North Carolina’s schizophrenic gambling policy is about to go under the microscope again. As we know, state officials — with then Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue casting the deciding vote — in 2005 deemed state-run gambling as forward-thinking public policy. Thus, we have state-endorsed “good” gambling in the state lottery.

Video poker, however, has been deemed “bad” gambling and the state has gone about trying to ban it. Now comes word — as JLF President John Hood predicted recently — that Gov. Perdue is considering regulating and taxing video poker.

Why then won’t the governor endorse other forms of gambling and invite private companies to operate in the state? If the state policy on gambling is that it is “good” for us, then open the door and let the free market work. Private firms create jobs and pay taxes.