No Casino

Written by: Chuck Watts on Mar 9, 2008 7:23 PM EDT

*************************************************************

Class III Casinos Breaking the Heart of It All - What’s the progressive view?

The function of government is to protect and empower the community it serves. The National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report, first link. To protect our community from harm we must look out for one another. Chapter 1 - Overview. Calls for a moratorium, Time for a Pause, to study the problems, second link.

Here is an address by Dr. Earl L. Grinols concerning Class III Casinos, the type being encouraged by elected officials in Clinton County, OH, at this writing. This report on the classic predatory industry is devastating. It focuses on why any class III casino in any location is an exploitive business in the “wrong place, for the wrong people, for the wrong price.” I’m sending it to you as a resource in the context of the current local debate. A Union North neighbor has already found this expert compelling.

(Click Read More for the rest of this post)

To paraphrase the report, class III casinos draw 50% of their revenue from a 35- mile radius; add another 40% for the next 35-mile ring. The Argosy is 69 miles from Wilmington. Ninety percent of all casino revenues come from 10 percent of the population within that 70-mile radius, i.e. the wrong people. The beginning tax rate on casino revenues must start at 58% to cover all social costs of gambling, not including common wealth costs like taxes for roads, schools, i.e. the wrong price.

Dr. Grinols cites a 2005 Pennsylvania study that found that the top 1 percent of wagerers (problem and pathological gamblers) accounted for 39% of casino revenue and the top 9% accounted for 85%. Eliminate the local casino and these gamblers do not get on a plane and go to Vegas. The house always wins and the people always lose. I hope this information is helpful to you.

Dr. Earl Grinols has focused much of his career on fighting the expansion of casinos. What is your take of his article?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here is billionaire, Warren Buffett, speaking out against Class III Casinos in Nebraska.

Here is another paper from a different scholar from Massachusetts entitled Ante Up?. Conclusions start on p. 49.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A Disclaimer: My employer has no opinion on my political views. My employer supports my right as a private citizen to participate in the political process as long as I do no fund raising for any candidate involved in any way with issuing municipal or federal agency bonds.

Paid for by Friends of Chuck Watts. Send donations to Kathy Collins, Treasurer, 1304 W. St. Rt. 134, Wilmington, OH 45177. Send comments to me at union.north.dcc@mac.com.

Tags:
Location: Wilmington, OH 45177