Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 11, Number 5, 1 May 1994 — Legalized gambling not the solution [ARTICLE]

Legalized gambling not the solution

Legalized shipboard gambling is not the solution to Hawai'i's eeonomie problems. Sure, it would be a great source of revenue for the state, but it would only lead to the legalization of other forms of gambling (and) bring unwanted problems. Legislators support (it) in hopes of using the anticipated revenues for education and transportation improvements. Will the generated funds significantly contribute to those designated programs? (Gambling) would hurt restaurants and other small businesses in Hawai'i. And

what about the change in the image and character of Hawai'i that legalized gambling would bring? Hawai'i's image should not be ruined just to please a few compulsive gamblers. Gambling would teach teen-agers that the best way to get rich is not to study and work hard, but to gamble or hit the lottery. Does Hawai'i want to give teen-agers this kind of education?

It is inevitable that Hawai'i needs new sources of revenue for the state and new ways of attracting tourists. (But) legalizing gambling would only be socially disruptive, demoralizing to the community and would upset the business climate. What if gambling turns out to be a failure, as it did in Atlantic City? Hawai'i's state government should not be heavily funded by gambling. Leanne F. Chun