Do homework before gambling on initiatives

The West Linn Tidings, Jul 22, 2010

ADVERTISEMENTS

Before deciding on a pair of gambling-related ballot measures in November, Oregon voters must look long and hard at the potential consequences of opening the door to a Las Vegas-style casino and entertainment center in the east Portland suburb of Wood Village not too far from Gresham.

Promoters of the casino – Lake Oswego businessmen Matthew Rossman and Bruce Studer – have completed what appears to be a successful signature-gathering campaign for two initiatives to make the casino a reality and will make many promises over the next few months to win voter approval for their proposal. And for every promise offered in support of the casino, voters can be assured there will be a counter argument. In turn, this is likely to be one of the most expensive initiative campaigns in Oregon’s history, with Nevada gambling interests and a Canadian investment company lined up on the pro side and the collective clout of Oregon’s Indian tribes and the state’s restaurateurs aggressively opposing the measures.

We remain skeptical that Oregon has anything to gain from approving a privately run casino that would have more gaming devices than any casino in Nevada and would operate in the midst of a metropolitan area.

This issue, however, should not be decided on conjecture or overt campaigning. To determine if there’s merit to this proposal, Oregonians must weigh the potential positives – new jobs and the promise of new public revenue – against the known negatives, which include a myriad of social consequences.

Is there a net gain?

A primary topic for study is the financial question of whether the casino will actually produce any new gambling revenue for the state or if the facility will simply siphon off Oregon State Lottery dollars that are directed by the state’s constitution to education, economic development, parks and environmental enhancements.

1 | 2 Next Page >>