No to casinos
Our elected officials hope to open a casino in Waikiki and outlaw any mention of the words “Las Vegas” in tourism ads, so they may no longer lose money to Nevada (Tribune-Herald, Jan. 31). I spent most of my adult life in Nevada, allow me to share some observations.
People don’t go to Nevada just to gamble, they go to get the entire “experience.” Sure, there’s the 24-hour casino fun, but there’s also a huge range of entertainment, food (all-you-can-eat buffets to fine dining), showgirls, cheap convention venues, and an environment that encourages bad behavior. Head north to Reno/Tahoe and throw in world-class skiing.
People leave the islands to shop, visit relatives, to “just get off this rock.” Sure, you can open Kama‘aina Kasino in Waikiki, and you’ll have the hardcores show up to play cards, but you’re missing the point.
Do you think that a few tightly regulated casinos in Honolulu can compete with Nevada as a destination gambling community? Do you really want that?
Please do not call this apocalypse down upon your state by opening it up to gambling. Maybe Nevada made $600 million off Hawaii residents in 2011, but there is a huge cost to these gaming communities, the individuals who work in these businesses, and the desperate folks who patronize them — as well as to their families.
It is naive to think it’s “free money.” Bring in legalized gambling, and expect to bring in all the ugliness that goes with it. Illegal gambling, alcohol abuse, drugs, prostitution, increased crime. More burdens on our health care system.
Casino industry jobs do not pay well, so add more underpaid workers to our affordable housing problems. The “joke” in casino towns is that casino workers rent apartments and sleep in opposite shifts of their jobs: day, swing, graveyard. Not a joke: They move frequently, and their kids do poorly in school.
Gambling is a symptom of a compulsive personality. A slush fund for “treating compulsive gamblers” (or a “simple education program,” as one reader suggested) will not prevent or solve these problems.
I’ve watched people ruin their lives, and destroy their families and careers. Yes, as adults we’re all entitled to our stupid mistakes, but the government should not be encouraging them in order to profit off the results. As a community, we should understand we will be responsible. We may profit in the short term with lower taxes, but the long term costs will come due.
As for Senate Bill 935, which would ban advertising by Nevada hotels, resorts, or other recreational services that promote casinos or other gambling in Hawaii — hilarious, if not outright illegal. No doubt, the Nevada attorney general’s office is already on this one. Good luck.
Andrea Minor
Papaikou