While Gov. Kevin Stitt and tribal leaders battle over renegotiations on the gambling pact, a major issue is largely being ignored.

The 141-plus gambling operations in Oklahoma are destroying lives, careers and families.

The tribes are making hundreds of millions of dollars and they want at least 15 more years of the brother-in-law deal they got with the compact signed by former Gov. Brad Henry.

Henry not only sold the state down the river by introducing casino gambling (it’s not “gaming”) but he made a bad business deal in terms of taxes. The current compact completely favors the tribes.

The argument for continuation of the compact is that the casinos are “economic development” and provide thousands of jobs. They pay millions in taxes and the tribes benevolently assist schools and cities with roads and streets.

Casinos produce nothing. They siphon wealth. The house always wins. The “jobs” they create are low-end.

And they foster the personal destruction of people who are problem gamblers. There are more casinos than counties in Oklahoma and when you consider the state lottery and online gambling, it’s impossible to escape the urge to gamble for some. These damaged lives don’t get told in the liberal news media, who reap millions in advertising from the casinos. They don’t want to “kill the goose that laid the golden egg.”

What is the answer?

A new compact may squeeze more taxes out of the tribes but it won’t stop the problem. The people of Oklahoma could end this by not patronizing the casinos but doesn’t appear likely.

Oklahoma is raising a generation that will think that gambling is a way to be successful. It’s not.

But it’s hard for most people to ignore the bright lights, so why not bet the rent money? You could be the big winner.