The state Supreme Court Friday appointed itself and North Carolina lawmakers the moral compass of its people when it upheld a ban on Internet sweepstakes games.

In doing so, the court completely ignored the state’s own lottery game and clearly has no compassion for business people trying to make a living within this industry.

In its opinion, the court blasts sweepstakes games, saying the ones playing are influenced by the hope enticingly held out, which is often false or disappointing, they will perhaps and by good luck get something for nothing or for very little outlay.

This is the premise behind any gambling, including the state’s own lottery, which the court calls a lure that draws the credulous and unsuspecting into an alleged deceptive scheme and what the law denounces as wrong and demoralizing.

In its ruling the court speaks of wrapping these machines in pretty packaging, much like lottery tickets are given clever names and enticing graphic designs to reel in a potential buyer.

The court admits in its ruling, however, legislative findings can’t conclude the plaintiffs in the case are involved in illegal gambling but instead backs the General Assembly in its allegations it has identified a threat to the public. “It is well settled,” the opinion, says, “that the police power of the state may be exerted to preserve and protect the public morals. It may regulate or prohibit any practice or business the tendency of which, as shown by experience, is to weaken or corrupt the morals of those who follow it or to encourage idleness instead of habits of industry.”

This may be the most pious of statements a state Supreme Court has ever made when countless millions of people squander hard-earned dollars on lottery tickets every day.

In essence, the court is protecting its state-sanctioned gambling and putting businesses like the Royal Palace Theatre in jeopardy.

The theater’s new owners found a model that in the early stages of operation is working well. Shows have been booked well into April and we witnessed a professional show this past week that involved not only a seasoned veteran but showcased the talents of local actors as well.

The management of the theater, as well as similar establishments, is paying high per machine taxes to have the privilege to operate. Yet the court doesn’t recognize the price of doing business, the tax dollars that are pumped into the community from these businesses or the fact government can’t control and doesn’t have the right to control what people, rich or poor, do with their money.

It is the same thing with Bingo. We can’t count how many raids we have seen in our career for alleged illegal payouts and watched as equipment is seized and carried out, only to see the businesses reopen and continue to thrive. The general sentiment in the aftermath of these raids is outrage by the players for police interference, not only in their right to play the game, but their right to win and lose their money in whatever way they see fit.

We believe, in protecting its own interest in the form of the lottery, the General Assembly has trampled the rights of business people who have seen the profits that can be made from these businesses and, with no rhyme or reason, has deemed them a public threat.

The people who start these businesses realize that people know the risks they are taking by playing these games, just as the state knows the risks its citizens take when they buy lottery tickets. That’s why they include gambling addiction hotline numbers on the tickets and in their advertising.

Eliminating the double standards that exist within the court and the legislature is as easy as studying a candidate’s take on the matter of business and determining whether they are liberty-minded or want government to control your very life and breath.

Citizens and local politicians should fight this if they care about liberty. Roanoke Rapids City Council should fight this if they want the Royal Palace Theatre to remain a private business and if they believe the state Supreme Court and the North Carolina General Assembly shouldn’t be our moral compass — Editor.