GAMBLING PROPONENTS TO REVEAL PROPOSAL

The lead group proposing organized gambling in Cape Girardeau will hold a Friday news conference here, where representatives will reveal plans to develop the city's riverfront to accommodate a riverboat casino.

City voters will decide June 8 whether they will sanction riverboat gambling, a measure that passed in a statewide election in November.

Keith Britt, a consultant for The Boyd Group of Las Vegas, said Bill Boyd, chairman of the company, will join two other officials at the 10:30 a.m. news conference at the Holiday Inn.

"They'll be discussing facts and figures on what they have planned if the citizens of Cape Girardeau will allow gambling on the riverboat," Britt said Tuesday. "They'll also discuss the design of the boat and the economic impact on the community."

Representatives of The Boyd Group were in Cape Girardeau this week. They met with local business and civic leaders. "They also have been looking at property to acquire," Britt said.

Friday's news conference will coincide with the formation of a group of local proponents, who will campaign on behalf of the ballot measure.

Britt said The Boyd Group has hired Evelyn Boardman to serve as a local liaison and contact person.

He said that on Monday and Tuesday Boyd was in Cape Girardeau not only to tell community leaders about the proposal, but to gauge their reaction to the prospect of riverboat gambling.

"Most people that I have met want to know answers what would the development be like, the economic input, how many jobs, and would the city have to put out any money?" Britt said. "The city will not have to put up any money.

"We will have those numbers present on Friday."

Foes of riverboat gambling already have started to place yard signs throughout the city opposing the June measure.

Britt said it's important that residents hear both sides of the issue before deciding how they'll vote.

"I think the people will be very interested in the amount of money that the city can make off the development without having to put up any money up front," he said. "The city gets 10 percent of the 20 percent tax and a dollar off each passenger."

Boardman said she will schedule presentations by The Boyd Group for various service clubs in the city during the next couple of weeks.