Wow, I never thought 6 months and over 100 posts ago that New Hampshire would take over Foxwoods Fridays one day - but here we are!
So, there seems to be alot of people taking pros and cons in the Granite State concerning casino gambling. So, here's a bunch of comments and news from New Hampshah:
Story: Gov. Maggie Hassan’s lawyer is assuring a special joint House panel that a license to operate a casino in New Hampshire would not necessarily be for life.Lucy Hodder told the House Finance and Ways and Means committees Wednesday that the Senate bill legalizing one casino calls for the license to be good for 10 years and can be renewed after that for another five years. In answer to a question from a committee member, Hodder said the license can be revoked for cause. She said the Lottery Commission also could decide not to renew the license. The joint panel is working on a Senate bill that would legalize one casino with up to 5,000 video slot machines and 150 table games.
Binbin: I find this interesting, since the casinos in Mass. won't offer that many slots or table games. Once the property and amenities are built, can they really just revoke the license? And if so, what then for everything associated with that property? I think this raises more questions than answers!
Story: Gov. Hassan said "Don't let Massachusetts walk away with millions of dollars from casinos that could help New Hampshire pay for education, hospital aid and school construction, Gov. Maggie Hassan urged the House on Tuesday."
Binbin: Interesting thought that is sweeping through the country, not just New England. All those vices and crimes that Anti-Casino groups cite as reasons to ban casinos are OK, as long as they are used for a good reason?
Story: Opponents step up. Gambling opponents ranged from religious leaders to the hospitality industry to non-profit performing arts centers. They said adding a casino will change the state's image and create unfair competition that could close many small businesses. "We'll risk losing everything we are known for - our mountains and lakes - and we'll lose our competitive advantage," said Bob Goodman, professor emeritus of hospitality management at the University of New Hampshire. "This casino bill insults our New Hampshire image, and there's no going back once the camel gets his nose under the tent."
Others said casinos target the most vulnerable citizens who do not know their poor odds of winning when playing the video slot machines. Bob Schneider of Claremont said, "It is a regressive tax on the poor and the ignorant," while Sen. Jeanie Forrester, R-Meredith, said casinos would "taint the New Hampshire brand and cannibalize the profits of New Hampshire businesses."
Binbin: Oh, this is getting real good. I remember early in CT casino history that anti-gaming groups said the same thing, including the anti-Native-American card dealt, trying to keep both progress and all that trouble out. Really?
Summary - all good points, but all exaggerated. The truth has always seemed to be in the middle, depending on where the economy is. Stay tuned - this is going to be good!
That's all for now.
Binbin
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