The Dragonlance Nexus

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Bakukal, 24th day of Fleurgreen, 432 AC
Last Watch falling 25
The Palanthas Herald

Eye in the Crowd – Gambling in the Jewel of Solamnia

by JOSHUASIGEP44, Staff Writer
Last Updated: Majetag, Fleurgreen 1, 426 AC

Palanthas - Last week the Herald published an article about the Palanthas Cup sea race. This contest has been unfairly dubbed the great sea race. Mind you it's not because of any classic athletic themes. You will not find a loveable underdog, a returning championing, or even a clear cut favorite, but rather because of the large amount of steel that the citizens here in Palanthas seem to be wagering on the race's outcome. Nay, not only here in fair Palanthas but there are unconfirmed reports of bets being placed all over Ansalon on this great sea race.

The article published by the Heard went on to mention about knighthood's apparent inability to arrest, suppress, or ferret out the gamblers in any way whatsoever. That said, you mustn't blame the knighthood for these shortcomings because it seems that Palanthas own City Senate is rumored to have asked the knights to turn the other cheek.

On the up side, with the date of the cup approaching and excitement mounting, Palanthas inns have not been this full in recent memory. The markets are packed from floor to ceiling with customers. All across the city businesses are reporting record earnings. This can be directly attributed to all the illegal gambling, and the steel that those gamblers are spending here in the city while they are awaiting the Palanthas Cup. So the Herald wants to know...

With no apparent down side should gambling be legalized in Palanthas?

Stewart Blankship, a dock worker, had this to say:
"Aye it should! What in the blue blazes of the Abyss is it illegal for anyhow? No doubt some foolish idea of it bringing the wrong element into the city. Well I gotta big surprise for you sweet pants them bad elements are already here, and have been here for years. Make it legal will just make it safer. The city could make money by taxing it, and in turn police the gambling houses are any criminal activity."

Jamie McMannes Brighteyes, a filing clerk at the City Senate, briefly stated the following:
"What a silly little man you are. The question you should be out here asking is why it is not legal already. Well to answer your question, yes it should be legalized. It would bring a lot of business to the community."

Ida Windfall, a housewife and grandmother, shared her feelings on the mater:
"So these peoples' arguments are that we should legalize gambling because it's running rampant in the city already. Albeit unchecked, it has been going on for years. Oh, and I should not forget my favorite one; that the city would make so much more steel off of the tax revenues if we legalized gambling. Bull! Let me tell you something lady. Just because you can do something does not mean you should, and further more when has "we are doing it already", and "we will make money off it" ever been good reason to do something. I look on this city and all I see is a moral decline."