort Ord, CA, Fort Gordon, GA, and a year in Vietnam.
I never saw a single military slot machine. And yet .........
"Currently, the US military operates more than 3,000 slot machines on bases in 12 countries – down from 8,000 slots in 94 countries in 1999, according to the Pentagon. That’s besides the other chance games the military sponsors on bases, with service members as young as 18 able to participate.
In 1951, Congress banned slot machines from military bases in the US. In the 70s, the army and air force pulled them from foreign bases only to slowly bring them back in the 80s – with the idea that it would keep the troops from running into off-base trouble.
The slot machines rake in more than $100m annually, money that each branch steers into groups supporting 'morale, welfare and recreation' initiatives on all bases such as movie theaters and golf courses."
-- The Guardian Newspaper
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Post by Rick Knight on May 26, 2024 7:43:04 GMT -5
I misinterpreted the thread title; probably because I read an article earlier this morning about the B21 bomber that is currently in development at a projected cost of $745,000,000.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on May 26, 2024 8:07:49 GMT -5
"The slot machines rake in more than $100m annually, money that each branch steers into groups supporting 'morale, welfare and recreation' initiatives on all bases such as movie theaters and golf courses."
That's, uh...one way to look at it. 🙄
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Post by Leftee on May 26, 2024 13:33:04 GMT -5
I remember when the machines made their way back in the ‘80s. I also remember a few sad stories.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on May 26, 2024 15:43:35 GMT -5
I remember when the machines made their way back in the ‘80s. I also remember a few sad stories. I bet (no pun intended). I've known gambling addicts who ended up in financial ruin, even death. I'm also guessing they were in better financial position to recover than the average enlisted person. |
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