A headline in the Aug. 25 Metro&State section read, “Struggling racinos ask for tax break.” Oh, please. It’s bad enough that by allowing the expansion of gambling in Indiana the state sanctions the exploitation of gambling addicts by private enterprises. But to use public funds to bail them out because they are disappointed with their earnings is beyond preposterous.

Does someone have to explain to them that gambling is inherently risky? Do they assume that because they are “the house,” they have some guarantee that they will never lose? Other companies, even those that contribute to actual economic productivity, can go out of business when the economy tanks, so why shouldn’t they? Let them fail, and good riddance to them.

Daniel A. Young

Zionsville