Should A Casino Be Able To Take Money For Past Child Support Payments From Your Winnings?
January 18th, 2010 | 
Author: Lots of people that like to try their luck at their local casino halls once in a while. However, if you haven’t heard there are some states in the US that are actually taking a portion of winnings away from people in order to pay child support payments off. This practice has caused a lot of controversy.
In one respect, taking out a portion of casino winnings does seem like a logical thing to do. Inadvertently, there are some parents that simply do not pay child support even though they are mandated to do so. By immediately taking a percentage of money out of the winnings that someone receives from a casino the person is being able to rectify their debt and they still get to keep some of their winnings as well.
However, there are a few that think that this law is silly and should be abolished completely. There are a lot of single mothers and fathers that reside in the United States, and taking money from casino winnings isn’t the best thing that can be done to resolve past child support payments.
Think of it from the perspective of the person that is in the casino trying to make a little bit of extra money. Divorces can be difficult enough to have to pay funds back on, let alone having to render more money every month to pay child support. Some people simply don’t have the money available to be able to pay anything.
If you can’t support yourself, how are you going to be able to provide any ounce of support to your child? People engage in gambling at casinos for a variety of reasons. Inadvertently, if you were the one that were back dated on your child support payments and decided to try your luck at the casino with your last twenty dollar bill , and you end up winning $10.00 back would you want a portion of that to be taken?
Posted in Real Estate
I think the whole child support system needs to be revamped. How many ex-spouses out there are collecting child support even though they have financial means from a new partner or job promotion, etc. If the child and parent are struggling then absolutely deduct money from any kind of income (including gambling) but make sure there is a need.
“If you can’t support yourself, how are you going to be able to provide any ounce of support to your child?” – if you can’t even support yourself, you shouldn’t have made a child in the first place. There should be a law requiring people to get a license to have a child.
Wow! What a crazy title, and no they should not be able to touch money from something that has nothing to so with gambling.
I agree too that the child support system is a little off. I have 2 kids and it doesn’t take 600/month to support them.
I agree with Jill’s comment above. I’ve seen too many situations where someone is collecting a ton of money in child support, when they already have more than enough means to support the child. Especially when there’s a lot of money involved, it can get to be ridiculous.
I do not think it is as simple as saying “if you can not support yourself you should not have a child” in my experience plenty of people who can support a child financially fail to do it emotionally…there is a lot more to this than just money.
this is a very interesting question that i have never even thought of. However, i do think they should. i think whenever money can be found, it should be taken if someone owes child support. I understand what is said above about too much money being collected in child support. however, if its owed, then its owed.
I have been a single parent and it is down right tough. If someone is gambling with their last twenty, chances are, their ex and children are duly suffering. It’s hard enough being a single parent, lack of funds just piles on the stress and resentment….and it’s the kids who suffer.
The comment by loverboy and the article referencing someone down to their last $20 are different scenarios from 2 different planets.
I think before having a child people should prove that they could support a child then the governments permit people
I think before having a child people should prove that they could support a child then the governments permit people
Yes this is very right. If there is a need then it is justified to support the needy. But if we there is no need then it would be justified that the support is not warranted. Exactly, this is just more than money.
I founded your post really interesting!
I am not surprised that this is such a controversial topic over in the States. I do believe though that any form of gambling is a huge risk and you should not be taking part in it unless you are in a healthy financial position with spair cash at the ready. I don’t think it’s even worth the risk if the money could be used for better purposes.
Wow – some commenters want to simplify a complex issue. Having society give financial assistance to people is not wrong. The administration of it is messed up though
Large student loans, child support payments, past taxes. Do you know anyone who got a bankruptcy discharge?
Casinos can really give you some good money but the risk involve in it is very hard for me to imagine I would like to advise all for not to go fr casinos.
Ummmm… random post, I didn’t realise this was on the cards (excuse the pun!)
It would never work. Casinos are an emotional place with some emotionally charged people losing their money or trying to take their winnings. I cant see that deducting money from the winnings will go down at all well!
Most people after losing money and then finally getting it back and a slight profit would go crazy if they had it taken away from them
I think the point shouldnt be where the money comes from but rather the welfare of the child. In all of this, the one which benefits the least is the child. A better system should be implemented taking only and only the child’s concern.
I think so it’s very useful and knowledge able. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article on Should A Casino Be Able To Take Money For Past Child Support Payments From Your Winnings.
A really interesting debate. I think that winnings should go towards child support, as even if that person couldn’t afford to pay anything before they sure can after a win! The well being of a child should always be paramount over a selfish parent.