Among the Best: Montana

I bet you didn’t know . . . 

Damn!  I did it again!

 

You were probably not aware that Montana has an issue with gambling.  According to an article that popped up on the ever reliable and accurate social media, Montana ranks as the third most gambling-addicted state in the United States.  Betcha . . . oops!  I imagine you were not aware of this because I had no clue that Montana had an affinity towards games of chance . . .namely gambling.  Who would have thought, given the population of the state, that the odds favored the Treasure State ranking in the top three of gambling addicted states.

 

The article states that 2.5 percent of Montana’s population has what they call a “gambling disorder”.  Approximately one to three percent of adults sin the United States has a gambling disorder.  A gambling disorder is also known as “compulsive gambling” is defined as “a serious, diagnosable mental health condition characterized by the uncontrollable urge to gamble despite severe personal, financial, and social consequences.”  It is listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)—the sacred and holy grail for all things mental health in the medical field.  It is the “go to” tome.  When gambling gets out of control it can lead to serious economic consequences, social issues, and personal problems.  It can ruin lives and destroy families.

 

The deck is stacked against Montana when it comes to gambling.  Only South Dakota and top dog Nevada ranked higher.  It is no surprise that Nevada ranks number one as it is home to Las Vegas, the gambling capital of America.  Nevada ranks number one in casinos and gaming machines per capita, has the highest overall gambling revenue, most arrests for illegal gambling, and take the cake when it comes to Gamblers Anonymous meeting per capita.  Gambling is Nevada, Nevada is gambling.

 

At number two is South Dakota.  Have you been to South Dakota?  What else is there to do?  It is no wonder that gambling is so prevalent.  With nothing else to do, South Dakotans gamble . . . casinos and gaming machines are prevalent in retail and convenience stores . . . high prevalence—being the 11^th ranked state—in purchasing lottery tickets.  Gambling is everywhere.  Like Nevada it ranks high in Gamblers Anonymous meetings.  If you’ve been to South Dakota you know.  It’s been said that the two best things that ever came out of South Dakota are Interstates 90 and 29 . . . and now gambling.  People have to do something, so they gamble.

 

Like Nevada and South Dakota, Montana has a lot of casinos.  It seems as if there is a casino in every town in Big Sky Country . . . one on every corner is the saying here.  Thanks to Town Pump (gasoline company) there seems to be a casino in every Montana community.  When it comes to casinos, Montana is ranked number five (actually number two because the four states above it is tied for first—Nevada, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota).  If not casinos, then gaming machines . . . Montana jumps to first in a tie with Nevada, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.  Gambling is everywhere and you can lay money down on that.

 

There I go again . . . betcha didn’t know any of that.

 

When the wife and I moved to Nebraska decades ago there was some apprehension on her part.  She wondered if there was a gambling issue in the Big Red state because every time she asked for directions or assistance, she was greeted with a big ol’ “you betcha!”  Seems to be a standard catch phrase in Nebraska.  It was a fluke as Nebraska only ranks 30^th when it comes to gambling disorders.  “You betcha” is a common phrase out here in the west and Montana . . . but it is no fluke that it is popular in Big Sky Country.

 

Gambling is considered by many to be a vice.  It is heavily regulated by the state and federal government as most vices are . . . where there is money to be made on a vice the government is involved.  Gambling is a vice . . . some say sin . . . but none the less, it is a vice.  Montana loves its vices.  Gambling involves lots of sitting around seemingly doing nothing but feeding coins into slots.  Lots of down time.  Which brings up another vice Montanans seem to love and are ranked high in . . . drinking.

 

When it comes to alcohol consumption, the Big Sky state comes in fifth behind New Hampshire, Delaware, Nevada, and North Dakota.  The average Montanan drinks 3.10 gallons of booze a year.  That figure is probably skewed since there is a high prevalence of binge drinking” in the state.  Only three states and the District of Columbia have greater odds for going out on a bender. Montana ranks fifth overall or fourth if you drop out the District of Columbia.  Of course, the district is ranked number one—that is where the federal government is located with all the nation’s politicians.  I’d drink heavily if I had to live there, especially now.

 

Probably should throw pot into the mix.  In the United States the percentage of Montanans using cannabis in the past year was 23.44 percent.  This ranked Montana as number six.  Since the legalization of cannabis use in Montana there has been a shift in substance use.  Marijuana use has seen a significant rise with 15 percent of adults using it.  At the same time there has been a downward shift of less alcohol use—yet, at the same time, binge drinking ranks in the top nation-wide.  With all the free time that comes with gambling a person turns to other thrills, and it is nice that they have their choice of poison . . . alcohol or pot.  Still considered a vice by many.

 

When it comes to vices, Montana competes with the best of them.  Montana holds its own—you can bet on that.  You can toast that.  Apparently, Montanans like their vices—gambling, drinking, smoking, and sex.  Sex . . . I haven’t mentioned anything about sex as a Montana vice.  Seems talking about sex is a private personal thing and isn’t put out there for public consumption.  But there was a time in Montana when it had quite a robust commerce selling sex.  The state has a notable history when it comes to prostitution, brothels, and red-light districts.  The brothels died in the 1970s and 80s.  One of my favorite watering holes/restaurants in the state capital of Helena is the Windbag Saloon and Grill.  This bar was (and still is) a favorite for the state legislators to gather after a day’s legislative sessions to down a few drinks—thus the name “Windbag”.  At the same time for a long time, it was also a brothel operated by Big Dorothy Baker.  She closed shop after a raid in 1973.  But let’s just say that it still carries that ambience and historical significance today.  The Dumas Brothel in Butte has the distinction of having been the longest continuous running house of ill-repute in the United States history from 1890 until it shuttered its doors in 1982.  Though less blatant than the infamous brothels and red light districts the shift has been towards more subtle and what some think is more respectable forms—illegal massage parlors.  A recent investigation into human trafficking revealed that there are at least 50 of these parlors throughout the state.  Trust me, sex still sells.  It’s big business and I imagine, though mostly under the radar, that Montana holds its own when it comes to sex.

 

I bet you a five-spot that you didn’t know any of this—gambling, drinking, smoking, and sex—had such a lofty ranking in Big Sky Country.  Montana can compete with the best when it comes to vices.  For better or worse, it is a part of who Montana and its residents are.  You can bet on it.  You can drink to it.  You can even light up a joint and smoke to it.  You’ll fit right in.  When it comes to vices it is safe money that Montanans will be in the race. You can bet on it.

 

Damn . . . I did it again!

 

A Different World

This past week University of Michigan basketball player Mitch McGary got busted for a positive drug test that took place during the NCAA basketball tournament last month.  According to the NCAA rule book the consequence for being busted for this infraction—in this case, smoking marijuana—is to be suspended from the team for a year.  Facing the year-long suspension, McGary declared himself eligible for the National Basketball Association draft that will be held early this summer.  Instead of being suspended for a year, he is now probably going to be a possible first round pick that will make a couple of million dollars playing basketball.

Of course, he apologized.  I imagine it was a difficult apology as he attempted to keep from smiling throughout the statement: “Being a part of a program that values integrity, it is important to let everyone know of a poor decision I recently made. I tested positive for marijuana during the NCAA Tournament. We were notified of that result after the Final Four. I regret thoroughly disappointing my family, coaches and administration. Despite all of this they have been understanding and helpful over the last couple of weeks.”  It is hard to feel bad when you know you are going to be banking a couple of million in a few months for doing something stupid like smoking a doobie during a basketball tournament.  The guy was busted and he walks away smelling like . . . well, a million bucks!

This guy lives in a different world than I . . . and, probably a different one than you do.  I was always taught that there are consequences to for the choices that I make in life . . . you screw up, you pay the price.  Consequences are supposed to teach us lessons . . . lessons so that we do not make the same mistake twice.  You break the law, you go to jail . . . lesson that is learned: don’t break the law.  This guy didn’t learn anything . . . I doubt if he can even count to a million.  He faced no consequences.

Man, I wish I had his life.  Driving down the road, nailing the highway at 90 miles-per-hour, I get pulled over by the state patrol.  “Boy,” says the trooper, “Do you realize that you were going twenty-five miles over the posted speed limit!”

“Really? I was booking!”

“You were speeding.  Speeding in the state of Montana is illegal . . . thou shalt not speed.  Commandment number eleven.”

“Ninety . . . whoa, dude, that is fast!”

“Fast enough to get you a ticket and a date with the judge in court.”

“Naw, I don’t think so . . . I’m going to start driving for NASCAR.  I’m going to declare myself a race car driver.”

“What?”

“I’m going to NASCAR . . . be a race car driver.  There is no need for that ticket.  Shoot!  I will be a shoo in for NASCAR . . . they drive fast all the time!” 

“You can’t just skip your consequence . . . your punishment.”

“Sure I can!  Athletes do it all of the time . . . they move on up to the next level.  Make the big bucks.  Hey, I was going ninety miles-per-hour!  I’m the next Richard Petty!  Just keep your ticket!”

“But . . .”

Not even in my wildest dreams would that ever happen.  No, with my luck I would get nailed with a ticket worth a couple of hundred dollars, lose two points on my license, and see my insurance go up a couple of hundred dollars.  That would be the real consequence of me tooling down the road at ninety miles-per-hour.  If I even mentioned that I was even thinking about NASCAR, the officer would probably drag me out of my car and proceed to administer a sobriety test.  Only the government would be smiling all the way to the bank.  That is the world I live in.

McGary gets caught  smoking an illegal drug . . . he is underage . . . he broke the team and university rules . . . broke NCAA rules . . . broke state laws . . . let down his teammates, university, family, and friends . . . and, he gets to say, “I’m sorry.  Just send me to the NBA.”  Something is wrong with this picture.  Something doesn’t make sense.  But this guy is playing that card.  What world is he living in?  What is the address?  I want to live in that world.

Of course I am not even six foot tall.  I cannot dribble or shoot a basketball with great skill.  This guy is over six foot five, can dribble quite well, and he can score points . . . heck, he was a pre-season All American at the start of the season.  The guy can play basketball.  Me . . . well, I’m just a lowly preacher . . . a lowly person who provides professional development to teachers . . . who just scrapes by.  Nothing real important or valuable . . . the spiritual lives of people is not important . . . who cares whether they go to heaven or hell?  Educators are not important . . . who cares if they have the training they need to teach children for the future.

What does this say about our society?  What does this say about what our society values?  The NBA didn’t refuse his application for the draft.  The coach of the university team gave him a rousing recommendation of support.  The team that drafts him won’t care as long as he keeps his nose clean . . . shoot, a failed drug test in the NBA is a short vacation for a couple of days—not a suspension for a whole year.  Since when should people get rewarded for breaking the rules?

Yeah, it is a different world than you and I live in.  And, yeah, it is not fair to those of us who live in the real world . . . the other ninety-eight percent of us.  But, that is the way it is.  We can moan and groan, but it won’t change anything for us.  Me, well . . . I have been practicing my dribbling out in the garage.  I have been working on my jump shot.  And, I found a pair of basketball shoes with ten inch lifts that make me six foot eight.  Next time I get into trouble, I’m declaring myself for the draft.  Watch out Celtics . . . here I come!  If Mitch McGary can do it . . . why should we all?