Posted by Let Texans Decide
Jan 21, 2013
Steve Blow with the Dallas Morning News (subscription required) wrote a great article that addresses the argument that casinos have a negative effect in the communities where they are located.
Mr. Blow conducted diligent research in response to a Lavon resident’s letter to the DMN editor. The letter stated that Vicksburg, Mississippi has declined since the presence of casinos and that crime and utility service disconnections have spiked – presumably due to residents spending all their money at local casinos. However, Mr. Blow actually did some real journalism and his research and talks with utility officials and law enforcement in Vicksburg show otherwise:
Nicole Bradshaw is a spokeswoman for the electric utility Entergy. She said company analysts examined service disconnections and late payments after the arrival of casinos in both Vicksburg and Tunica.
“They saw no measurable adverse effect,” Bradshaw said. And she said disconnections in Vicksburg remain at the same level as the rest of the state.
I heard the same story from Tammye Christmas, manager of Vicksburg’s city-owned gas and water utilities. She has been with the department 28 years. “The casinos had no impact on disconnects or late payments here,” she said.
Let Texans Decide agrees with Mr. Blow that Texans should be able to vote on casinos in their state. We are spending $2.5 billion each year in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico at casinos that simply aren’t offered here. “I just can’t see Texans continuing to subsidize the taxpayers of Oklahoma, Louisiana and Nevada in such a generous way. We could sure use those jobs and taxes right here,” writes Mr. Blow.
Casino-style gaming is legal in 40 states and 24 of those came through state approval. Texas is losing jobs and revenues while helping its neighboring states support their roads and schools. It’s time to let Texans decide.
You can read Steve Blow’s full column here. Dallas Morning News requires a subscription.
