My name is Robert Black. I am married with 3 young children and live in
Hooksett, NH. I have seen my property taxes climb from $5200 in 2002 to
$10,000 currently. I am FIRMLY supportive of expanded gambling and the benefit
it will have on revenues, tourism, and jobs in New Hampshire. I have done
extensive research on the topic and I have a few comments to certain points;
Someone here attempted to make the comparison to Las Vegas. Comparing NH to
Nevada accomplishes nothing. Las Vegas is the gambling mecca of the world.
There are nearly 40 states that have slot machine gambling—one would think you
could find a more appropriate comparison. This individual also mentioned low
car theft statistics in South Dakota…are you aware South Dakota has slot
machines? In fact, the 12 safest states by ranking are New Hampshire, Vermont,
Maine, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, Idaho & West Virginia. Of these states, only New Hampshire,
Vermont, and Montana do NOT offer legalized slot machines. It doesn’t take a
rocket scientist to understand that this list includes states which have large
rural areas, thus the low crime rates. The biggest factors in crime levels are
population density, levels of urbanization, and police effectiveness. As I’ve
mentioned in other posts, crime has actually decreased in many cities following
gambling expansion—most notably in Bossier City, Fl
orida, Jefferson County, West Virginia, and Dover, Delaware.
As for the cannibalization of nearby businesses, that is a common fallacy.
Studies show that the increased tourism from expanded gambling benefits the
entire local community—from hotels to restaurants & shopping centers. A 1997
study in the Journal of Shopping Center Research, a 1998 study at the Wharton
School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and last year’s study in
Bangor, Maine all proved the same results.
Another member made the statement that the establishment of a racino increases
dependency on welfare. Another complete fallacy. Expanded gambling does NOT
increase welfare…it actually has the opposite effect. The National Opinion
Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago found that communities that
had a casino within a fifty-mile radius had approximately a one percent less
unemployment rate than the national average, a seventeen percent decrease in
per
capita unemployment insurance payments, and welfare costs were less than
thirteen percent of the national average (General Accounting Office, 2000).
This is because casinos and racinos bring thousands of well-paying jobs to
their communities.
As for the risk being greater than the reward, an extensive study at the
University of Delaware stated unequivocally, “When computing the social costs
and consequences of gambling in Delaware...the social costs of gambling appears
to be relatively small compared to the economic benefits produced by the
gambling industry." Opponents love to blame every social ill on gambling, from
bankruptcies to suicide. Doesn’t make it true.
Another person stated he is reading a book by self-proclaimed anti-gambling
guru Earl Grinols--just be aware that he has been wrong many time regarding
gambling and its effects. He tours the country getting wealthy delivering
anti-gambling speeches. He once told the Florida legislature that new casinos
would spark crime. But Representative Joe Gibbons said his district had brought
in casinos two years before, and crime had declined each year since. Grinols
then said the crime jump would take three or more years to come into effect.
SIXTEEN YEARS LATER, Bossier City reported crime has dropped more than fifty
percent since the addition of casinos fifteen years earlier. The man is a
fraud.
Finally, the ultimate post was regarding Rockingham Park. This individual
claims to have witnessed “human wreckage” playing slots at Rockingham Park when
the racetrack has never even HAD slot machines. Had she actually visited
Rockingham, what she would witness is 85% retired men and women convening every
day at the establishment where they have frequented for decades—playing the
horses, conversing, and spending the day. Some folks don’t even spend $10
during the course of an afternoon. These claims are complete fabrication.
The same individual mentions “money flowing out of New Hampshire” due to the
lack of an income tax (which the VAST majority of NH residents are against).
What about the millions of NH dollars leaving the state for casinos in
Connecticut and Rhode Island? Is she also concerned about that? Because we
have buses and Amtrak trains stopping at every major city in NH--from North
Hampton to Concord--taking NH residents to Foxwoods & Mohegan Sun for virtually
nothing after the gambling & food vouchers are meted out. Preventing expansion
of gambling in NH has helped nobody except the casinos in Connecticut, as they
continue to gouge on NH dollars that could remain in this state!
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Folks, we have a unique opportunity in this state as Millenium is poised to
pump $450 million into Rockingham Park. A brand new facility in Salem, NH
would improve tourism dramatically and revitalize the town. States like
Delaware and Pennsylvania are seeing $250 million to over $1 BILLION annually
from slot revenues. Let's get this done!