A New Approach to Gambling

I support any and all efforts to allow a casino to be built at Rockingham Race Track.  However, many others before me have weighed in on the issue of gambling.   It is a testament to the massive benefits and possible risks that gambling brings with it.   However, we must look at it in a different way.

First, let us lay down the pros and cons of expanded gambling.  I do not believe it will be the solvent for all of our problems, however I do believe it posses positives as it raises revenues while increasing the number of available jobs. It is also a needed source of revenue, as although the Republican Legislature did get spending under control during the current session, there are several State services where funding was cut that could be grown again with gambling revenues.

It can go into health and human services and help out our fellow citizenry that have fallen on hard times and require, absolutely require, they need their fellow man's assistance in their lives. Negatively, it may decrease revenues other state lottery sources. It may also increase criminal activity around the casino and lower the quality of life in the town it is built in. These are issues that every New Hampshire citizen needs to be aware of.

If a casino was to be built, it would only pose a negative impact towards the town it is in, while the rest of the State benefits. What I am about to suggest will require a lot of cooperation across the political spectrum, and if it does succeed, it will be a sign that bipartisanship is not dead.

We first need to set up the regulatory mechanisms at the State level that will allow a casino market to grow. Then and only then, we need to delegate the responsibility of the expanded gambling choice to the citizens of each town or city in New Hampshire. Now, this might sound foolish to some, but please let it sink in. All it would be doing would be giving citizens the choice if their town will host a casino or not. Some towns can be casino free by choice, while others can fully enable a casino to be built.

What will keep the gambling market from absorbing the State? The Free Market will. There is no need for the state government to declare how many casinos can be built. If a business man or woman wishes to build one, and passes all of the checkpoints in order to construct one, they should be able to pursue their dream only if the townspeople approve. This is not going to open the floodgates that will destroy the quality of life in New Hampshire.

The quality of life in New Hampshire has never been determined by the businesses that flock here. It has always been, and always will be, a product of the people of this great State. A casino is not going to change that, as no one will move here because of a casino. People will definitely visit us due to the casino, but that will not change the nature of our communities. Casinos are self contained, and will bring jobs and tax revenues to our State.

We are going to need huge leadership to get a plan like this passed through the NH State House. Next year, new legislators will make up the General Court and a new Governor will occupy the corner office. When elected, I plan on leading the charge on this plan in the legislature, as I believe it is the best approach to the gambling question: let the people decide.