LETTER: RIVERBOAT GAMBLING APPEALS TO POLITICIANS, BUT IT CREATES NO NEW WEALTH

To the editor:

Our-of-state gambling interest are spending millions of dollars trying to convince Missourians that riverboat gambling will bring thousands of new jobs, economic development and new tax revenue. Let's take a critical look at these claims.

The number of new jobs created by gambling is offset by an equal number of old jobs lost from other businesses, and the net effect is a wash.

Gambling doesn't create any new wealth or generate anything productive. It merely redistributes the wealth already present in the community. Las Vegas prospers because the spending generated by tourists from across the world brings new money into the local economy. The Midwestern riverboats, on the other hand, are targeting the local and regional populace as their primary source of revenue.

State and local governments will get additional tax revenues from the gambling industry. As a matter of fact 20 percent of any riverboat's adjusted gross receipts over $3 million will go to Jefferson City. State and local governments will essentially become business partners with the gambling corporations. Yet these "partners" will be expected to regulate an industry with a storied past history of crime and corruption. In Illinois two thirds of the state legislators have received political contributions from the gambling industry. We face the prospect of our own state legislature and local city councils being "bought" by the powerful gambling lobby. Already in Missouri we have seen the entire St. Louis election board resign because of associations with gambling interests. This spring it was alleged that Speaker of the House Griffin had used his political influence in an attempt of Missouri's government entities by association with the gambling lobby is obvious.

Gambling is so appealing to politicians because it appears to offer a painless way to generate revenue without raising taxes. Unfortunately, as with most things in life there is no "free lunch."

It is impossible to quantitate the cost of the personal suffering experienced by problem gamblers and their families. It is also impossible to measure the negative effect upon the quality of life in the communities where the riverboats will locate. One of the primary functions of any government is to "promote the general welfare." The active promotion of an activity such as gambling is not a proper function of government.

We all know that without slot machines the gambling industry in Missouri will wither and die. In April Missourians said no to riverboat gambling. No means no, but sometimes you have to say it twice. Missourians should once again say no to games of chance and should reject Amendment 6 on Nov. 8.

MICHAEL C. WULFERS

Cape Girardeau